The Best Way to Start Something New

How can you improve your success rate on any new project?

It’s a question leaders ask all the time—especially at the start of a new year, a new role, or a new initiative. We want better results, less rework, and more progress. Yet too often, projects fall short of expectations even when effort and skill are high.

The missing piece for many leaders is something I call integration.

This idea is part of a short series I’ve been sharing called New Year, New You, built around three powerful concepts: Insight, Intention, and now Integration. When these three work together, your chances of success rise dramatically.

Why Good Projects Still Fail

Think about your last project, goal, or plan. Maybe even your last New Year’s resolution.

Did you:

• Reflect on what you’ve learned from past experiences?
• Clearly define why this goal mattered?
• Intentionally apply those lessons to how you moved forward?

If you skipped one of those steps—especially the last one—your results may not have been what you hoped for.

Many leaders either:

• Rely on intention alone (strong motivation, weak execution), or
• Rely on insight alone (great reflection, little follow-through)

Neither is enough by itself.

The Formula That Improves Your Success Rate

Here’s the simple but powerful formula:

Integration = Insight + Intention

Let’s break that down.

Insight

Insight comes from reflection and awareness. It includes:

• Lessons from past projects
• Feedback from others
• Patterns you’ve noticed in your own behavior
• What worked—and what didn’t

Insight answers the question: “What have I learned?”

Intention

Intention is about purpose and clarity. It includes:

• Why this project matters
• What success looks like
• The impact you want to create
• The choices you’re committing to make

Intention answers the question: “Why does this matter, and what am I aiming for?”

Integration

Integration happens when you intentionally apply your insights to what you do next.

It’s not just thinking about the past.
It’s not just being excited about the future.

It’s using what you know—on purpose—to shape your plan and your actions going forward.

How Integration Changes Your Results

When you integrate insight and intention:

• You avoid repeating old mistakes
• You build on proven strengths
• You make smarter decisions earlier
• You increase your odds of success before the project even begins

Integration turns experience into advantage.

Without it, even talented, motivated leaders find themselves stuck in cycles of frustration—working hard but not getting the results they want.

A Practical Reflection for Your Next Project

Before starting your next initiative, ask yourself:

1. What insights from past projects apply here?
2. What do I want to do differently this time?
3. Why is this goal important—to me, my team, or the organization?
4. How will I intentionally use what I’ve learned as I move forward?

This short reflection can dramatically improve your success rate.

Here’s to better projects, better results, and a more remarkable year ahead.

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