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STARTING STRONG: THE LEADERSHIP MINDSET FOR A NEW YEAR

  • Writer: Margarita Kilpatrick
    Margarita Kilpatrick
  • 5 days ago
  • 2 min read

Every new year starts with noise.


Resolutions. Predictions. Overwhelm disguised as motivation. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in leadership, whether in the boardroom, on the track, or at the Foundation, it’s that starting strong doesn’t mean doing everything.

It means doing the right things, on purpose.

THIS WEEK MATTERS MORE THAN PEOPLE THINK

The first week of January is when most people race ahead or stall out. They rush to make progress before they’ve even clarified the problem…Or they get stuck trying to map out the entire year before taking a single step. Both paths usually lead nowhere.


Intentional leadership is different. It asks:


✅ What matters most right now?

✅ What am I no longer dragging into the new year?

✅ What can I do today that sets the tone for how I want to lead this year?


GOOD LEADERS DON'T JUST SET GOALS. THEY RESET THEIR HABITS.


A goal without structure is just a wish. A leader without rhythm is always in reactive mode. The best leaders I know are clear on two things in January:


  1. Their personal operating system — how they make decisions, manage energy, and lead themselves.

  2. Their people priorities — who they’re investing in, what their team actually needs, and where momentum needs to build.


For me, that includes the researchers we back through the Foundation. The pit crew that keeps us competitive. And the people on my own team who keep the wheels turning every day. Because the truth is, we never lead in isolation, the impact is always collective.


THIS YEAR, CHOOSE TO LEAD ON PURPOSE

Don’t let the world rush you into reactive thinking. Don’t confuse activity with direction. The new year is a chance to return to what works:


→ Focus.→ Discipline.→ Clarity.→ People-first leadership.


You don’t have to know every answer this week. But you do have to start from intention, or everything else will just be noise.


FINAL THOUGHT

No one remembers what you planned. They remember what you showed up for. Make this the year your leadership is defined by presence, not pressure.

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AUTHOR, ADVOCATE, RACER

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From the high-stakes world of federal courtrooms to the high-speed turns of race tracks, Ted Giovanis’s books capture a life built on determination, strategic thinking, and results.

 

In Beyond Fear, Giovanis recounts his extraordinary six-year battle with the U.S. Department, a fight that began with a single email and culminated in one of the largest Medicare court settlements in history. Representing 730 hospitals, he took on the federal government, navigated complex policy battles, and ultimately secured a $3 billion victory. Framed by his humble beginnings and the love and loss of his wife, Jayne, it is a powerful story of persistence, intellect, and the pursuit of justice.

 

In Focus Forward, the pace shifts from legal strategy to the race track, where Giovanis has spent three decades competing at speeds of 180 miles per hour. Starting his racing career at forty-six, he discovered that the discipline, teamwork, and adaptability needed in motorsport mirror the qualities that lead to success in life and business. He shares lessons learned in the driver’s seat, from preparation and resilience to embracing challenges head-on.

 

Together, these books offer a rare double perspective: one from the courtroom and one from the cockpit, united by the same driving force to face obstacles with courage, think strategically, and always keep pushing forward.

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