Big fish eat little fish.

Imagine my wardrobe for a minute. A standard 1 metre wide, white Ikea Pax wardrobe. Imagine that all my T-shirts, skirts, trousers, dresses – whether for winter or summer – all hang in there. And imagine that whenever I get a new item, I add it to what’s already there. Imagine, for a moment, that I never remove anything.

What would happen?

Yeap. In addition to being cramped to the top, I would barely fit a new hanger in there, so tight is the space. I would not see what I have; I would only see a wall of clothes as I opened the wardrobe.

Big fish eat little fish.

As we go into January, many of us think about what we want to have and what we want to do in 2025.

We might be thinking about changing careers, starting new habits, or finally letting self-doubt not hold us back.

But similarly to my wardrobe: You won't fit new things in your closet without a good sweep. Or, like in my case, you lose sight of what you have and resort to the few clothing items you know.

That’s the big fish: The stuff I have worn for a long time. They feel good, they fit me well and I remember where they are. So out the come, every time.


In the new year/new framework, the big fish are your old thinking patterns, thoughts, and emotions about a specific issue (whether your career or your health) and your way of doing things.

Things you have done, thought and felt for a long time.

They are big because you they've been around a long time.


What's the little fish?

Well, that new top I only bought last week, and I want to wear it. But it hangs cramped amongst all my existing tops/and t-shirts. I can’t see it for everything else that is going on. And likely, without some effort, I will forget about it.

In the new year/new scenario, the little fish are: The spark, inspiration, intention, and goal you set right now.

They are little fish because they have no space and momentum.


And that's the problem with most New Year's resolutions or goals.

They are created in isolation from all the patterns, thought forms, and ways of being.

The big fish (your old thoughts/habits/patterns/feelings) will eat the little fish over time.


So, as you look at your 2025 goals, ask yourself:

What are the big fish that will eat your little fish in time?

Then, work on removing the big fish.

(and while we’re at it: it helps to clear out your wardrobe, too, btw 😊).


Here are two recent examples of how I coached clients to remove their big fish:

B. wanted to excel in moving from contributor to leader in a new role. Her big fish? Her negative, self-sabotaging mental models made her think/feel she wasn’t up for the job. She second-guessed herself, didn’t take risks, and relied on others' opinions. The big fish ate away at her objective of becoming a courageous and confident leader. Through coaching, she

• Learned to recognise the stories in her head (and when they showed up).
• Handled situations of uncertainty or discomfort with presence and confidence.
• Took a risk on something never done before and successfully closed the deal.

D. wanted to find a purposeful career path for himself. His big fish? A well-worn, trodden path of the role and career he had to date. That identity clashed with what he wanted now. He felt pressure to succeed at work while feeling demotivated and frustrated at continuing as is. Through coaching he

• Found tools and ways to reconnect to his intuition and the “who” he is today;
• Built a resiliency toolkit to handle when the external pressure built so that he could refocus on his commitments and intentions.
• Clarified the process of exploring a new identity while bringing energy into his current routine.

3 ways I can help you in January

If you want to think about your big fish and little fish in January, here's how I can help:

1. If you have a question or want an idea of what the “little fish” could be, join my
✨ Career Sparks this Thursday, 9 January ✨.
Live session only; no recording to protect confidentiality. Details & RSVP here.

2.     If you want to think about your little fish and big fish simultaneously, come to my
✨ Workshop “Welcome 2025 with intention” on Friday, 17 January ✨.
This session is not your standard 'smart goal setting' workshop. It's about crafting a mindful approach to the year ahead. Expect a blend of personal reflection, poetry, sharing, visualization, and a grounding start to the new year. You'll leave with a robust intention and possibilities.
Details and registration here. Recording will be available.

3.     If you are ready to explore coaching, ✨ book your free 45-minute discovery call ✨ . No strings attached.

What's one of your big fish goals/intentions for 2025?
 
Hope you had a good start to 2025,
best,
Simone