Soldiering On

At a Glance: 

• Focus On Your North Star: Reconnect with your "why" by defining your North Star—the guiding purpose that helps you navigate uncertainty and stay grounded. Whether it’s creating something meaningful, supporting your family, or leaving a legacy, your North Star provides direction and motivation, especially when the "what" feels overwhelming.  
• Find Your Rhythm: Whether through morning rituals, shared moments with loved ones, or the power of small, intentional habits, establishing a steady cadence helps you navigate uncertainty.  
• Document Momentum: Track your progress, no matter how small, through a momentum journal. Research shows that the feeling of making progress—even through minor wins—is a powerful motivator. By documenting these moments, you build a tangible record of your forward movement, reminding yourself that every step counts.  

“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” —Langston Hughes  

Dear Colleague,

When motivation wanes, it’s hard to focus on the what—the tasks, the deadlines, the endless to-do lists. Sometimes, the “what” feels meaningless.

A close colleague is let go, and more work shifts to your plate. A loved one passes, but you’re in the middle of a big deal. The velocity of political and social news feels impossible to process. It’s in these moments that the weight of it all can feel crushing.

How do we get out of this rut?

The answer lies in shifting our focus—not on the what, but on the why. Why do we do what we do? What’s the North Star that guides us through the fog? When the tasks feel overwhelming, and the world feels chaotic, reconnecting with your purpose can be the anchor that keeps you steady.

There are 45 weeks remaining in 2025, and the winds of change may have blown a cold air into life. But seasons shift, and downs become ups as quickly as they were once downs. Change is inevitable, but it’s rarely comfortable. Now, more than ever, we need the steady rhythm of soldiers’ feet hitting the pavement—the quiet, persistent steps that move us forward, even when the path feels unclear. Below are three strategies to help you find that rhythm and keep marching.

Focus on Your North Star

My “North Star” is to unlock the best version of myself—not just for my sake, but for those who depend on me. This anchor has never failed me, even through life’s most turbulent times. Years ago, I sketched out the person I wanted to become. I drew the relationships that mattered most, the kind of father and husband I aspired to be, the legacy I hoped to leave behind, and the reputation I wanted to embody when people heard my name. When I feel overwhelmed, I revisit this image—this North Star—and ask myself: Are my actions today moving me closer to that “best version” of myself?

What’s amazing is how little of that vision revolved around money. Instead, it centered on living the values that animate my life and sharing them with others. This North Star led me to write my book, to make an impact on education through board service with Veritas, and to coach young lawyers and graduate students. Above all, that vision involved being a present father and husband.

Your North Star is the reason you show up, even when it’s hard. Maybe your North Star is to create something meaningful, to support your family, or to leave a legacy. Whatever it is, keep it front and center. When the what feels daunting, the why will pull you forward.

The truth is, most of us will work our entire lives. And when we look back, few of us will remember the particular stresses of one job over another. What you will remember are the moments you spent with family and friends—especially after they’re gone.

This truth has resonated with me even more as my family navigates an untimely loss.

Find A Cadence

In 2009, researchers Scott Wiltermuth and Chip Heath conducted a series of experiments to examine the effects of synchronized movement on social cohesion. In one study, participants were divided into groups and asked to walk in step with one another, sing together, or engage in random, unsynchronized movements. The results were striking—those who moved in rhythm reported stronger feelings of trust and connection with their group members, even when they had just met.[1] This research confirmed something militaries have known for centuries: synchronized activities, such as marching cadences, reinforce unity, improve morale, and build resilience under pressure.

Soldiers sing while marching—not just to keep in step, but to build camaraderie in difficult moments. Science further supports this tradition. Music has been shown to reduce perceived exertion, making physically demanding tasks feel easier.[2] Rhythmic auditory cues also improve movement efficiency, helping individuals coordinate their steps and maintain endurance.[3]

Cadences are more than tradition—they are tools of progress for pushing through difficult times.

When the path ahead feels uncertain, when motivation wavers, and when the weight of responsibilities grows heavy, sometimes all we need is a steady rhythm to keep moving forward. For me, that rhythm includes the quiet stillness of morning coffee as the sun rises, the grounding words of a devotion, the steady discipline of weekly exercise, shared meals with my six-year-old, and the clarity that comes with writing. These small milestones anchor my days, reminding me that no matter how chaotic life becomes, I am still moving forward. Whether it’s a morning routine, a team ritual, or a personal mantra, finding your cadence—your rhythmic, repeatable momentum—can make all the difference.

Document Momentum

In 2011, Harvard Business School researchers Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer set out to understand what truly drives workplace motivation.[4] They conducted a multi-year study tracking the daily experiences of 238 professionals across seven different companies, analyzing nearly 12,000 individual diary entries. Participants recorded their thoughts on workplace events, frustrations, and victories, providing a rare, real-time look into the psychology of work.

After reviewing these entries, Amabile and Kramer discovered a striking pattern: the single greatest motivator wasn’t praise, bonuses, or even clear long-term goals—it was the feeling of making progress, no matter how small.

One participant wrote that solving even a minor coding bug created a “ripple effect” of momentum, making the next task feel easier and the workload lighter.

I’ve adopted this idea by keeping a momentum journal. Regularly, I write down one small win—a resolved conflict, a finished slide, even a kind email. At first, these notes feel insignificant. But over time, they stack into something powerful—a ladder that pulls me out of burnout when the weight of responsibilities feels overwhelming. Looking back at these accumulated wins gives tangible proof of progress.

When motivation wanes, it’s easy to fixate on the mountain—the enormous project, the impossible deadline, the sheer volume of work left to do. But progress isn’t about leaping to the summit in a single bound; it’s about taking the next step. That’s the power of a momentum journal. It reminds you that movement, no matter how small, is still movement. And some days, that’s all we need to keep going.

A Dose of Optimism

Some days, the weight of responsibilities will press down with an unbearable force. But forward is forward, no matter how small the step.

You don’t have to have all the answers today. You don’t have to feel inspired every moment. What matters is that you keep moving—one step, one habit, one intentional act at a time. Research has shown that real progress isn’t about massive leaps; it’s about small, consistent actions that build over time. A single push-up, a single sentence, a single intentional moment—these are the micro-habits that parlay into something greater.

Find your North Star and let it steady you. Set your cadence and let it carry you. Document your momentum and let it remind you how far you’ve already come.

Seasons shift. What feels overwhelming today will soon be a chapter you’ve conquered. And when you look back, it won’t be the stress or the chaos that you remember—it will be the moments of clarity, of resilience, of choosing to keep going when stopping felt easier.

You are further along than you think. Keep marching. Keep building. And know this: the path ahead is still yours to shape.

With unwavering belief in your leadership journey, 

Go Deeper Later...

[1] Amabile, Teresa M., and Steven J. Kramer. The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work. Harvard Business Review Press, 2011.

[2] Karageorghis, Costas I., and David L. Priest. “Music in Sport and Exercise: An Update on Research and Application.” The Sport Journal, vol. 11, no. 3, 2012, pp. 98-104.

[3] Thaut, Michael H., et al. “Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation Improves Gait in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease.” Movement Disorders, vol. 10, no. 3, 1996, pp. 282-290.

[4] Wiltermuth, Scott S., and Chip Heath. “Synchrony and Cooperation.” Psychological Science, vol. 20, no. 1, 2009, pp. 498-502.

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Andrew Cooper is a husband, dad, brother, son, author of the bestselling book The Ethical Imperative, and life-long student of human behavior and leadership. In his spare time, he is a board director, patent inventor, technology attorney, keynote speaker, and lecturer.