Heidi Saucier

2026 focus – My word and buckets

We just got through the first month of the year, but it’s not too late to talk about goals. While many organizations put their goals in place prior to the start of the year to hit the ground running, others take January and February to look at the enterprise objectives and determine how they can do their part on their respective teams to contribute to the success of those goals.

Whether personal or professional, we can always put goals in place at any time of the year to get us to the next place on our journey. For my goals, I have an approach that I gained from different leaders and mentors to shape the direction I want to go in a particular year. One of the first things I do, which I’m getting back to this year after a brief hiatus, is pick a word of focus for the year. One of my past leaders brought this to our team to encourage us to identify a theme that our goals could tie to. This year, I picked the word enhance. As I took 2025 to decompress from my doctoral journey, I looked at my goals and determined that I wanted to take some things I had in place to the next level. Some goals needed to be refined while others needed to be replaced in the areas I center on each year.

For my goals, I put them into six categories, or buckets. This was something I adopted after hearing mentors refer to this concept and reading articles that further defined a great way to consider goals. Typically, you identify one – no more than two – goals for each of the buckets that you want to achieve that year. Here are the definitions of those buckets with hghlights of the goals I have in place for 2026.

Personal: This bucket can go hand in hand with the professional one that I’ll share about later. For me, I pick things that I want to do that are enjoyable for me and sometimes self-care related. For 2026 I’m getting back to reading more with a goal to finish at least nine books. I also aim to read a professional related article weekly and determine where I can tie it to other goals in my life.

Financial: This may seem like a straightforward bucket. It can be goals that improve your current financial situation or explore new financial opportunities. I have traditionally put goals in this bucket that tie to paying off debt and have done that again this year. It’s helped me get in a better place financially, and I’m grateful for that.

Relationship: This bucket can apply to friendship, family, workplace, dating, or any other relationship you’re looking to focus on. This year, I’m working on having better communication with my parents and finding one way to communicate with each of them on a weekly basis.

Professional: In this area, many look at goals that help with their career or professional organizations they are a part of. In 2026, I’m hoping to participate in a lean certification program and learn more about board budgets related to my role as treasurer on the national board I serve on.

Health: There are many goals that you can put in this bucket. Diet, exercise, stress management, and many more. These goals help you maintain and improve your overall well-being. My goals in this area are around weight loss and exercise. One of them is to participate in more virtual 5K walks. I invest in many of these events to keep myself accountable to walking. Because of my current limitations, I break each 5K up into a series of walks. Once I have completed enough walks that total 3.1 miles, that 5K is complete. This year, my goal is to complete at least one 5K in less individual walks than I ever have.

Spiritual: Goals in this bucket can vary for each person, depending on what spirituality looks like for them. For some, it could be more involvement or attendance at church. For others, it’s increased prayer. For another, it could be practicing mindfulness. With where I am in my life now, one of my spiritual goals this year is to spend an intentional 5 minutes of silent reflection each day. It allows me to pause, get away from screens and people, and refocus.

I have other goals that are continuations of my 2025 focus. But these six buckets are my primary focus as I look to enhance my learning and well-being to bring me to the next level of development, improved relationships, and better health in 2026. I encourage you to consider the six buckets if you’re looking for a new way to approach your goals. I’d also love to hear other approaches on your goals. What has helped? Where have you adjusted? Share in the comments!

Heidi Saucier

Looking back 14 years – part 3

Over the last few posts, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons learned over my 14-year career at the company I currently work at. I’m wrapping up that series today by sharing with you the last two that have made a difference and helped me continue down the path of growth as a leader and all-around as a person.

  1. Be willing to take risks
    • If you needed a spokesperson for being risk adverse, I’d probably be at the top of the list. Over the years, I’ve learned that risk is necessary for growth. Some of the biggest risks I have taken led to new doors and successes that I never would have known if I had avoided the risk. This included entering a doctoral program where statistics was not my forte. I was grateful for a professor that took the time and provided tools and videos to help us through analyzing quantitative data. This was a key factor in being able to successfully perform quantitative research as part of my dissertation. When I first became a manager at my company, I moved to an area that I was not as familiar with. Not only was I being stretched as a new leader and the responsibilities it entailed, but I was also being stretched to better understand the audience I was tasked with developing training for. I implemented tactics I had used on other training teams to learn about the audience and worked with stakeholders to uncover their learning needs. These are just a few examples, but ones where had I decided the risk was not worth it, I would not be where I am at in my career journey.
  2. Never stop learning
    • Those that know me shouldn’t be surprised that this is on the list. As a learning nerd, I am always looking for new knowledge. Whether it’s reading a book, watching a video, engaging in a conversation, or taking some sort of class, I crave the chance to learn more every day. There are many quotes out there that reference the importance of learning. One of my favorites is from Jack Nicholson, who said “The minute you’re not learning I believe you’re dead.” A bit dark, but he’s right. Learning should encompass every moment of our lives. In the last year, here are some things I’ve learned:
      • How to use SecureGPT
      • How to create scene changes in a video software we use for learning
      • My son is amazing at math – he most likely gets that from his dad!
      • Having mentors is important
      • Adversity is inevitable – it’s how you respond to it that determines what happens next

I hope that the lessons shared were insightful and helped you reflect on your own career journey. In the next post, I’ll share how I’ve identified goals for 2026 and new ways I’m holding myself accountable. I’d still like to hear the reflections from your journey. Share in the comments!

Heidi Saucier

Looking back 14 years – Part 2

In my last post, I began sharing lessons I’ve learned over the past 14 years of my career. Here are some more that I would like to share with you:

  1. Feedback is crucial to growth, even if it’s hard to hear
    • Some of the biggest growth spurts in my career came from feedback that was not always comfortable and that I was not always aware of. One aspect of the Johari Window shows us that we need people to reveal our blind spots that may be getting in the way of our goals. It can also help us deal with imposter syndrome, where others may see our true potential better than we can. Whether it was improvements to my professional presence, different approaches in my presentation skills, or learning not to be quick to react when someone disagrees with me, key leaders and peers shared that feedback and helped me see opportunities for improvement. It was not always great to hear the feedback at the time but looking back I see the differences those moments made in my career development.
  2. Mentoring is a gift
    • Mentoring is one of my passions. I enjoy meeting with people and learning about their goals and sharing ways that they can strive for success. Amid supporting others, I realized that I also needed mentors in my life. Some mentors happened naturally, while some were a result of my taking the risk and asking if they would be willing to mentor me. I have had a mix of short-term and long-term mentors that have shared insights on their career journeys and challenged me to set critical goals as I seek the next road on my career journey. By pushing me to think outside the box, and taking actions on personal and professional goals, I have set down a road that will take me to new experiences as well as new and cultivated skills.
  3. Be open to different perspectives
    • No one person sees things the exact same way. Additionally, people can indirectly close themselves off to new ideas when they feel change is not necessary. Part of that can include the adage “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” On one of the boards I served on, the majority wanted to consider a new way of appointing a role that serves as a liaison between the chapter and the national organization. I first advocated that the person continue to meet a list of requirements that had been the norm for several years. Key voices on the board challenged that, indicating that maybe it was time for us to consider additional criteria that would allow us to have a fresh voice on the board. After listening to their views and reviewing what was listed in the existing board documents, I realized that there was nothing holding us back to move in this direction and consider people that may not fit the current mold but would allow us to bring new perspectives and innovation to the role. Had I not taken a step back and considered the bigger picture, I may have dug my heels in and caused unnecessary dissention within the board. Being open to a new way of approaching a situation can often be the spark needed to increase motivation and commitment to an important goal within an organization or a group you are a part of.

In my next post, I’ll wrap up the lessons I’ve reflected on. In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you. Have you benefited from tough feedback? What about having or being a mentor? Have you gained new perspectives? Share in the comments!

Heidi Saucier

Looking back 14 years – Part 1

On December 5, I celebrated 14 years at the company I work for. Over the next few posts, I would like to share some of the lessons that I’ve learned along the way.

  1. Introverts aren’t always quiet
    • For a time, I had a false perspective on the difference between an introvert and an extrovert. I thought that introverts had little to no interest in people, were super shy, and hardly spoke. See, I’m a people person. I love connecting with others and as I become comfortable with them I tend to be a chatterbox. As a facilitator, I also demonstrate extroverted characteristics. However, I started to realize that it was only a small portion of who I was. More dominant in me is the need to decompress after a packed day of interactions. I also thrive on smaller interactions and tend to silently observe before approaching others or speaking up in conversations. Once I embraced that reality, I knew that I was an introvert and was proud to be one. As I’ve moved into leadership, my introverted nature has helped in decision making as I often observe and reflect before responding. At the same time, I’ve had to get out of my comfort zone and speak up to ensure I am heard in certain settings. It continues to be a learning experience, but one that I am glad to walk through.
  2. Networking is necessary
    • As an introvert, I struggled for a time to want to go to networking events unless I knew several people that were going to be there. This was a big step outside of my comfort zone. As I made more of an effort to introduce myself to people and start conversations, I began new relationships with people within my company and the learning and development industry. Many of these connections have been key partners for projects where I needed insights for training and for learning new ways to approach training using tools and techniques I may not have learned about otherwise. If you’re not always comfortable meeting new people, I challenge you to go to a networking event and set a goal of meeting one new person. You will be surprised at the results!

I will continue sharing lessons in my next post. In the meantime, what are some lessons you’ve learned in your career? I’d love to see them in the comments.

Heidi Saucier

Gratitude – A daily practice

A new month is upon us, the last month of 2025. In November, many used the time to celebrate a month of gratitude. For some, that meant daily posts on social media as their commitment to share things that they are grateful for. Others made public declarations of thanksgiving among friends, family, and colleagues. With the Thanksgiving holiday over and the winter season fast approaching, it does not mean that practicing gratitude has to end.

Years ago, I was encouraged by a mentor to begin a gratitude journal. Prior to this, I was noting one thing a day that I was thankful for. Deciding to take it to the next level, I started my first gratitude journal with a new focus. Each day, I write down five successes and three things I am thankful for. As much as possible, I try not to repeat the same thing unless it’s tied to a goal of mine. Successes could be as simple as meeting my active minutes goal for the day, or as big as earning my doctoral degree. My thankful moments have included naps, a new connection, or making it through a challenging day.

Writing these down does multiple things. First, it documents them so that I can reflect on things that I’ve written down in the future. This brings encouragement and joyful memories. It also centers me on days where I may be struggling. I write in my gratitude journal EVERY day. If there’s a day where I’m not feeling gratitude, I still write something down. It may take longer, but it puts things back into perspective. Even on the worst day, I still find things that went well and things I can be thankful for. Additionally, it tells part of my story. When I’ve looked back on certain days in my past journal entries, it reminds me of where I’ve been, and how I’ve gotten to where I am now.

Shawn Achor, author of “The Happiness Advantage” and “Big Potential,” shared in his TedTalk “The happy secret to better work” how gratitude activities are found to contribute to happiness and productivity. Looking back, I see how this has played out in my life. By taking time to reflect on successes and things I am thankful for, I can see what is going well and am motivated to keep moving forward with my personal and professional goals.  

How has practicing gratitude helped you? What techniques have you used? I’d love to hear about it. I hope you have a great start to the last month of 2025!