Finding Purpose and Impact: Lessons from Seb Terry’s "100 Things" Movement

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9/29/2025

When Seb Terry reflects on the turning point in his life, one question stands out: “Am I happy?” It came after a degree that felt meaningless, a business that didn’t resonate, and the loss of a close friend. “I realized I was very unhappy and disconnected to any sense of purpose or people,” he recalls on the MGMA Insights podcast.

That moment sparked a simple yet profound act: grabbing a pen and writing down 100 things that might make him smile more often. “I essentially dropped everything in my life to achieve this list. It’s been going for about 16 years now, and it’s created a ripple effect that’s touched many lives,” Terry says.

What started as a personal exercise quickly evolved into a global initiative, a book, and regular speaking engagements, including his upcoming closing keynote at the MGMA Leaders Conference. Terry will speak on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 8:30 a.m. EDT at the Chapin Theater. His topic is Unlocking Limitless Possibility – One Bold Dream at a Time. Onstage, his style has been described as "immersive and interactive," which might include plucking a few lucky MGMA attendees from the audience to help them visualize and realize their goals more fully.

Clarity Drives Action

Terry emphasizes the importance of being crystal clear about what matters. “The very same things that stop us from taking action towards a goal end up being the very same things people on their deathbed regret,” he notes. Drawing from The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, a book by palliative care nurse Bronnie Ware, Terry highlights regrets that resonate in professional life: living according to others’ expectations, not prioritizing happiness, failing to express oneself, and losing touch with meaningful connections.

In practical terms, Terry suggests:

Define goals that are meaningful, not just tasks to check off.
Make the goal visible and tangible—writing it down triggers positive neurochemicals like serotonin and dopamine.
Start small: one goal is enough to shift momentum and build confidence.

Accountability and Micro-Steps

Achieving goals, Terry says, is rarely a solo journey. “We need to create accountability. It can be as simple as telling someone what your goal is. Then they can encourage and support you, and you can do the same for them,” he explains. For busy healthcare leaders, small steps matter: a single 10-minute action toward a goal can make a measurable difference.

This approach applies equally to personal and professional objectives. Terry observes that workplace goals often succeed because they are embedded in accountability structures, whereas personal goals are left to drift without support. Leaders can foster this in teams by encouraging peer accountability, micro-goals, and celebrating incremental progress.

Kindness as a Catalyst

A recurring theme in Terry’s work is kindness. “Everything I’ve managed to do in my life has been about other people and connection,” he says. Leaders can translate this into practice by fostering environments where collaboration, empathy, and mutual support drive achievement. “We are strong as individuals, but we are better together,” Terry reflects, quoting the proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Making an Impact

Terry points to the ripple effect of his work. Beyond personal fulfillment, the 100 Things movement has inspired people worldwide, including those facing profound challenges. One example, he says, involved helping a quadriplegic achieve a goal that was deeply important to him. “I was fortunate enough to work with him on something quite special,” Terry recalls, noting he’ll save the full story for his keynote. For healthcare leaders, the lesson is clear: enabling others to achieve meaningful goals can have outsized impact, even amid the demands and pressures of daily practice management.

Takeaways for Medical Practice Leaders

Start with clarity: Encourage your team to define meaningful goals and micro-steps.
Create accountability: Peer support and structured follow-up increase the likelihood of success.
Prioritize kindness and connection: Success is amplified when teams feel supported and valued.
Small steps matter: Even brief actions toward a goal improve well-being and performance.
Celebrate impact: Recognize both personal and collective achievements to sustain motivation.