Saturday morning. Coffee in hand. Mind wandering.

This is where I process the week, explore ideas that don't fit neatly into frameworks, and share what's been rattling around in my head.

No agenda. No clean conclusions. Just thoughts worth thinking.

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ON DECISIONS VS. RESOLUTIONS

I've been thinking about why resolutions fail.

It's not because people lack willpower or discipline.

It's because resolutions are activity-based, not identity-based.

"I'm going to work out 5 times a week" is a resolution.

"I'm becoming someone who moves their body daily" is a decision.

The first is about doing. The second is about being.

And being always wins.

The pattern I'm noticing:

The people who transform aren't the ones with the best plans.

They're the ones who decide who they're becoming—and then act accordingly.

They don't "try" to work out. They're athletes.
They don't "try" to write. They're writers.
They don't "try" to build. They're builders.

The question I'm sitting with:

What if transformation isn't about changing what you do, but about deciding who you are?

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ON THE COST OF ADDITION

We live in an addition culture.

More is better. Growth equals expansion. Success equals accumulation.

But I'm learning: Addition has a hidden cost.

Every time you add something, you're subtracting from something else.

Add a new client? You're subtracting time from existing clients.
Add a new offer? You're subtracting focus from your core business.
Add a new commitment? You're subtracting energy from what matters most.

The trap:

We see the benefit of addition (new revenue, new opportunity, new growth).

We don't see the cost of addition (diluted focus, increased complexity, stolen peace).

The shift:

What if the most profitable thing you could do in 2026 is subtract?

What if simplicity is your competitive advantage?

What if less is actually more?

I don't have answers yet. But I'm testing the hypothesis.

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ON IDENTITY DEBT AND THE NEW YEAR

Every December, we're encouraged to "become our best selves."

But what if your "best self" is actually your past self?

What if the version of you that worked last year is the version holding you back this year?

This is identity debt.

You're clinging to who you were because that person was successful.

But that person can't take you where you need to go.

Examples from my own life:

Last year, I was "the consultant who does everything."

That identity got me to $250K. It's preventing me from getting to $1M.

Last year, I was "the guy who's always available."

That identity made me popular. It's making me exhausted.

Last year, I was "the person who has all the answers."

That identity made me feel valuable. It's preventing my team from growing.

The work:

Paying down identity debt isn't about becoming someone new.

It's about releasing who you were so you can become who you're meant to be.

The question:

What identity are you carrying into 2026 that you need to leave in 2025?

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ON PEACE AS A DECISION

I used to think peace was something that happened to you.

You worked hard. You achieved success. Then—maybe—you got peace.

But this year taught me: Peace is a decision, not a destination.

You don't find peace. You design for it.

You don't earn peace. You protect it.

You don't wait for peace. You create it.

The shift:

I'm not waiting for my business to "calm down" so I can have peace.

I'm designing my business around peace from the start.

That means:
• No chaos clients (even if they pay well)
• No meetings after 4 PM (even if it's "important")
• No Slack on weekends (even if there's a "quick question")
• No projects that require constant firefighting

The belief I'm testing:

What if protecting your peace is the most profitable thing you can do?

What if calm isn't the absence of ambition—it's the foundation for it?

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ON MOTION VS. MOMENTUM (AGAIN)

I can't stop thinking about this.

Motion feels productive. Planning. Researching. Strategizing.

Momentum is different. It's action that compounds.

The trap:

Motion lets you feel busy without risking failure.

You can plan forever. Research indefinitely. Prepare for every scenario.

Momentum requires commitment. It requires choosing. It requires acting before you feel ready.

The pattern:

When I'm anxious, I plan.
When I'm uncertain, I research.
When I'm afraid to commit, I strategize.

Motion is my coping mechanism.

The question:

How much of my week is motion disguised as work?

How much of my "productivity" is just elaborate procrastination?

I tracked it last week. 38% was motion.

This week, I'm implementing the 30-minute planning rule.

Plan for 30 minutes. Then do for 90 minutes. Repeat.

If I'm planning for more than 30 minutes, I'm probably procrastinating.

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ON WHAT I'M READING

I'm re-reading "Atomic Habits" by James Clear.

Not because I don't know the concepts. But because I need the reminder.

The line that's sticking with me:

"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems."

That's why resolutions fail. They're goals without systems.

Decisions create systems. They change who you are, not just what you do.

The practice:

I'm not making resolutions for 2026.

I'm making 5 decisions that will define who I become.

And I'm building systems around those decisions.

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WHAT I'M PONDERING THIS WEEKEND

A few questions I'm sitting with:

1. What identity am I carrying into 2026 that I need to leave in 2025?

2. What's one thing I can subtract in January that would create 10x the space?

3. How much of my week is motion vs. momentum?

4. What boundary do I need to set to protect my peace?

5. Who am I becoming, and am I acting accordingly?

I don't have clean answers yet. But I'm sitting with the questions.

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WHAT I'M LISTENING TO

Album: "In Rainbows" by Radiohead

There's something about this album that creates space for deep thinking.

It's complex but calming. Layered but focused.

Perfect for a Saturday morning when you're processing the year and setting intentions for the next.

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WHAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR

This week challenged me to think differently about transformation.

Not as something I do, but as someone I become.

Not as goals I achieve, but as decisions I make.

Not as resolutions I try, but as systems I build.

And I'm grateful for that shift.

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ONE THING TO TRY THIS WEEKEND

Sit with one uncomfortable question.

Not a planning session. Not a strategy audit. Just one question.

For me, it's:

"What identity am I carrying into 2026 that I need to leave in 2025?"

For you, it might be:

• "What's one thing I can subtract that would create 10x the space?"
• "How much of my week is motion vs. momentum?"
• "What boundary do I need to set to protect my peace?"
• "Who am I becoming, and am I acting accordingly?"

Pick one. Sit with it. Don't rush to an answer.

Let it marinate. Let it disrupt. Let it challenge you.

Then, when you're ready act on it.

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These are the things I'm thinking about.

What are you thinking about?

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One question, one insight, one shift at a time.

Grace over guilt. Always.

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See you tomorrow for "The 3 Things I Have Learned" where I'll break down the lessons, wins, and losses from this week.