First things first: Check out the new Warrior Poet playlist on Spotify!

Make New Year’s resolutions the right way.

Happy New Year, buddy. 

80% of people give up on their New Year's resolutions before February is over. Fewer than 10% are successful overall. 

A huge part of this is that people make resolutions for the wrong reasons—and in the wrong way. 

Let’s be honest: Thinking of a big goal, imagining it a little, and announcing it to others is fun. It gives us a dopamine hit without doing any work at all. 

The real test is whether we can show up and do the work. 

To do that requires a lot of things, including a strong, positive, patient mindset. 

The goal also needs to be something we truly value, not just a superficial want. Don’t get me wrong, you might really value 6-pack abs. And I’m not judging. But most people who say they want a shredded midsection weren’t ever willing to truly invest in it. 

Another factor that gets overlooked is the process of commitment. I dare say I’ve introduced something there that is non-obvious. So again, commitment is a process. Yet, it’s tricky. 

I interviewed my former marketing professor from HBS for the podcast (episode out soon). He studies human behavior. According to him (Michael Norton), self-control is “the Holy Grail” of psychology and neuroscience. No one has really cracked how some people can follow through on goals and others struggle mightily. 

We do have clues, though. As I tell clients all the time, “The secret is there is no secret.” Although this mantra applies generally, I’m making a thinly veiled reference to the book The Secret. That book is a little woo, but its core practice is echoed in a lot of other self-help, including Tony Robbins’ work and Success Principles by Jack Canfield. The key is this: Immerse yourself in the thing you want. 

Sounds obvious, right? But how many people do it? 

Around December 29th, most people who want to lose weight sit on the couch eating the remains of stocking candy, “I should really lose 10 pounds.” Then they return to the BCS or a cheesy Hallmark movie (wait, that’s redundant ;)

Someone who’s serious about it has done 10x that. They may have: 

✅ Worked with ChatGPT to figure out what a reasonable target is and a draft plan. 

✅ Researched gym memberships. 

✅ Found a buddy to workout with. 

✅ Watched 10 Youtube videos on how people who succeed have done it. 

✅ Figured out how they’ll keep the weight off after they succeed. 

✅ Taken some long walks listening to podcasts about it. 

✅ Thought about all the obstacles they’ll face. 

✅ Put an AI-generated image of them at their target weight on their mirror 

✅ Thought about how good they’ll feel when they succeed. 

✅ Learned how meal-timing and composition can be optimized and why. 

✅ Know how people lose weight without every workout feeling like torture. 

✅ They created a tracker of key metrics—with target milestones along the way. 

✅ Blocked off their calendar. 

I could go on. But the point is that people who are serious go way beyond goal-setting. They plan. They learn. They break the goal into small chunks to make it feel achievable. 

And importantly, they get excited. 

The basic explanations for why people don’t achieve their dreams are: 

❌ Lack of know-how

❌ Poor willpower

The first is mind-bogglingly solvable. Someone else has done everything you want to do before. AI and Google serve up that education for free, instantly. 

The second, willpower, is too simplistic. Too judgmental. And it doesn’t take into account the complexity and variety of human minds. The issue isn’t usually “They couldn’t hack it” but rather “They didn’t really want it.” 

So, goals are great. But don’t write them down frivolously. 

Take plenty of time to mull over what’s important to you. 

And then dive in. 

If you plan in depth—and immerse yourself in the goal—then it starts to become real. 

You gain confidence. You gain know-how. You prepare your mind for the difficulties ahead. 

I sincerely hope you crush 2026. 

 ❤️ Andrew

PS. Give yourself a habit or two to build—not just goals. And for some people in particular, habits are a better focus. Sometimes the results will follow naturally from better habits. 

Outro

Don’t know why, but this sounds like a great “f— you” song to any of the haters in your life in 2026. 

“Black Out Days” by Phantogram 

Cheers

🧠 Let’s talk: Transform your business in 2026. Grab a free slot to meet with me, and let’s talk through how I can help you reach your goals. 💥 🙌

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Get unstuck, and crush it. Double period. 🔱