You’re standing at the edge of a new year, and that alone means you’re poised for something big. The close of the year isn’t just about winding down or checking off one last holiday on the calendar. It’s a powerful moment, a chance to hit pause, reflect, and then reboot with intention.
I get it. Life moves fast. Too fast sometimes. We’re wired to sprint ahead, chasing the next goal, the next win, the next big thing. Looking back? Not something we naturally do. But here’s the kicker: reflection is the foundation of growth. It’s where you see how far you’ve come and decide where you want to go next.
Take this past year for me. I started 2023 with a clear goal to double down on my speaking business. No vague wishful thinking. Just laser focus. And by December, I had done over 40 paid speaking gigs. Forty. That crushed my expectations. Why? Because I was intentional. I tracked my progress, celebrated wins along the way, and stayed committed to the vision I set. Gratitude fueled that momentum. As the late Zig Ziglar said, “Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.”
But it’s not just about what you accomplish. It’s about *who* you become during the process. That's the real shift. I remember sharing this with my co-host Justin, and it struck a chord with me. Sure, business goals matter. But what about the person you want to be? How you want to show up for your family, your friends, yourself? How do you want to feel when you look back at the end of 2026?
That question changes everything. Because once you know the type of person you want to be, your work, your habits, your priorities align naturally. Instead of scrambling to fit your life around your business, you build your business around your life’s values.
One exercise I swear by is this: write down what you want to *do*, *be*, *have*, *learn*, *change*, and *give* in the coming year. Break your vision into those six quadrants. Then create what I call a “vision movie” , think of it as a dynamic vision board, but with moving pictures that bring your dreams to life. I’ve seen some of the wildest things come true because I took the time to lay it all out visually.
Here’s the reality check: If you don’t intentionally design the person you want to become, you risk losing yourself to the noise of life and business. When that happens, your goals slip away, relationships suffer, and burnout creeps in. That’s why the end of the year is a golden opportunity, not just for rest, but for clarity.
And speaking of rest, don’t just zone out and pretend the season will reset you on its own. Be purposeful about your downtime. Ask yourself, “What do I want to get out of this break? How can I recharge in a way that fuels my best self?” It’s not about watching endless Netflix or mindless chilling, but about carving out space to realign and refocus.
I get it, the holidays can be messy. Family dynamics, endless obligations, and yeah, some of those cheesy traditions (I’m the guy who gets teased for not loving Christmas music). But within that chaos lies an opportunity. When the world slows down, you get room to think, appreciate, and plan.
So, here’s my challenge to you: Before 2026 hits full throttle, take a moment to get intentional. Define who you want to be. Decide how you want to feel when the next December rolls around. Because that will shape every move you make. The great chess master José Raúl Capablanca once said, “In order to improve your game, you must study the endgame before everything else.” Likewise, to improve your life, understand where you want it to end up and work backwards.
Your year-end rituals can be the single move that changes everything.
Ready to go deeper? Listen to the full episode where I unpack this with my co-host and share how these simple shifts can bring massive momentum to your life and business.
Listen to the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJYivGv8DOk
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