We are entering 2026. In my 30 years in this industry, I’ve seen thousands of “New Year’s Resolutions” die before February. Most people treat the new year like a wish list. Real leaders treat it like a technical upgrade.

If you want 2026 to be the year you level up, you don’t need more “intentions.” You need a tactical operating system. Here is the 15-point protocol we are committing to.

1. Exercise: Build the Engine

Stop waiting for a “perfect” hour. It doesn’t exist. High-stakes leadership requires high-level physical resilience.

• The Action: Commit to Habit Stacking. Do 20 air squats while your coffee brews. Movement is the floor, not the ceiling.

2. Digital Hygiene: Lock the Doors

Your security is likely lazy. In 2026, data is a liability if it isn’t protected.

• The Action: Audit your passwords this week. Move everything to a dedicated manager (1Password/LastPass) and enable MFA on every single account.

3. Subscription Audit: Stop the Bleed

We are being nickel-and-dimed by “vampire” subscriptions.

• The Action: Check your “Recurring” bank statements. Cancel three services you haven’t used in 30 days. Reclaim that capital.

4. Nutrition: Eat Less, Think Better

Leadership is cognitive. If you eat like a novice, you’ll think like one.

• The Action: Practice Intermittent Fasting. Give your body a 16-hour break. Use the fasted window for your hardest “Deep Work” problems.

5. Social Intelligence: Be Nicer, Not Softer

Kindness is a multiplier; being “nice” is just a social mask.

• The Action: Practice Radical Candor. Be direct with your feedback, but do it from a place of genuine care for the other person’s growth.

6. Cognitive Depth: Think Harder

AI is making our lives easier, but our minds lazier.

• The Action: Spend 20 minutes a day with a blank sheet of paper. No phone. No Slack. Just you and a complex problem. Solve it manually.

7. Communication: The 80/20 Rule

You cannot learn while your mouth is moving.

• The Action: In every meeting, be the last to speak. Listen for what isn’t being said.

8. Environment: Get Outside

We weren’t designed to live under LEDs. Your brain needs the horizon to reset.

• The Action: The “Sunshine First” policy. Spend 10 minutes outside before you touch a screen in the morning.

9. Service: Lead by Giving

Stop asking what you can get. Start looking for where you can fill a gap.

• The Action: Identify one person in your network who is struggling. Do one thing for them without being asked—refer a client, write a testimonial, or share a resource.

10. Meditation: The Nervous System Reset

In 2026, silence is a competitive advantage.

• The Action: Practice Box Breathing (4-4-4-4) between meetings. It tells your brain the “saber-toothed tiger” (your inbox) isn’t actually going to kill you.

11. Sleep: Protect Your Decision Capital

Sleep is your primary KPI. Running on fumes is a sign of poor management, not a badge of honor.

• The Action: The 3-2-1 Rule. No food 3 hours before bed, no work 2 hours before, and no screens 1 hour before.

12. Digital Minimalism: Cull the Noise

We are “infobese.” If an app doesn’t educate you or make you money, it’s a distraction.

• The Action: Set a “Gray-Scale” filter on your phone after 8:00 PM. It makes the screen psychologically unappealing.

13. Longevity: Zone 2 Training

You need a base of aerobic fitness to handle the stress of high-level work.

• The Action: Take two “Walking Meetings” a week. Get your heart rate up while you solve problems.

14. Networking: Depth Over Breadth

A cluttered network is just noise.

• The Action: The “5-1-1 Rule.” Every week, reach out to 5 old colleagues, 1 potential mentor, and 1 person you can help. No agenda—just connection.

15. The “No” List: Selective Ignorance

Your “To-Don’t” list is more important than your “To-Do” list.

• The Action: Practice the “Hard No.” If it’s not a “Hell Yes,” it’s a “No.” Protect your time like it’s your most valuable asset—because it is.

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The 2026 Blueprint: A 12-Month Execution Roadmap

Don’t try to do all 15 at once. You’ll fail. Use this roadmap to integrate one major change per month.

Month	Focus Area	Core Objective
January	The Engine	Implement “Habit Stacking” for exercise and start the 3-2-1 Sleep Rule.
February	Digital Audit	Move to a Password Manager and cancel all “Vampire” subscriptions.
March	Social Intelligence	Practice being the “Last to Speak” in meetings. Listen more.
April	The Fast	Introduce Intermittent Fasting and a “Sunshine First” morning routine.
May	Cognitive Depth	Block 20 minutes a day for “Thinking Hard” with a blank sheet of paper.
June	Networking	Launch the 5-1-1 networking rule. Focus on deepening real connections.
July	Service	Identify one person each week to help without being asked.
August	Minimalism	Audit your apps and notifications. If it doesn’t add value, delete it.
September	Nervous System	Master Box Breathing between tasks. Regulate your stress in real-time.
October	Longevity	Solidify the “Walking Meeting” habit. Aim for two per week.
November	The Hard No	Audit your commitments. Cut anything that isn’t a “Hell Yes.”
December	Reflection	Review the year’s P&L of your life. What stays? What goes?

If you want something very tactile, check out this very cool new years planner: 👉✎ᝰ。🗒️