Before You Set 2026 Goals...

Two weeks ago, I shared all the things I said YES to in 2025—the accomplishments I was proud of, the boundaries I honored, and the decisions that shaped the year. But instead of just celebrating the checkboxes I filled, this week, I want to share something even more important: What those accomplishments taught me.

Here’s the truth most people won’t tell you: Your strengths aren’t always obvious. They’re hiding in the places you overlook.

In the compliments you brush off.
In the wins you rush past.
In the challenges you’d rather forget.

On Good Morning America, I was asked how to stand out in a competitive job market in the new year, I broke it down like this:

Notice the compliments.

We are so good at “Oh, it was nothing.” But it wasn’t nothing. It was your something.

• What do people thank you for over and over again?
• Where do they say, “I don’t know how you do that”?
• What feels easy to you but looks hard to everyone else?

That’s not random. That’s a clue.

What’s mundane to you might be magic to them.

Study your wins.

Yes, celebrate them. Throw confetti. Do a little dance. But then ask:

• What did I actually accomplish this year?
• What habits, skills, and decisions got me there?
• What did I do differently when it worked?

Your wins reveal your edge. Don’t just post them. Mine them.

Honor your hard stuff.

If 2025 kicked your butt in any way (hi, same), don’t just slam the door on it and move on.

Ask yourself:

• What did I learn?
• What did I survive?
• What tools did I build along the way?

That resilience? That perspective? That new boundary?

That’s strength.
And it now lives in your permanent toolkit.

Want to crush your 2026 goals? Start here:

Step 1: Reframe your goals.​
If your resolution feels like a punishment, it’s the wrong goal.
Ask yourself: “Do I actually care about this, or does it just look good on paper?”

Step 2: Shrink the goal, then shrink it again.​
Your goal isn’t “Run a marathon.” It’s “Walk for 10 minutes today.”
Momentum builds confidence. Confidence builds consistency.

Step 3: Focus on identity, not outcome.​
Want to be healthier? Start acting like someone who cares about their health.
Want to lead better? Start noticing the kind of leader you admire—and mirror it.
Change sticks when it becomes who you are, not just what you do.

I talk about this more in my segment on Access Hollywood​

Because here's what I know to be true this week: You don’t need bigger goals. You need a better understanding of your strengths—and a plan to use them.

So, before January 1 rolls in…

Revisit your wins.
Identify the tools you gained from your hardest moments.
Ask yourself: Where do I bring value with ease?
Because when you lead from your strengths, success is sustainable. And 2026 becomes yours to shape.

Ready to Turn Those Strengths Into Real Impact in 2026?

If you’ve been quietly saying no to growing your speaking career, your media presence, your book idea, your impact…

Not because you don’t want it, but because you’ve been busy saying yes to everything (and everyone) else—consider this your official permission slip to say YES better.

🎤 Amp Up Your Impact: My Masterclass for Experts, Speakers, and Thought Leaders

🗓️ Wednesday, January 21, 2026​
⏰ 12:00–2:30pm ET | Live plus replay
📍 Virtual

If your 2026 goals include:

• Speaking on stages that actually light you up
• Landing big media opportunities that put you on the map
• Or finally writing and using that book to grow your business and brand…

This masterclass is for you.

In 2.5 hours I’ll walk you through my step-by-step roadmap for:

• Building a sought-after speaking career
• Becoming the go-to expert producers and editors want to book
• Aligning, writing, and marketing your book so it actually supports your speaking and media goals

It’s not just a masterclass. It’s a map.

And now I want to hear from you:
What strength did you discover in 2025 that surprised you the most?
Hit reply—I’m personally reading every one.

Happy almost-2026.