Make the most of 2026

The last six weeks has been a roller coaster for me.

The unexpected death of a respected (and same-aged) peer.
A mass shooting event at my son's college.
A surprise hip replacement for my 83-year-old father.

And that's just to name a few...

Moments like these remind us of what (and who) truly matters. And, when they come in fast-paced succession? Well, that's when you lose all ability to fend off the big emotions that they courier straight to your heart's doorstep, all wrapped up in a self-exploding bow.

Face me!
Absorb me!
Deal with me!

My friend Jackie Summers likes to say, "Crisis does change you. It reveals you." And, so, over the course of these last six weeks, I've watched as crisis after crisis revealed who I am and what (and whom) mattered to me.

Is it any mystery that my word for 2026 is CURATE?

Curate, in action.

This past weekend, my family went to Park City for a little togetherness time before the year took off in earnest. Before the trip, I cleared the decks.

Said no to meetings.
Paused launches.
Held boundaries.

Not because I’m so enlightened (I’m not), but because I’ve lived the alternative.

The version where you “squeeze it all in.” The one where you keep checking the inbox on the gondola or replying to Slack in the car or “just hopping on one quick Zoom” while the family eats breakfast.

I’ve done it. Maybe you have too. And what I’ve learned is this:

If you don’t guard the time that matters, you’ll spend your life reacting to the time that doesn’t.

That’s what CURATE means to me this year.

It’s not about saying no to everything.
It’s about saying yes to the right things.
To the things that fill your soul, not just your schedule.

The ROI of Being All-In

When I talk about Going All-In, people assume I mean hustle. Harder. Faster. More.

But what if it also meant stillness?
What if it meant carving out time for what nourishes you?
What roots you? What reminds you who you are when no one’s watching?

That’s what Utah gave me this week.

Not a break from life, but a better way to return to it.
Not an escape, but a recalibration.

And what I know to be true this week is this: You can’t go all in on your ambition if you’ve gone missing in your life.

So let me ask you:

Where are you half-in right now?
Where are you spending time instead of investing it?
What could change if you gave the most important people in your life the same presence you give your biggest goals?

This week, my challenge to you is simple: Guard your time. Protect your peace. Choose what matters. Curate, with intention.

And if this is the kind of clarity you're craving more of in 2026 — the kind where ambition and alignment coexist — I've got two things for you:

Want to learn how to build a life that actually fits?

My 14-day email course, Going All-In, will show you exactly how to align ambition, love, and life — without losing yourself in the process.
No fluff. No overwhelm. Just one tip a day, delivered straight to your inbox.
Join the course here.

And, if 2026 is the year you want to speak, publish, and get seen…

I’m running my Amp Up Your Impact Masterclass tomorrow, January 21 — a 2.5-hour deep dive into how I built a speaking, media, and bestselling author career, and how you can too.

I run this class ONCE A YEAR, so you won't see this opportunity again until next January.

Want the spotlight? I’ll show you how to own it. Grab your seat here.