Every year I pick a new theme
A single word that becomes the filter for every decision.
If you pick the wrong one it’ll fizzle by February.
I was torn between three options:
Simplicity. I already know simplicity scales.
But a theme should stretch you, not reinforce what you already think.
This one felt comfortable which is a red flag
Steady. I need to show up more.
But the word doesn’t have enough energy for me.
If your theme doesn’t excite you, you won’t remember it in March.
Volume. More content. More shops. More sales.
But volume has baggage. It implies saying yes to everything.
It whispers “quantity over quality.”
Then I found the word that passed every test:
Reps.
Do the reps. Every day. Especially when you don’t want to.
Reps isn’t just about quantity. It’s about commitment through discomfort.
When I’m tired and don’t feel like posting: reps.
When the easy move is to coast: reps.
When I’d rather skip the call: reps.
Short-term pain for long-term gain. That’s what reps really mean.
I’ve been doing this every week with my personal trainer for years.
I can now bench 20 lbs over my weight and deadlift 2X my weight.
You don’t get stronger by doing what’s comfortable.
You get stronger by doing the last few reps you want to skip.
Here’s how I knew it was the right theme:
When I said it out loud, I felt something. Not dread or obligation but a little fire.
That’s the test.
Your theme should make you slightly uncomfortable AND slightly excited. If it’s just uncomfortable, you’ll avoid it. If it’s just exciting, it’s not stretching you.
One word. Twelve months. Every decision is filtered through it.
Use your favorite AI with something like this prompt:
I need your help in identifying the strongest ‘theme of the year’ for 2026
My initial thoughts are [ WORD 1, WORD 2, WORD 3 ]
The right theme should excite me and be able to encompass all of my goals & actions for 2026
I want it to be my guiding light and not fizzle out in February
I want you to ask me questions one at a time to help me gain clarity
Reply back with your theme of the year!
Cheers!
Brian
