A year ago, I set 5 resolutions/goals: finish my PhD dissertation; do a ‘century’ (100-mile bike ride); qualify for powerlifting world championships; be able to converse in Spain and Portugal during our vacation; and be in better shape (mentally and physically at the end of the year). Well, due to some setbacks beyond my control, I’m still working on my dissertation, so that goal carries over to ‘26. I didn’t do my century although did do more miles than the previous 10 years. I qualified for the world championships, but didn’t compete as my wife was injured. Despite almost everybody in Spain and Portugal speaking English, I still managed to converse as needed. And yes, I’m in better shape now and look forward to the new year. So, here are my goals for 2026: finish my dissertation; qualify AND win powerlifting world championships, setting at least three world records; finish my second book; complete my first Misogi (not sure what it will be yet); and gross $1M in income. That’s all… What about YOU? What are your goals/resolitions?

Be Your Future Self Now (Dr. Benjamin Hardy) The idea of future selves has been a massive focus in my Socratic Warrior journey ever since I read about 'the theory of possible selves' by Markus and Nurius about 20 years ago! Be Your Future Self Now is a direct challenge to the most common human trap: living from your past—your habits, wounds, identity labels, and old narratives—while claiming you want a different future. Dr. Ben Hardy’s thesis is that your future self isn’t a fantasy or motivational poster; it’s a precision tool. When you define a compelling future identity and start acting from it now, your present decisions change—and your trajectory follows. This lands squarely in the dissertation arena: why people don’t do what they know they should do. Hardy frames the gap as an identity conflict. People often have knowledge, skills, and ability—but they keep acting in alignment with an outdated self-concept. In Socratic Warrior terms, “performance paralysis” isn’t always a lack of discipline; it’s often a failure of identity governance. When your future self becomes vivid and non-negotiable, procrastination starts to look like self-betrayal, and action becomes congruence. Hardy’s practical strength is making future-self work operational: clarify the future, cut competing commitments, design the environment, and make today’s behaviors proof of identity. It’s not hype; it’s a framework for agency. If you’re building a high-performance life—or helping others do it—this book is a strong blueprint for turning intentions into decisions and decisions into outcomes.

Unreasonable Hospitality (Will Guidara) I don't think I'll ever look at eating out the same old way after reading this book! Not only that, but I have taken a hard look at 'how I, and others, do business.' Will Guidara’s core argument is disarmingly simple: excellence isn’t a mystery—it’s a decision, repeated daily, expressed through details that most people consider “optional.” Unreasonable Hospitality is a case study in how high performance is built: through standards, discipline, systems, and a relentless commitment to making people feel seen. While the setting is fine dining, the application is universal: leadership, coaching, teams, families, classrooms, and any mission where outcomes depend on humans. For Socratic Warrior work, this book is a direct antidote to “performance paralysis.” Guidara shows that momentum comes from action, not mood—small, intentional moves that create identity (“this is who we are”) and culture (“this is how we do things here”). The hospitality mindset becomes a practical framework: anticipate needs, remove friction, and create environments where people can execute. His stories illustrate how a clear standard plus thoughtful structure turns potential into performance—without waiting for perfect circumstances. If you coach, lead, teach, or build community, Unreasonable Hospitality challenges you to upgrade your operating system: raise your standards, obsess over the experience, and practice generosity as a strategic advantage. The message is Stoic at its core: control what you can—your preparation, your attention, your behavior—and let results follow.

Well, it's time for the annual hunting trip. I'll be gone (potentially off-grid) for the next couple of weeks. I'll try to post when I can, but I can't promise anything. During this time, I challenge you to look back at 2025 and thoroughly assess how it's gone so far. If you had any goals, did you achieve them? If not, why not (yet)? As you probably have noticed, I'm a firm believer in not just setting goals, but in developing a plan to attain them. When I return, I'll address this issue more in depth as we finish up 2025 and get ready for 2026. Thank you all for your engagement and don't be afraid to post in the community! Let me leave you with a quote to ponder... One day you will wake up and there won't be any more time to do the things you've always wanted to do. Do it now! -- Paulo Coelho

Hey everybody, I have been trying for two days to upload the new Socratic Warrior Action Checklist to the classroom, but Skool is being very finicky. So, I'm going to attach it to this post. Let me know if it works for you and if you have questions or comments...I'm here for you! Have a GREAT weekend 😎