Will 2026 Be Better Than 2025? The honest answer? Maybe.

There’s an old saying: “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” We all want better results, but the hurdle is usually change. Most of us resist change because it triggers fear, and fear can lead to immobility.

Here is a little secret I’ve learned: the brain waves of fear and excitement are the same. The only difference is the story we tell ourselves.

This year, I challenge you to reframe that “fear” as “excitement” for the possibilities 2026 holds. To help you get started, here are two rituals I have used for years—not just in January, but every single day.

1. The Power of “GET Statements™.”

Most of us have a morning routine for our bodies (brushing teeth, showering), but what about a routine for your mindset? Over 25 years ago, I created what I call GET Statements™.

These are more than just affirmations; they are declarations of a future result stated in the present tense. For example: “I receive $100,000 with $80,000 net revenue by December 15, 2026.”

To cover all areas of your life, I recommend answering these five questions in your statements:

– Have: What would I like to possess?

– Do: What actions do I want to take?

-Give: How do I want to contribute?

-Go: Where do I want to travel or explore?

-Be: Who do I want to become?

My tip: Create 8 to 10 GET Statements with at least one GET Statement from each of the questions above. It takes less than 10 minutes, but it aligns your brain with your goals. Handwrite or print each of your statements every morning.

A Gift for You: If you write your GET statements and want a second pair of eyes, email them to me at gary@garybarnesinternational.com. I’d be happy to review them for you, free of charge.

2. Stop Spending Time—Start Investing It

I use a mix of Outlook and my Franklin Planner because I view time as life. I don’t “spend” time; I invest it. To do this effectively, I categorize everything I do into three buckets:

Productive Time: Tasks that lead directly to a “Yes” or “No” for my business.
Indirectly Productive Time: Tasks that pave the road toward those “Yes” or “No” moments.
Nonproductive Time: Everything else.

We often think we need to work twice as hard to get double the results. In reality, you usually just need to double your Productive and Indirectly Productive time. Take a look back at your calendar from the last three months—where has your life been invested?

If you have questions or just want to share a win, hit reply or email me at gary@garybarnesinternational.com.

Thank you for being part of our community. I look forward to supporting your success in 2026!

To your success,

Gary