A New Year’s Revolution, Not Another New Year’s Resolution
Every January, we do the same thing.
We make resolutions we don’t keep.
We promise change without building systems.
We aim high for about two weeks—and then quietly drift back to normal.
That’s not going to cut it anymore.
As we move into 2026, we’re also approaching something historically significant: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That document wasn’t born out of a resolution. It was born out of conviction, sacrifice, ownership, and courage.
What we need right now—personally and culturally—is not another resolution.
We need a revolution.
An internal one.
Growth Doesn’t Happen by Accident
If you want to be a different person at the end of 2026, it will not happen by accident. It won’t happen because you “feel motivated.” And it certainly won’t happen because you wrote something down on January 1st and hoped for the best.
Real change requires ownership.
That’s why I’ve put together something simple but demanding:
12 books in 12 months. One book a month.
Most people don’t read one book a year. That alone should tell us something.
If we are serious about growing—about leading, thinking clearly, and strengthening our faith—we have to recommit ourselves to real learning.
Two Paths. Pick One.
I’ve created two different reading paths:
- Leadership – becoming the kind of person others can trust, follow, and rely on
- Faith – strengthening your foundation, worldview, and spiritual discipline
Don’t try to do both at once. Pick one. Commit to it. Own it.
And if you choose the leadership path, the very first book I recommend is Extreme Ownership.
Why?
Because if you are unwilling to take ownership of who you are, how you live, and where you are going, you will not make a difference—this year or any year.
You must own your decisions.
You must own your future.
No excuses.
Ownership Requires Humility
Now, ownership doesn’t mean arrogance. In fact, it requires the opposite.
A great friend of mine, Pastor Tim Miller, once described true humility in a way that stuck with me. He said humility has three parts:
- Approachable
- Teachable
- Changeable
If you are not approachable, no one can speak truth into your life.
If you are not teachable, you may hear truth—but you won’t receive it.
And if you are not changeable, then none of it matters.
We should assume we can learn something from every person we encounter. But learning alone isn’t enough. We must be willing to act on what we learn—to let it shape us and change us.
That’s where growth actually happens.
Set the Goal. Start with One.
Maybe you won’t make it through all twelve books.
That’s okay.
Set the goal anyway. Start with the first one. See where you end up.
I’m committing to this myself. Each month, I’ll share a short summary of what I took away from that book—what challenged me, what confirmed what I already believed, and what forced me to change.
We’ll do this together.
Build a System That Works
Here’s a practical recommendation: use Audible.
I listen to most books. For the ones that really matter, I pair Audible with Kindle so I can read along, highlight, and capture ideas. Over time, I’ve built simple systems to track what I learn and actually use it instead of forgetting it.
I’ll share those systems as we go.
The point is this: stop relying on motivation and start building structure.
A Resolution Isn’t Enough
We have been complacent for too long.
The status quo will not produce better leaders, stronger families, or deeper faith. A resolution won’t change you—because you won’t follow it.
That’s why this has to be a revolution.
An internal revolution.
A disciplined revolution.
A decision to be better at the end of 2026 than you are today.
Read the books.
Push yourself.
Apply what you learn.
If you do, you will change.
And my goal—my role in this—is to help you see clearly, think deeply, and take responsibility, so you can become the hero of your story.
View the book lists: Leadership Reading Path and Faith Reading Path