I prefer the word “intentions” to “resolutions.”

Colleagues,

My three 2026 intentions are the daily actions that should help me achieve my goals.

My goal is to remake my body to maximize the time I have left to hike.

A key measurement for the goal is: Complete the 71-mile High Sierra Trail in August of 2026. The High Sierra is a stunning trail through the southeast Sierra Nevada range in California. It ends at the summit of Mt. Whitney (elevation 14,505), the highest peak in the continental United States. I am used to hiking mountains, but at 5,000 feet, not 10,000 feet. Half of the trail is at altitudes high enough to cause altitude sickness.

Notice my goal is not to hike the High Sierra Trail. It is the measurement. Do not mistake your measurement for your goal!

Three intentions I need to hold to achieve my goal:

1. Build my days around movement. Movement is the most important thing.
2. Move in different ways (resistance training, yoga, biking, hiking, water-aerobics) every day
3. Consume media that encourages me to move. 

Notice:

• These intentions drive actions I can take every day
• If I act on these intentions each day, there is a very high likelihood of meeting my goals
• They keep me focused on movement and combat my own distractibility

In goal setting and strategic planning, the biggest mistake I see people consistently making is they do not operationalize the goal. They develop plans and benchmarks, but fail to identify the daily practices and actions that will inevitably lead to success.

If you’d like to share your 2026 intentions with me, I’d love to see them.

Cheers!

Frederick