25 Truths I’m Taking Into 2026
- Jan 5
- 2 min read
I spent some time today flipping back through my journal from this past year. It is a mix of scribbles from classes, quiet moments of clarity, and borrowed wisdom from people who were kind enough to teach me along the way.
Looking back, 2025 was a teacher. It taught me things the hard way, the quiet way, and sometimes the long way. Some of these lessons are mine. Some are credited to mentors. But all of them stuck.
As we turn the page to a new chapter, here are the 25 truths I’m carrying forward.
The 25 Lessons of 2025
Never choose anarchy over change. Disruption is inevitable, but chaos is a choice.
We have two seasons: consistently constant and constantly changing. Know which season you are in.
For instant relief, slow down. (Credit to Eric Saperston for this reminder.)
Progress is celebrated in the light, but it is actually made in the dark.
Not everything happens for a reason, but there is reason in everything.
"The only thing that’s new is the history you don’t know." — Harry Truman
Everything—and I mean everything—is about people.
Give your clients time, and they will give you money. (A great truth from Jay Baer.)
Be who you are to your kids, and they’ll become who they need to be.
There is nothing more tragic than achieving a goal that doesn’t mean anything anymore.
When change is successful, we call it growth. When it’s not, we call it grief. (John Maxwell)
Trust is the invisible line between giving someone credit or giving them criticism.
The older I get, the more value I place on what I learned as a kid.
Work is what we do, not who we are.
Manner over mind. Mind over matter. Manners matter.
Melba Franklin’s 4 P’s: Pause. Ponder. Pray. Proceed.
It’s only worth what it’s worth when you have to sell it.
Ask yourself: Is the problem energy or execution? (Catherine Grant)
Outrageous generosity is uncommon, and it is obvious when you see it.
You’re listening, but are you lessoning?
"Business is easy. People are hard." — Gary Keller
Rivers move side to side and meander when they lose energy. Stay focused to keep moving forward.
I’m good at adding things. Subtracting is a skill I haven’t mastered yet.
Seeking universal approval limits freedom and authenticity.
"Nobody buys a ticket to ride a flat roller coaster." — John Maxwell
On to the Next Chapter
If this list proves anything, it's that we never stop learning. I’m grateful for the ride 2025 took us on—ups, downs, and everything in between. Here’s to applying these lessons in 2026.
Which of these resonates most with you right now? Let me know in the comments.
-Andy
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