Every year, I like to do something a little uncomfortable.
I look back at the goals I set… and tell the truth about whether I actually followed through.
Not because I enjoy pointing out failures—but because I genuinely believe this:
You shouldn’t ask others to live a life you’re not willing to live yourself.
So here it is. The good, the bad, and the lessons from 2025—plus what I’m changing in 2026.
Bike Goals: A Big Win (With One Clear Miss)
Goal: 183 Days on the Bike
(30+ minute rides or practice sessions, sometimes twice in a day)
Result:
228 rides in 2025
Honestly, this one surprised me. That’s more than I expected, and it reinforced something I already knew: riding consistently—even when sessions are short—adds up fast.
2026 Adjustment:
I’m keeping this goal. Every other day on the bike feels sustainable long term.
Goal: 3+ Bike Practice Sessions per Week
Result:
Missed it.
Here’s the truth: it’s really hard to have enough energy to lift, ride, and do focused skills practice all in the same day—especially while building a business and traveling.
2026 Adjustment:
I’m keeping this goal anyway.
There’s still a lot I want to improve on the bike, and skill work matters too much to abandon it just because it’s hard.
Work & Business: Slightly Too Much of a Good Thing
Goal: Spend 70%+ of My Work Time on Video Production
Result:
65.3% of my work time spent editing videos (not including filming)
That’s close—but honestly, I think it was too much.
I felt burned out toward the end of the year, which tells me something important: efficiency matters just as much as effort.
2026 Adjustment:
Publish one video per week—consistently.
My editing skills have leveled up. Now the focus shifts from perfection to consistency.
That may mean slightly shorter videos—even if YouTube technically prefers longer ones.
Travel: Failed the Rule, Nailed the Spirit
Goal: Leave North America 3 Times for 2+ Weeks Each
Result:
Technically failed.
But here’s the reframe…
We spent three full months in Europe on one trip. And that changed how I think about travel.
Instead of bouncing between locations, we slowed down and actually felt the places we were in.
2026 Adjustment:
Travel less frantically—but stay longer.
Depth beats checklists.
Fitness & Health: Balancing Reality With Ambition
I didn’t set a formal fitness goal for 2025, but here’s what happened:
- 2024: 257 workouts
- 2025: 181 workouts
- Bike rides in 2025: 228
That drop in workouts makes sense when you see the bike volume increase. As much as I’d love to:
- Train hard
- Ride my bike
- Build a business
- Travel
- Recover properly
…all in the same day—energy is still a finite resource.
2026 Health Goals
- 3–4 ProLon-style 5-day fasts These are some of the most impactful health resets I do each year—after consistent training and nutrition are already in place. I only did two in 2025, and I want to be more intentional this year.
- Maintenance Goal: 3–5 Get Better Project workouts per week (depending on bike volume)
This program continues to deliver the best all-around fitness results I know of—from grandmas to hard-charging athletes. It’s constantly varied, sustainable, and works—so I’m not changing it.
The Bigger Lesson
Goals aren’t about perfection.
They’re about direction.
Some goals were crushed.
Some were missed.
All of them taught me something useful.
If this post helps you feel more honest about your own goals—or more motivated to recommit to them—then it did its job.
And if you want to share what you’re working toward this year, I’d genuinely love to hear it.
Here’s to a strong, healthy, adventurous 2026.
— Joe
