Setting Meaningful Goals for 2026: Commitment, Accountability, and Becoming Your Best Self

Jan 3

As we head into 2026, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what the past few years have demanded of me and what I want the next year to represent.

The last several years have not gone the way I planned physically. I’ve had a pec tear surgery in 2023, a hernia repair in 2024, and most recently a bicep tear surgery in July. Each of those setbacks forced me to shift course, adjust priorities, and recalibrate expectations but one thing never left, the drive to become the best version of myself.

Goal #1: Step Back on the Bodybuilding Stage One Year After Surgery

My primary personal goal for 2026 is to step back on stage in July, exactly one year after my most recent bicep surgery, and be in the best shape of my life.

This would be my first bodybuilding show since 2012, which also happens to be before I ever started powerlifting. That alone makes this goal meaningful, but what makes it truly powerful is the context around it.

If I can step on stage one year after major surgery, after multiple injuries, while…

Working full time
Running Legends 24/7 Gym
Building a new company
Coaching the incredible athletes in The Crew

…and do it in better shape than I’ve ever been in, I will consider that a tremendous victory.

Not because it’s easy, not because it’s convenient, but because it proves something important:

You can endure setbacks, change paths, and still chase excellence if you stay committed to the process.

Goal #2: Scale Impact Through Corporate Wellness

My second major goal for 2026 is business-focused and mission driven.

As many of you know, I launched a new corporate wellness company called Catalyst Wellness. It’s an app-based corporate wellness solution designed to help employers support their employees’ physical and mental health in a practical, scalable way.

The program provides:

App-based training programs tailored to equipment access
- No equipment (at-home workouts)
- Limited equipment (barbells, dumbbells)
- Full commercial gym access
Guided workouts with video demonstrations
Structured weekly plans
Educational content around:
- Fitness
- Nutrition
- Recovery
- Mental health and stress management
- Weight management

This platform is built from my existing coaching app and expanded into the corporate space so it can make an even greater impact.

From the employer side, companies receive:

Real-time reporting
Engagement and adherence metrics
Clear data tied to employee participation

The goal is simple but powerful: reduce healthcare costs, lower absenteeism, and improve employee performance and engagement.

For 2026, my goal is to:

Partner with 3–4 companies
Launch pilot programs
Prove the model works at scale
Transition fully into coaching, Legends, and Catalyst full time

If you know someone in HR, or a business owner with 20-200 employees, I’d love to connect. I will compensate referrals if a company signs on.

Why Writing Goals Down Matters

I encourage everyone reading this to set their own goals for 2026, but do it the right way. Not “I want to get in better shape.” Instead, ask… How am I measuring that? What does success actually look like? Weight alone is often misleading. Consider body fat percentage, strength benchmarks, a fitness challenge or event, consistency metrics (training X days per week for X months). And remember, goals don’t have to be fitness related.

Some strong examples:

Be a more present parent or partner
Finish a project you’ve been putting off
Launch something you’ve been planning
Improve sleep, stress management, or daily habits
Advance your career or take on a new responsibility

The key is measurability and accountability. Research consistently shows that people who write their goals down and share them are significantly more likely to accomplish them, often cited as increasing success odds by 30–40% or more compared to keeping goals to themselves.

Write it down. Say it out loud. Tell people who will hold you accountable.