Instead of Goals, Set KPIs: Why I’m Treating My 2026 Like a Startup
Well, 2026 is officially here. In my part of the world, the holidays have just wound down, the fireworks have cleared, and everyone is busy counting down the "old" and celebrating the "new."
Like most people, I usually fall victim to the "social contract" of New Year’s Resolutions. You know the drill: "In 2026, I want to..." or "This is the year I finally..." Gym memberships skyrocket, energy is high, and then—right around the end of January—it all dies down. We’ve all seen the memes: “It’s January 31st and I haven’t even started.”
As someone guilty of this yearly malpractice, I decided that 2026 needs a different approach. I don’t claim this is a revolutionary idea, but I’m casting it out into the internet to hold myself accountable—and maybe help a few of you along the way.
From goals to indicators
My plan is simple: I’m treating my life in 2026 like a company. I’m categorizing my current activities, adding a few strategic "growth" projects, and defining KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to measure success.
A good KPI isn't just a wish; it’s a measurable, actionable insight. For my personal "scorecard," I’m following a few professional rules:
Strategic Alignment: Every metric must link to a life objective.
Impact over Vanity: I’m ignoring "vanity metrics" (like social media clicks) and focusing on what actually drives my health and mind forward.
The SMART Framework: Everything must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
My KPIs for 2026
I have split my life into four "departments." Here is how I am measuring my performance this year compared to my 2025 "baseline":
The Body: Taking care of the "hardware" is the foundation.
KPI: Active Burn Consistency
Metric: % of days with 600+ active calories and 30+ minutes of exercise.
2026 Target: >50% of days. (2025 Baseline: 47%)
KPI: Hatha Mastery
Metric: Complete the "Foundations of Hatha" immersion.
Target: A 30-day streak in H1 (No baseline, new thing that I’m trying).
The Mind: Once the hardware is running, I need to sharpen the software.
KPI: Publishing Cadence
Metric: Total articles published per month (teaching is the best way to learn).
Target: 10 articles/month. (2025 Baseline: 17 total in Dec)
KPI: Certification Velocity
Metric: Professional certificates earned.
Target: 3 every 6 months. (2025 Baseline: 0)
KPI: Deep Reading
Metric: 10 pages per day of an A5-sized book.
Target: 365 days/year. (2025 Baseline: 1,241 total pages)
The Spirit: Managing the "chaos" of a busy life requires internal harmony.
KPI: Mindfulness Frequency
Metric: Isha Kriya meditation sessions.
Target: Two 90-day cycles. (2025 Baseline: 1 cycle)
KPI: Wim Hof Adherence
Metric: Daily breathing cycles.
Target: 100% (365/365 days). (2025 Baseline: 303 days)
The "R&D" (Other Projects)
KPI: YouTube Cadence:
Metric: Video uploading consistency
Target: 6-7 long-form videos per quarter.
This is my biggest challenge: getting in front of the camera and being honest about what I know—and what I don't.
KPI: Homa (Alone) Projects:
Metric: Functional self made wood work
Target: Fully finish 2 projects. (2025 Baseline: 2 projects)
The final thoughts
You might be wondering: “How does a father and a partner achieve all this in a day?”
It comes down to discipline. I dedicate roughly one hour each morning to my "core" stack: Meditation (15m), Wim Hof (10m), Exercise (20-30m), and a cold shower (5m). Reading 10 pages takes another 15 minutes.
The bigger tasks—writing and furniture—take chunks of 5 to 8 hours. By doing them consistently, I hope to increase my "operational efficiency" and get faster over time.
Why share this?
Studies show that public accountability increases the success rate of our goals. By shifting from vague "resolutions" to hard "KPIs," I’m taking ownership of my 2026 results.
How are you measuring your success this year? Are you setting goals, or are you setting KPIs?
