The Only Question You Need to Answer for 2026 (2 Min Read) | Vol. 184

Before you set another goal for 2026, there’s something you need to know. Most of what fills our calendars won’t matter three years from now. But ONE thing will. On January 6th, I’ll show you how to find it – and build a plan to make it happen. Register free for “Finding Your First Domino” →

January 2, 2026

“You live life looking forward; you understand life looking backward.” — Søren Kierkegaard

The Only Question You Need to Answer for 2026

On my last day in the office before the holidays, my teammate Jason ambushed me with an Instagram interview. No prep. No notes. Just a simple question: “How do we plan next year better?

I rambled. But somewhere in the ramble, a useful idea tumbled out. Use your heart to identify what will matter most—and focus on that. Then I answered his question with a question. “What’s the one thing you want to remember about 2026 three years from now?”

Try it yourself. Think back to 2022. What do you actually remember?

For me, it’s this: My dad died. I parted ways with my cofounder. We took some great family trips to San Diego, Oregon, and Napa.

That’s basically it. Without scrolling through photos or calendars, not much else surfaces. Three years later, that’s what stuck.

Most of what we get worked up about daily doesn’t add up to much in the end. The urgent emails, the minor fires, the meetings about meetings—they vanish. What remains is a handful of meaningful moments and pivotal decisions.

The imagination is a powerful tool. That little mental time-travel trip can offer remarkable clarity.

When we look back on our lives, distance highlights the important, and the trivial fades away. What remains is what truly mattered. Flipping the question forward—asking what you want to remember—harnesses that same filter in advance. 

You don’t have to wait until 2029 to clarify what matters this year. Just ask the question now.
Let that answer guide everything else.

One question to ponder in your thinking time: “What’s the ONE thing I want to remember about 2026 three years from now?”

Make an Impact!
Jay Papasan
Co-author of The ONE Thing, The Millionaire Real Estate Agent & author of The Rookie Real Estate Agent

P.S. Once you know what you want to remember about 2025, the next step is making sure it actually happens. That’s exactly what we’ll do together on January 6th during our free workshop “Finding Your First Domino,” 

I’ll walk you through the exact framework that’s helped 400+ people turn their “someday” goals into “this year” achievements. 

Because knowing what matters is only half the equation – making it happen is where the magic is.

Save your spot here →