Welcome to the New Year.
The date changed. The clock ticked. And absolutely nothing happened.
When I was younger, I celebrated the arbitrary changing of a number. Now I realize that time is just a collective hallucination we agree to share. The only real clock is biology: Sun up. Sun down.
If the "New Year" gives you a burst of fresh energy, use it. But don't rely on it. Motivation is fickle. Systems are permanent.
This year, I am ignoring resolutions. I am building a machine.
Here is the system I am programming into my daily routine for 2026:
The Energy Protocol
The Currency: Time is the only asset. Spend it or lose it.
The Biology: Work out daily. Drink 4 liters of water. Eat slightly less than I want.
The Mind: Re-read the best books (mastery) rather than skimming new ones (novelty). write everyday.
The Soul: Play music. Intentionality beats talent.
The Tribe: Take care of Dipti. Inspire Umika. Spoil Seerat. Call my parents more.
The Glitch in My Matrix During my yearly review, I found a fatal error in my programming.
I have operated as a "Lone Wolf." Head down. Focus on the work. Ignore the room.
In 2021, when I launched Brilliant Digital, it struggled. I analyzed the failure and realized it wasn't a product failure. It was a network failure.
I have thousands of connections on LinkedIn, but in Naperville, I am effectively alone.
The Math of Success Success is not just [Skill].
Success is [Skill] x [Network].
If your Network is zero, your total output is zero. At least in the field of business I am in.
I have spent years optimizing my skill stack (Generalist vs. Specialist).
But I ignored the multiplier. You cannot build a castle on an island.
The Patch for 2026 My North Star is no longer just "output." It is connection. I am abandoning the strategy of "get in, get it done, get out."
I am going to build one of the strongest networks of my life. Not because I need something today, but because you don't build a network when you need it. You build it when you don't.
My Ask If you are reading this, you are part of the simulation. Leave a comment. Tell me one part of your "System" for 2026.
Cheers, Saurabh