This Year, You're the Hero

Your Story

Here we are again.

A new year. A blank page. A chance to reset, rewrite, and rebuild whatever didn't work last year.

And if you're reading this, you made it. You survived whatever 2025 threw at you, the wins, the losses, the moments that tested you, and the ones that reminded you why you keep going.

That's not nothing. That deserves acknowledgment before we jump into goals, resolutions, and all the things we think we're supposed to be chasing this year.

So before we talk about what's next, let me say this: You made it. You're still here. And that means you get to write the next chapter.

Forget the Resolutions You Won't Keep

Let's be honest: most New Year's resolutions are dead by Valentine's Day.

We've all done it. Declared we're going to lose 30 pounds, hit the gym five days a week, read a book a month, save $10,000, finally start that business, or buy that house we've been talking about for three years.

And by February? We're back to our old routines, feeling guilty, making excuses, or pretending we never made the declaration in the first place.

But here's the thing: It's not because we're lazy or lack discipline.

It's because we're thinking about it wrong.

You Don't Reach Your Goals by Being Disciplined All the Time

You reach them by being disciplined in certain moments.

That's it. That's the secret.

You don't need to be perfect. You don't need ironclad willpower 24/7. You just need to make the right call when it matters.

The moment you want the extra donut but you don't.
The moment you'd rather stay in bed but you go to the gym anyway.
The moment you're staring at the menu and you order the salad instead of the fried chicken.
The moment you could keep scrolling Zillow for another year but you finally call the agent and schedule the meeting.

These aren't grand, life altering decisions. They're small. Quiet. Easy to skip.

But string enough of these moments together, and suddenly you're not the same person you were six months ago. You've lost the weight. You've saved the money. You've bought the house. You've built the life.

Your Life Changes When Your Choices Change

Here's what I've learned both in real estate and in life:

People don't fail because they don't know what to do. They fail because they don't do what they know.

Everyone knows they should save more, spend less, exercise regularly, eat better, call their parents more often, and stop putting off the things that matter.

But knowing isn't enough. Choosing is.

And the beautiful, terrifying truth is this: You control your destiny by your choices.

Not by your circumstances. Not by your past. Not by what happened to you last year or the year before that.

By the choices you make today, tomorrow, and the day after that.

Did 2025 kick your ass? Did you lose something, or someone, you weren't ready to lose? Did you make mistakes, miss opportunities, or feel like you spent the whole year treading water?

None of that defines what happens next.

Because this is a new year. A new chapter. And you're the one holding the pen.

The Hero of Your Own Story

Here's the part that no one tells you:

In every great story, the hero starts out ordinary. They're living their life, going through the motions, maybe a little stuck, maybe a little lost.

And then something happens. A challenge. A choice. A moment where they have to decide: Do I stay where I am, or do I step into something bigger?

That's where you are right now.

You're not behind. You're not too late. You're not too old, too broke, too busy, or too far gone.

You're at the beginning of the next chapter and the hero of that chapter is you.

But here's the catch: heroes don't become heroes by accident. They become heroes by making hard choices in critical moments.

They choose courage when fear shows up.
They choose action when comfort would be easier.
They choose growth when staying small feels safer.

And guess what? So can you.

What Are the Choices You're Going to Make?

So let's get specific.

What do you actually want this year? Not the vague, Instagram caption version. The real version.

Maybe it's finally buying a home instead of renting.
Maybe it's selling the house that no longer fits your life and moving somewhere that does.
Maybe it's getting serious about your finances so you can stop living paycheck to paycheck.
Maybe it's prioritizing your health so you can show up for your family the way you want to.
Maybe it's letting go of the guilt, the regret, or the baggage you've been carrying and giving yourself permission to move forward.

Whatever it is, here's the question:

What are the moments, the actual, specific moments, where you'll need to make the right choice?

Not every day. Not every hour. Just the moments that matter.

The moment you're tired and want to skip the workout.
The moment you're tempted to impulse buy something you don't need.
The moment you could keep procrastinating on that home search or finally schedule the meeting.
The moment you want to say "I'll start next month" but you say "I'll start today" instead.

If you can identify those moments in advance, you've already won half the battle.

The Real Estate Version of This

Since you're reading a newsletter from a real estate agent, let me bring this home (pun intended).

I work with people every day who are stuck in the "someday" trap.

"Someday I'll buy a house."
"Someday I'll sell and move closer to family."
"Someday I'll stop renting and start building equity."

But "someday" isn't a plan. It's a safety net for avoiding the discomfort of actually doing the thing.

And here's the truth: The best time to buy was five years ago. The second best time is now.

Not when rates are lower (they might not get lower).
Not when you have more saved (you'll always find reasons to delay).
Not when the market is "perfect" (perfect doesn't exist).

The right time is when you decide it's time and then you take the first step.

Maybe that's getting pre-approved so you know what you can afford.
Maybe it's finally calling an agent to talk through your options.
Maybe it's sitting down with your partner and getting honest about what you actually want.

None of these steps require perfection. They just require a choice.

Small Choices, Big Outcomes

Here's the part that gives me hope, every single year:

You don't have to change everything at once.

You don't have to overhaul your entire life by February 1st. You don't have to become a different person overnight.

You just have to start making slightly better choices in the moments that count.

Skip the extra slice of pizza.
Go to the gym even when you don't feel like it.
Save the $200 instead of spending it.
Call the agent instead of scrolling Zillow for another six months.

Do that enough times, and six months from now, you'll look back and barely recognize the person you were on January 1st.

That's not magic. That's just math. Small choices, repeated consistently, compound into big outcomes.

This Year Is Yours

So here's my challenge to you as we step into this new year:

Stop waiting for permission. Stop waiting for perfect. Stop waiting for "someday."

This is your year. Your chapter. Your story.

And you're the hero.

Not because everything will go perfectly. Not because you'll never mess up or have doubts or feel like quitting.

But because when those moments come, and they will, you'll make the choice that moves you forward instead of keeping you stuck.

You'll choose action over comfort.
You'll choose growth over safety.
You'll choose progress over perfection.

And by the time December rolls around, you'll look back and realize: You did it. You actually did it.

Not because you were perfect. But because you were consistent. Because you showed up. Because you made the right call when it mattered.

What's Next?

If you're thinking about making a move this year, whether that's buying your first home, selling the one that no longer fits, or finally taking control of your financial future, let's talk.

Not in six months. Not when everything is "perfect." Now.

Because the life you want doesn't start when conditions are ideal. It starts when you decide it's time and then you take the first step.

Hit reply and let me know what you're working toward this year. I'd love to hear it. And if buying or selling a home is part of that vision, I'm here to help you figure out the next move.

Let's make this the year you stop planning and start doing.

Happy New Year. Now go write your story.

Stay Safe,

Mike