Hey Arcadians -
Does anyone else feel it?
The dead of winter. And also the New Year.
I’ve always had a bit of a hard time with resolutions. It feels strange to push for a fresh start toward the “best version of yourself” in the middle of winter when it’s dark and cold. We chase goals that promise to make us feel better. Lose 10 pounds. Run a marathon. Save more money. Put the phone down.
I’m not saying these are bad goals. I have some of them myself. But planting them in the sand like benchmarks, without any real meaning wrapped around them, is usually why they fall short.
Yesterday in the Arcadia Constellation, performance coach Chris Douglas joined us to talk about what he calls the last resolutions you’ll ever need. Core values.
Before you roll your eyes, this isn’t some corporate exercise where we define words that nobody actually feels. These are deeply personal definitions of what matters to you in this life, paired with small daily rituals that remind you of it. Over time, you just naturally start moving toward the version of you that you want to become.
I’m not saying declaring a marathon won’t challenge you. It will. But the stakes are high and the finish line is finite. When the race is over, then what? If you miss a few days of training, then what? Instead, if performance is one of your core values, it becomes a simple promise. Better than yesterday. I will move. I will show up. I will keep improving because performance matters to me. That feels sustainable. It feels life giving. And it lasts far longer than 26.2 miles.
When you have three to five core values, they become a filter for decisions and actions. Chris gave an example: his friends invited him out for a beer at 6 p.m. Two of his values are consistency and growth. For him, that translates to time with his kids and committing to movement. Saying yes to the beer would mean saying no to both. So he skipped it.
It is a small example, but when you really understand what is important to you, big decisions start to feel clearer. Where you live. Who you spend time with. What job you take. How you run your business. All of it becomes easier to navigate without the noise of expectations and “shoulds” getting in the driver’s seat.
So maybe this year, try focusing on who you want to be and what you are going to do about it. Not just what you are going to do.
As a little New Year gift, here is the list of common core values and the exercises we worked through. I’d love to hear how it goes for you.
What’s Happening inside Arcadia:
In the Constellation, will be spending this next month working through our core values together and creating accountability around the small rituals that make them part of daily life.
Coach Barrett Brooks joined us on the Friends with Benefits podcast for a conversation that felt like a therapy session - I wrote about it here.
Erika Flowers, Chief Client Officer and professional Athlete joined the podcast to share the ins and out of why the best relationships (and the best partnerships) are built by showing up consistently with real value,l curiosity, and no immediate ask, then letting the “benefits” show up naturally over time through trust, facilitation, and small daily investments like her 30 note card habit.
If you live near Bozeman, we are starting a monthly speaker series. Our first one is 1/15 with James Murphy, Co-founder and CEO of LMNT. It is free, but it will fill up quickly. You can register here.
Arcadia Leadership Experience 2026 is happening! Stay tuned for details or be one of the first to hold your spot here.
Here’s to being great! Happy 2026.
Be great. Be Arcadia.
Sam
PS. I would be so grateful if you shared this with someone you think would enjoy it.
