To Inspire:

Happy New Year to all our clients and friends!

I (Matt) am a “resolutions” guy, so I’ve been working on those. Perhaps you are doing the same.

But rather than resolutions related to health or work, this year I’m making some resolutions about aspects of me that I want to improve. I think there’s a gap between the man I am and the man I want to be. I’m looking at that gap, and I’m determined to make that gap smaller.

For example, I’d like to become a better listener. For me and the roles I have (husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, business leader, friend, etc.), listening is so important. Good listening shows that I care about someone and that I want to understand them and be part of their life. I want to listen to God better and I want to listen to others better.

As with all resolutions, I’m developing a plan to become a better listener in 2026. I’m identifying ways to build a stronger habit of entering every discussion with a goal of really listening closely to the other person. I’m going to make that a prayer intention each morning and then assess it at the end of each day. I’m going to ask my family, friends, and colleagues for their own assessment of my listening and ask them to encourage me in that area. I’m going to start each week reviewing my calendar for that week and noting all the times I’ll be with others and reflecting on how I want to do a great job of really listening. And at the end of the year, I am hopeful that I’ve become a much better listener.

What aspects of “you” do you want to improve? Need more patience in general or with a particular person? Do you want to be a more faithful and caring friend? Do you want to have more compassion for those in need? Give thought to how you want to change to become more the person you really want to be – to become more the person God made you to be. And as with all New Year’s resolutions that are successful, make a plan, ensure that you build in accountability, and stay at it.

If we all become just a bit better person this year in some important aspect of our life, we’ll make the world just a bit better. And that’s a goal worth striving for.

Happy New Year and together let’s all make 2026 a great year!

Written by Matt Palmer, Partner & Co-Founder