You Can Do More Than You Think – A Lesson For 2026

You Can Do More Than You Think

As I look ahead to 2026, the theme that continues to surface for me is simple, but powerful:

You can do more than you think.

The image above was taken during the Leppin Iron Man in South Africa in 1990—a race that included kayaking, cycling, and a full marathon run.

At the time, I was a competitive sprint kayaker and absolutely loved it. Running and cycling were not part of my training at all. Then one day, a friend casually suggested that I should do this Iron Man race. I looked into it, found it interesting, and—without fully understanding what I was getting into—decided to sign up.

I bought an old road bike, the cheapest pair of running shoes I could find, and started training… a little. I kept kayaking at the same intensity and tried to squeeze running and cycling in around that schedule. There was no real plan. In fact, the longest run I completed before race day was only 15 km.

Race Day Reality

Race day started well. The kayaking leg was first, and I gave it everything I had. I came out of the water feeling strong and confident. Then I jumped on the bike—without eating anything.

I only managed to get some food about 50 km into the cycling leg when I met my support team. By the time I finished cycling, I had absolutely nothing left. I remember sitting down to change my cycling shoes into running shoes and struggling just to stand up again.

And now, I had to run a full marathon.

The thought crossed my mind very clearly: I can’t do this.

In those days, we were allowed to have someone run the full distance with us. I had asked a friend—an experienced marathon runner—if he would run with me. Standing there, exhausted and discouraged, I told him honestly that I didn’t think I could finish the marathon.

I will never forget his response.

He said, “Don’t think about the 42 km you still have to run.” Then he pointed to a lamp post about 100 meters ahead of us and asked, “Do you think you can run to that lamp post?”

I nodded. Yes, I thought I could do that.

“That’s all we’re going to do,” he said.

And that’s exactly how we completed the marathon.

We ran from one lamp post to the next, then walked to the next one. Later, it became two lamp posts running and one walking. At no point during that marathon did I focus on the full 42 km. The focus was always just the next lamp post.

And somehow, I managed to do something I truly believed was impossible.

A Lesson for 2026

As we stand at the beginning of 2026, you may be facing something that feels just as overwhelming.

Maybe it’s a business in its early stages, with countless moving parts—logistics, operations, marketing, finance, people, and leadership. Maybe it’s a season where the demands feel relentless and your energy is running low. There may come a moment this year when you feel tired, discouraged, and unsure if you can continue.

When that moment comes, remember this:

You can do more than you think.

The key is not to focus on the entire year, the entire project, or the entire mountain. The key is to break it down.

• What do I need to do today?

• What do I need to do this week?

• What do I need to do this month?

• And how will I measure progress?

For me, progress was simply getting to the next lamp post.

The Rule of 5: Turning Vision into Action

One of the most effective tools I use to help leaders and organizations apply this principle is the 1-Year Rule of 5.

The Rule of 5 helps clarify your business strategy by identifying the top five objectives the organization will focus on over the next year—objectives that directly support your vision and mission.

As a best practice, these objectives align with five foundational pillars of a healthy business:

• Leadership

• Admin / Finance

• Logistics

• Sales & Marketing

• Operations

For each objective, we define Key Results—clear, measurable outcomes that indicate progress. From there, we agree on the top two or three objectives to focus on in the first quarter.

Next, we identify priorities and specific activities that will be executed and reviewed regularly. At each meeting, we examine progress against the Key Results. This rhythm creates clarity, accountability, and momentum.

Most importantly, it allows leaders and teams to focus on smaller, achievable steps—one lamp post at a time.

Moving Forward

If 2026 feels big, complex, or overwhelming, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

If you’d like support in clarifying your priorities, aligning your strategy, or building a practical execution plan, I’d be happy to walk alongside you. Reach out if you’re interested in one of our Business Strategy Workshops or simply want a conversation about how to approach the year ahead.

Remember:

You can do more than you think—especially when you focus on the next lamp post.