The New Year's Resolution I'd Like You To Make
Fix yourself! That’s right, fix yourself. Whatever is wrong with you that’s within your ability to fix, do it. You’re excused if you have an incurable disease, but short of that, improve your fitness, improve your mental health, lose weight, improve your work-life balance, learn a new skill, improve your diet, make more time for loved ones, perform better at work, make more time for hobbies, travel more, improve your finances. You pick what you want to fix and then do it. No excuses please!
If this list of things to fix looks familiar it comes from the newsletter I wrote on January 3, 2025. It’s title was “Why So Many New Years Resolutions Fail”. In it I reported, “If you made a resolution and failed you have plenty of company. Cynthia Vinney, Ph.D., reports that 90% of resolutions are abandoned within a few months. The overwhelming majority of resolutions are related to improving fitness, improving mental health, losing weight, or improving diet. All of them are really about improving health, which would be wonderful, if only resolutions became reality.” But most of them don’t and that’s a damned shame.
I’m particularly aware of the consequences of failure this year. One of my oldest and dearest friends finished 2025 in hospice and is expected to live only a few more weeks. We were roommates in college and have been great friends ever since. He’ll be gone soon, and it didn’t’ have to be this way. This former athlete, college football player, basketball player, ignored his health for at least the past 15-20 years. He fell into bad habits. He ate bad food, much of which is now considered normal food. He stopped working out. He stopped being active. He hasn’t seen a primary care physician in over a decade. At first he made excuses, but eventually this behavior became his “normal”. The excuses disappeared because he didn’t think he was doing anything out of the ordinary---much like so many other people I know. Now he’s dying from afflictions that could have been caught early and easily dealt with. His family is being told that he wouldn’t survive the surgery and treatments he needs because he is too weak and out of shape. He could have lived for years! I wanted him to live for many more years! His daughters wanted him to live for many more years!
If you are reading this letter please understand that I want you to live a healthy and happy life for many more years. Even our constitution says we have the right to “pursue happiness”! Stay around for yourself, your family and your friends. I’m very sad every time I encounter someone that could easily improve themselves and their life but simply doesn’t. Keeping resolutions isn’t easy. The stats confirm that. But you can do it with determination and help from your friends.
Making New Habits
Whatever your resolutions are, they are about outcomes in your life that are different from what you are currently experiencing. To achieve them you have to change your behavior to get results. You have to create new habits. Habits are only created by repetition, every day. You can’t expect to lose 25 lbs or lower your blood pressure by behaving tomorrow like you did yesterday. You have to change something tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day. You have to become like the “little engine that could”, telling yourself every day, “I think I can”, I think I can”, “I think I can”, until you have! The moral of that children’s storybook is “never give up”. I can tell you one thing I know for sure. If you make the proper plan, work the plan, and never give up, you will accomplish your resolution, whatever it is. It is just that simple! I’m a living, breathing example. At age 77 I work out at least 5 days a week, often 6 days. I lift heavy weights. I refuse to miss two days in a row. It’s too easy to start breaking the habit by doing so. I have strength, stamina, and mobility that most men my age don’t have. I watch what I eat very carefully. I step on a scale every morning and every evening, monitoring my weight very closely. I’m healthy and productive. It’s all been very intentional. I didn’t want to end up like my buddy!
Stay in the moment
Focus on the task. The world offers plenty of distractions. Don’t let them steer you off course. Don’t let them cause you to stop in the middle of your planning session, workout, work, or time with loved ones. Don’t let distractions be your excuse or cause of failure. Stay in the moment!
Involve a friend or partner
Don’t keep your resolution to yourself for fear you will fail. Tell someone what you intend to do. Better yet, get them involved in the process with you, even if it’s only a friend that listens and commiserates as you go. You might be surprised to see them inspired by you and join you! The real point is, don’t hide for fear of failure. Declare yourself. It doesn’t have to be the world; just someone you trust. It can help! Also remember that if they encourage you to quit, fire them as your confidant, laugh, keep going, and call me.
Be your own best health and life advocate
My primary care physician told me that he’s most frustrated about how few questions he gets from patients, particularly after receiving a new diagnosis or a new treatment. He says the most common answer to the question, “do you have any questions” is “no”. I used to do this myself, but not anymore. I want to know as much about any diagnosis or treatment as I can. I go home and log into Chat GPT or Google Gemini and find out all I can. The more you know, the more you can help yourself. I’m not advising anyone to “play doctor”, but I am advising you to “get smart” about your own health. Doing so can save your life. At a minimum it can improve your quality of life. What if were confident enough to tell your doctor about symptoms or problems he or she is not aware of? What if you were more knowledgeable than your doctor about how to maintain your strength, mental health, and longevity? It’s quite possible to do!
There is one doctor that both Meghan and I rely on for knowledge about leading more happy, healthy, and longer lives. His name is Dr. Peter Attia. The easiest way to follow him is watching his podcasts on YouTube.com. Create a new habit by watching one a day for a month. After a month you will be amazed at how much you’ve learned. I’d bet your health and fitness habits will change too. It’s never too early to “fix yourself”, but sometimes it can be too late. Whatever your age is, start now!!
Happy New Year and all the best to you,
Paul Krsek
CEO
5T Wealth, LLC
Main (707) 224-1340
Cell (707) 486-7333
Paul@5twealth.com
Disclosure and Disclaimer - Updated last on October 14, 2025:
CEO's Corner is a proprietary newsletter written for clients, friends, and affiliates of 5T WEALTH, LLC (5T), which is an SEC registered investment advisor. Information presented is for educational purposes only. The information does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and are not guaranteed. 5T has reasonable belief that this letter does not include any false or material misleading statements or omissions of facts regarding services or investments. 5T has reasonable belief that the content as a whole will not cause an untrue or misleading implication regarding the adviser’s services, investments, or client experiences.
The opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change without notice. The opinions referenced are as of the date of publication and are subject to change due to changes in the market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. Any opinions, projections, or forward-looking statements expressed herein are solely those of the author. They may differ from the views or opinions expressed by other areas of 5T and are only for general informational purposes as of the date indicated.
5T has presented information in a fair and balanced manner. 5T is not giving tax, legal, or accounting advice.
Past performance should not be considered an indicator of potential future performance. If you do not consider yourself suitable, either emotionally or financially, to experience volatility and/or losses in financial markets, you should not invest. The portfolio managers at 5T do not guarantee investment results.
Charts, displays and graphs may be used as illustrations. They are not intended to be used by themselves to determine which securities to buy or sell, or when to buy or sell them. Such charts and graphs offer limited information and can’t be used on their own to make investment decisions.
CEO Corner does not represent the opinions of Fidelity, Fidelity Institutional Brokerage Group, NFS or anyone employed by Fidelity in any capacity. Neither Fidelity, Fidelity Institutional Brokerage Group, nor NFS, nor anyone employed by Fidelity in any capacity has participated in the creation of CEO Corner and they are not responsible for the contents or distribution of CEO Corner.
CEO Corner does not represent the opinions of Charles Schwab Corporation, Schwab Advisor Services or anyone employed by Schwab in any capacity. Neither Charles Schwab Corporation nor Schwab Advisor Services, nor anyone employed by Schwab in any capacity has participated in the creation of CEO Corner and they are not responsible for the contents or distribution of CEO Corner.
The investment objectives of various strategies mentioned in CEO Corner may be substantially different from one another. Therefore topics or investments mentioned in CEO Corner may or may not apply to specific managed accounts and/or strategies. If you are unsure which strategies your accounts are invested in please ask a representative of 5T to clarify that for you.
The assets held in managed accounts at 5T may include stocks, bonds, cash, commodities, foreign exchange, mutual funds or exchange traded funds (ETF's), money market accounts or limited partnerships that represent the same. They are subject to market fluctuation and the potential for losses. The assets are not insured. The value and income produced by these investment products may fluctuate, so that an investor may get back less than they initially invested.