It’s that time of year again—for our family and for our team at Express—when we choose our One Word. If you’ve followed my blog or LinkedIn articles over the years, you know this has become an important annual rhythm for me. I enjoy this exercise because it forces reflection on where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, and where we believe we’re headed next. A New Year’s resolution often fades by February. But One Word stays with you. It becomes a filter for your decisions, your leadership, your health, your relationships, and your growth all year long.

In 2024, my One Word was Thrive. If I am being transparent, 2024 did not turn out the way I had hoped. It was a challenging year—personally, professionally, and emotionally at times. The market was hard. Leadership carried some real weight. There were wins, but there were also some tough lessons along the way.

Even so, I can say this with confidence: we did the best we could with what we had. We didn’t quit. We didn’t retreat. We stayed in the fight. And because of that, 2025 has been better positioned because of what 2024 taught us. Thrive didn’t show up the way I expected—but it showed up through resilience, resolve, and growth under pressure.

As we moved into 2025, my One Word became Elevate. After a hard year, it was time to raise the standard again—on leadership, mindset, health, culture, and execution. Elevate wasn’t about hype; it was about expectation. It pushed me to ask better questions:

• What standard am I truly operating at?
• Where do I need to level up?
• What blind spots do I need to address?
• What habits need to change for growth to continue?

2025 became a year of sharpening and refining—personally and professionally. Not just for short-term wins, but for sustained growth.

The reality today is that we are living and leading in turbulent times. Technology is changing faster than ever. Markets are unpredictable. Talent expectations are evolving. Pressure is real in nearly every direction.

And yet, I truly believe this: we are not called to merely survive turbulence—we are called to thrive in it. That belief is what drives our theme at Express of Thriving Amidst Turbulent Times. And that belief is exactly what led me to my One Word for 2026.

My One Word for 2026 is: Momentum.

Momentum is the compounding force created when disciplined people take consistent action—day after day, especially when conditions aren’t perfect. Momentum is rarely built in one big moment. It’s built through hundreds of small, faithful, disciplined decisions stacked together.

For me personally, Momentum in 2026 means continuing to build on the habits that have shaped me over the last few years—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It means staying committed when motivation fades. It means continuing to lead myself well so that I can lead others better.

As a leader, Momentum means clarity, alignment, and consistency. It means helping our team move forward together with purpose—especially when conditions feel uncertain. It means not riding high on wins or getting stuck in setbacks. It means asking one simple question over and over again: What’s the next play?

One of the most powerful lessons I continue to learn is the importance of the Next Play mindset. I recently read Alan Steins new book. He talks about not living in past wins or past losses. Whether it’s a tough market, a missed goal, a client challenge, or even a big victory—the answer is always the same: reset, refocus, and execute the next play.

Momentum is built when teams reset quickly, stay focused, and continue moving forward. We won’t allow turbulence to divide us—it will unify us. It will sharpen us. It will strengthen us.

In 2026, Momentum will show up in very real and practical ways for us:

• How we lead under pressure
• How we make decisions
• How we embrace innovation
• How we develop our people
• How we serve our clients and associates
• How we grow with precision instead of chaos

Momentum is not about moving fast for the sake of speed. It’s about moving forward with clarity, alignment, and consistency.

As I reflect on where we’ve been – Sustain, Thrive, Elevate—and now where we’re headed with Momentum, I’m grateful for every lesson along the way, even the hard ones. The difficult seasons shaped us. The growth seasons sharpened us. And now we are positioned to build something that compounds.

I invite you to join me again this year. Choose your One Word. Let it guide your focus, your habits, and your growth. And let’s make 2026 a year where we don’t just hope for progress—we build Momentum together.

Here’s to thriving amidst turbulent times…with clarity, consistency, and forward motion.