In keeping with transparency, let’s do a quick check-up on the status of the 2026 goals.
As I said when I released these earlier this year, the 2026 focus isn’t a dramatic reset. It’s more of a continuation of my 2025 goals. A maturation of them. These are less about short-term wins or tidy 12-month checkboxes and more about long-term return. That’s the lens I want to use this year.
So let’s take a look:
Two trips with Mrs. RCS. Just us. We’ve realized that allocating time for just us is the magic sauce. We have a healthy babysitter budget, and we went to St. Barth last year, and it was wonderful. Continuing the babysitter budget, but looking to add a SECOND trip for the two of us.
UPDATE: We are heading to Miami Beach next month. Super excited. More to come on this one, as it’s at one of our favorite hotels. Additionally, we’ve already started discussing a Fall trip to the mountains. Lots more to come on that one…
Take the boys on an overnight fishing trip. It’s time. They are old enough. Mom can stay home. Do all the things – fish, get dirty, tell jokes, cook s’mores, go to bed late…make those core memories that they’ll carry with them and hopefully reapply to their kids.
UPDATE: I could call this complete with our most recent trip to Sylva (post coming later this week), but I’m not ready to check this one off yet. I plan to get this one handled this Summer.
Introduce the boys to the relationship between money and work. Our boys have been asking for a lot of things…which is totally normal, but Mrs. RCS and I want to instill foundational rules around working and money. This is a simple weekly allowance conversation, but we will build requirements to get that money…and then get things. The more you work/do/behave, the more you get.
UPDATE: We haven’t paid much mind to this one until very recently. We had to upgrade their Amazon Fire tablets to iPads (wow…), and it involves a LOT of ‘in-app purchases’. Additionally, we are finishing up a basement renovation, where the boys will have THEIR space downstairs. Both of these come with a lot of responsibilities, which we’ll use to kick off ‘chores’ and ‘allowance’, etc.
Annual check-up and bloodwork. Yeah, I know. This shouldn’t be a ‘goal’, but I need to write it down.
UPDATE: No update. It’s on the list.
Maintain a healthy waist measurement. I did this last year, and it was good. As I age, the older my body gets, the more I prioritize core strength and a balanced diet. All of this is for vanity…so I’m not getting any wider than a 32″ waist. Period.
UPDATE: So far, so good. I still think I can do better, especially with Summer coming up…
Add 2/week yoga/stretching to the workout. A dear friend of mine goes to a stretching place every week. He told me all about this on the golf course, and I honestly thought he was joking. Nope. He goes and gets stretched out for 45 minutes a week, and absolutely swears by it. He’s a couple of years older than me and in great health (and an outstanding golfer)…and he calls this a game changer. I’m going to dig into stretching in 2026.
UPDATE: Honestly, I think I’ve done a bad job with this, and should make it more of a priority. I’m going to add focus on ‘breathwork’ as well.
Maintain a 9 handicap. I worked my ASS off to go from a 13 to a 9 in 2025. I’m very proud of it. My goal this year is to maintain. I’d love to see it go down, but it’s not a requirement. Playing at a 9 is fun golf.
UPDATE: I’m happy to report that this is right on track.
Eliminate low-return obligations. This is tough to conceptualize, but I want to feel like I’m wasting less time. Be more efficient. Automate. I’m excited to see how this pans out.
UPDATE: I *feel* like this is going well, but it’s hard to grade. I’m doing better at staying more organized, cleaning out/purging old stuff, being more attentive to my Whoop around recovery and stress…I’d say this is going OK? I’ll put more thought into how I can create some sort of grade.
10 house projects. We moved into our house in 2015 and did a TON of work. We had our boys in 2017 and 2019, and not much has happened since then. I want to make a concerted effort to (effectively) do a house project a month. Nothing that requires a permit or a licence, but make improvements that make a difference and positively impact the quality of living at the house.
UPDATE: This is going to be a big Q2-Q4 initiative, as we’ve been neck-deep in a full basement refinish, which involves our garage and dining room acting as storage lockers, and the very handsome POD we have in our driveway. I will say that Mrs. RCS and I have a good list of what we are going to do in the works (new front door, lighting, paint touch-ups, etc.), so I’m confident that I’ll deliver on this goal.
Read six books. Last year, my goal was ten. I read three (up from .5 in 2024). I’m trying to catch the trend-line.
I’m at 1.5 books so far, so I’m far outpacing my 2025 delivery. Still a long way to go, but I’m enjoying reading before bed (vs. scrolling).
Q1 GRADE:
I assess that I’m on track for meeting/exceeding my 2026 goals.
