Ditch the Resolutions & Try This Instead | Ep 24

Paul Fattinger (00:12) Welcome to Guys Like Us and guys, welcome to 2026, our first episode of the year, first episode of Guys Like Us, the podcast about the things that you start thinking about when you, you know, a bit later in life where we are at the moment. And you think about, and we talk about things about family, leadership, relationships, friendships, new year's resolutions, like we do today. because it's kind of the hot topic of the moment, obviously, and a very interesting one. And we are going to talk as usual, me calling him from Vienna and Mark here calling him from New York. How is it going, my friend? Happy New Year. Marc (00:50) Hello, hello. Awesome to see you my friend. Gosh, it's been it's been what? wish you a year of great prosperity, of making shit happen and being amazing. And ⁓ you look pretty amazing. I think like you had an awesome trip. Paul Fattinger (01:08) I just came back from two weeks in South Africa, landed this morning. Amazing. And I'm very, I'm extremely relaxed and have no idea how we'll go back to the normal world. Marc (01:13) Wow. Okay. Like your vibe right now is kind of how I want to feel for the rest of the year. You know, just, radiating. Paul Fattinger (01:24) Dude, I also would like that, but it would require temperatures that are 30 degrees higher because we came from about between 25 and 30 and it was between minus five and minus 10. So that's a bit of a stark difference. And that already makes you a bit like this, but it was an amazing family trip and kids loved it. We loved it with friends and stuff. So it was really, really good. We could actually... Marc (01:30) Yeah. Ugh. Oof. Paul Fattinger (01:52) to an overseas trip ⁓ episode one of these days. It was super fun, super fun, super fun. How are you doing? How were the holidays? How did it go? What did you do for the New Year's? Marc (01:55) No, we should do that. Cool. Nice. Good, we did a staycation, which was awesome. well, we spent a lot of time, a lot of family time, all good things. Two highlights would be, did ever tell me my dad always dresses up as Santa Claus, like for the kids? Yeah, yeah, yeah, so he had kind of a pretty good showing. We're always worried that the, are the kids gonna find out, is this the year that the kids find out? He does it from the distance now. I was like, dad, do not come into the house, know? Like, especially since. Paul Fattinger (02:14) You did, yeah. Wait, they still don't? Yeah, because this is walking on the, you know, yeah, yeah, yeah. Marc (02:28) Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's like hello and like leaves, you know? And so that was good. ⁓ I took my son ⁓ Felix, my eldest, to see Zabaflita at the Metropolitan Opera, which is like, since they had a nice kid's version, it was amazing. And he was like, yeah. The funny part is is that I forgot to take him to the bathroom before, you know? And ⁓ I was like thinking we just made it in, you know? And I was like... Paul Fattinger (02:46) Dude, amazing. Very nice. Marc (02:58) is he gonna make it all the way through? And sure enough, around the end of the second act, I just felt this warm kind of thing on my leg and I was like, he's just relaxing and peeing on. Paul Fattinger (03:09) I can tell you, my daughter makes it through a 12 hour flight without going to pee once because she hates, she thinks that airplane toilets are gross. Marc (03:20) She's absolutely right. But I would still do that. My New Year's party, sorry I'm sharing three, was so much fun because I went to Robin, the ⁓ Swedish pop star, she did this crazy party out in Brooklyn and it was like a big gay bash. And the funniest thing is I thought the concert says 9 p.m. So I was like, ⁓ we'll go till noon. Paul Fattinger (03:24) Yeah. Yeah. Marc (03:49) midnight and then she'll do the countdown, we'll leave. And then I was at an earlier party and I was sharing the news and this guy was like, oh my God, you're going to Robin? And I was like, yeah, I like, I was gonna get tickets to that too. I was like, cool, why not? And he said, she's only coming on at 1 a.m. I was like spat out my drink. I was like 1 a.m. Exactly. We went till four, but we had some help, you know. Paul Fattinger (04:05) I'm gonna be sleeping. How long did you make it? Marc (04:13) Like there was no other way we did that. like, okay. But it felt good to enter the year like that. Oh yeah. It was like a big bash party. Paul Fattinger (04:15) Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I get that. get that. man, that's nice, though. With a bang. And so what which drink are we sharing tonight or today? Marc (04:28) Well, I should ask you, I'm unfortunately midday. So I am being sponsored by Trader Joe's Ginger Turmeric Tea. Yeah, it's... Paul Fattinger (04:38) I'm sponsored as a bottle of San Pellegrino that I picked up at Zurich airport this morning. really, no, it's true. And I just found them in my backpack when I unpacked. So that's what I'm drinking today. Marc (04:42) Did you really? Oh my god, is this a sober episode? Jeez. Okay, well actually that's good for on point and on theme. It's January. Oh god. Paul Fattinger (04:55) Exactly because because let me let me just quickly look this up. I think it was on the in the Edens of in the Eden of December that your dear Mark Winter wrote a message into a chat saying it was on the 28th of December where you said and I quote you we should do an episode for New Year's quote. The art and science of New Year's resolutions and why dry January is bullshit. So I think exactly. So ⁓ I take from this, mean, being so empathic, the empathic leader that I am that you don't think New Year's resolutions are a great idea. Or do you? Marc (05:28) Yeah, that's a good one. Sounds like me. You know, I do not. And it's funny, like, you know, just to throw out some other stats out there, least US ones, I think like a third of Americans say they make at least one New Year's resolution each year, one third. And most of them tend to be like, and this is telling, by the way, 50 % of those tend to be between 18 and 29, you know, and just goes downhill from there, because everyone realizes at some point it'll work. Paul Fattinger (05:47) Hmm. Yeah, it's very telling. Yeah. It is true. think it's actually, this is an experience curve. Over 65, I think is only 15%. And that's basically the superstitious bunch. Marc (06:12) Yeah, it's totally the experience that you need, you know? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Totally, totally, right? Yeah, exactly. And then, you know, what they're making their US resolutions on tend to be more about health and fitness, of course, that's obvious. And this is also why I think they're bullshit. You many times I'm like, this is the year I'm getting a six pack and it just disappears. then ⁓ financial goals make sense, paying off debt, saving more money. ⁓ And then some people want, you know, personal growth, those kinds of wants, but, you know, health and wellness and financial goals make sense, you know, as a... Paul Fattinger (06:49) It makes sense. what I found interesting about this stat, to understand it here is like how did it developed over the past few years? Because like 21 was 24. think number one was in the US saving more money than it was exercising and I was eating healthier. 25 was actually physical fitness is number one, managing money, you know, is number two. Family and mental health is number three. So that's a new contender in the top three. And 26 apparently is a lot about exercising more, being happy. Marc (06:50) Newest resolutions. Mm. Mm. Mmm. Paul Fattinger (07:18) and eating healthier, so the being wealthy out of that, which I find is an interesting, I don't know if that's a longer term trend, but I thought that was interesting that, you you come from the money piece and the physical, which are the classic ones. And by the way, the money and saving is dominating in Asia ⁓ and is not in the mix in Europe because in Europe it's very consistently about exercise, fitness, eating healthier, lose weight. That's it. That's all we care about. This is our champagne problem central, ⁓ I would say. Marc (07:46) Do you know? Yeah, yeah. Do you do you know what happy new year is in Chinese? as a gongshi file. Hold on. And you know what it means? ⁓ It means hope you get rich. Paul Fattinger (08:05) Here we go. But anyways, okay, so what you're saying is, you're saying is it's bullshit because no one actually ever keeps the New Year's resolutions anyway. yeah, yeah, yeah. Marc (08:06) There you go. ⁓ Yes, and can I throw out some stats on that too, just real quick? we don't, okay, why you guess, how many, what percentage of people ⁓ stop in the Paul Fattinger (08:22) The first week, I don't know, 25. Marc (08:25) Exactly right, 22 to 23 % stop within the first week. Yeah. How many stop in the first month? Paul Fattinger (08:27) Really? Huh. I guess another 25, so 50. Marc (08:33) 40%. Close. There's some that, you know, stick with it. And on average, how long does the typical resolution last? Paul Fattinger (08:42) I mean, I can say from my own experience, two months. Marc (08:45) Okay, 3.7 months they say, yeah. Only eight to nine actually say they actually percent, actually feel like they keep their resolutions for that. Paul Fattinger (08:48) okay, I'm a quitter. But you know, there is a thing that I found that it comes from Strava, know, the fitness tracking app, which we both use, it's called Quitters Day. And it says that the second Friday in January remains the peak day for people to abandon their fitness tracking goals, which is like fucking fast. That's why I thought about the two months. I mean, this is really not even, it's not even trying, you know. Marc (09:01) Mm. Mm. Yes. you Paul Fattinger (09:20) And it's the second Friday, I love this. It's like, let's do dry January and go for the run. You go for two runs, you are like completely depressed. Second Friday, you get hammered again. And it's like, oh, fuck it. Okay. I mean, so the stats kind of say that it's weird, but may I remind you? I know, and I didn't look, that I don't know, somewhere in 2015, 16, 17 around, you sent me once, which I found very inspiring. Marc (09:23) Exactly. ⁓ my God. Yeah. Paul Fattinger (09:49) a kind of a vision board, I don't know how you called it, for your year. Marc (09:51) Yes. ⁓ my God. Yes. Actually, I should bring that up again. Paul Fattinger (09:55) So that's what I I wonder, you know, how this transition happened and this vision board guys was great. It was, you know, straight out of consulting kind of, but of the creative kind and the beautifully. I think basically it was, think almost like a copy from like the Starbucks vision. So how, how, is, what's important to me in my life professionally, personally, blah, blah, blah. And the next year is what are the top three things? How am I going to measure it? And then I want to share it with all of my friends. It's transformation. Marc (10:13) Yeah, exactly. A copy from the transformation agenda. Yeah. Paul Fattinger (10:25) I'm going to share it with my friends so I have like kind of a responsibility partner in a sense, right? So to make it more real. So what happened in last 10 years? You came from a fucking vision board for the next year to no-shit resolutions, so bullshit. Marc (10:37) ⁓ I Well, first of all, great provocation and I should bring that up because I need to do more of that. Thank you for reminding me of that. That was really cool. And actually, I did a lot of those things in the edition board, which is amazing. Paul Fattinger (10:55) Yeah. And it said also write something, write more. remember that. And that's actually when you started writing too and stuff. Yeah. Marc (11:00) Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So I was trying to be transparent in the hope that someone will hold me accountable instead of just talking all the time. ⁓ I think, you know, there's this quote. So first of all, I think I'm a believer in the power of a new year. Absolutely. There's something about entering a new date, a new year, ⁓ a year of deciding what you want to let go, what you want to be. ⁓ Paul Fattinger (11:17) Mm-hmm. Marc (11:28) what you want to keep, what do want to try new. I think that is always a natural reset and a rhythm for people. From a mindset perspective, I think it's really powerful. How you harness that is really important. think resolutions tend to be more narrow or a little bit smaller. If they're goals, that's fine. But I want to level it up a little bit to me. For me, a more helpful paradigm, and there's this lovely quote that I love, it's like, there are years that ask questions and years that answer. And I think a helpful way in is like, is this a year of asking questions myself and et cetera, or is this a year of answering them? And I find that an ⁓ interesting guiding principle of stepping into a year. Paul Fattinger (12:14) Hmm. Hmm. I love that. That's beautiful. I mean, there's so much in there. I did write, I think on the 31st of December and I looked a few times on my vacation on LinkedIn as a matter of habit rather than anything else, you know. And then we were very nicely, you know, close by the coast and there's this beautiful, you know, beach walk and I walked there and, know, and I kind of also started thinking and I started thinking how weird, not how weird, but Marc (12:35) Mmm, same. Paul Fattinger (12:49) It obviously is that change of the year, the time of the year too, where we have more time, you know, because for the most parts of the world, the time stops a little bit. And really for the most part, which is kind of the only time of the year where I feel you can really also switch off everything and be okay with it because people are celebrating and are with their families and nothing really happens over at least a week or so. So I think that kind of coincides with that and luckily and... Marc (13:05) Yes. Paul Fattinger (13:18) Thankfully, we take the time to reflect and it's a great thing to do that. And my next thought though was, fuck, we only do that once a year. I mean, we shouldn't be doing that, you actually on a monthly basis or even on a weekly basis or actually on a daily basis, which got me back to all those, know, rituals, you want, of like journaling or breathing and this whole presence and mindfulness thing, because in the end, you know, things is huge. So I think the act is beautiful and it is something that is... Marc (13:27) ⁓ yeah. mmm huge. Paul Fattinger (13:47) is really, really ⁓ great. And I was just wishing, you know, to transfer it into the professional context. Every time you do, you know, a nice strategy workshop with your team, you always come out of this and say, we should do this at least quarterly and not only once a year. And it never happens. And it rarely ever happens that someone actually takes the time out. And it's such another reminder of how important this is, I think, and how much Marc (14:02) I know, I know, I know. Paul Fattinger (14:12) We should just take the time and do it and reflect and think about it and listen to ourselves and, and, and, know, whether we're happy or not or, you know, so yeah, that, was kind of my thoughts on that. Marc (14:24) They all resonate. Do you think it's, okay, so you're remaining a little bit on the house, right? Which is like. Paul Fattinger (14:32) Listen, I'm not on the house. I wanted to get to, I was actually when I read your messages, like, yeah, I agree. It's total bullshit. And, and, and dry January is too, and so on. Although I'm drinking drinking water and I really need to do something because I was on a two week bender that took a toll. Yeah. And I don't fit into anything anymore. So I need to do something and I I'm gone. And, actually over this over, you know, also over this course of the holiday, there were a few things I thought about. Marc (14:42) Yeah, it's the worst. Who wants to do that? Yeah. Yeah. Ha ha ha ha ha! Paul Fattinger (15:00) that actually ended up as a resolution in my head where I said, you I want to use this year for some things. I think, and I'm happy to share it. I boiled it down on a few. One thing is a physical thing or a health thing that I've just been, you know, I think it's old age, but despite all the sports I do having problems with my back and stuff. So I need to do something on mobility and I really need to create a habit, which I have managed for lots of things, but somehow not for. Marc (15:09) Peace. Paul Fattinger (15:27) the boring task of stretching every morning. So this is very boring, but I need to fucking start doing this because sometimes I can't walk without very strong painkillers and I don't think at age 44, that's the way to go. So there are some things that I need to do and need to change and that really challenged me how I'm going to do that. So that's one of the things that I would really like to do. mean, but that's one. And I think it's... Marc (15:30) Mmm. Mmm. Okay. Paul Fattinger (15:52) And the interesting thing, have you ever read the book Atomic Habits? Marc (15:56) No, but I know of it well. Paul Fattinger (15:58) It's a great book, right? And it's about how you create a great habit. And it also says, never, if you say, I want to have a six pack by the summer, well, that's the wrong goal. The right goal is I want to go to the gym every day, or I want to go to the gym five times a week. Because it's about that, right? Marc (16:15) It was interesting. I thought that too. And then I went to the gym five days a week and I didn't get a six pack. And so I was just like, Paul Fattinger (16:21) Well, don't, well, there's a problem because you still had the six pegs in the back of your head, the chances of achieving that six pack, right? If you even genetically, you know, able to do that because many are not, that's a whole different story is, ⁓ is much higher when you don't set that one goal. Plus also when you set that goal and achieve it, then usually you stop. So it's, it's about creating that habit and creating a habit. think it takes, I think 60 days, 70 days, some say a hundred, you know, repetitions of it. but I think at least 40 and. Marc (16:25) Ha ⁓ Paul Fattinger (16:51) It's more about 66 or whatever. Right. And that's what it takes to actually establish a new habit and you have to do it every day. And then if you miss out a day where you can still do it. And many people in fact, I missed out on a day of either journaling because that's it or not drinking. And it's about keeping on going and not setting the bar too high also, because then when you fail, you get demotivated and you stop doing it. So I guess to answer your question, I am kind of in the camp of Marc (16:57) Yeah. Paul Fattinger (17:21) I think goals are great, but I don't believe in that once a year thing. I'm wondering, are there ways to actually bring change from that reflective period of time? And I think that's interesting. Marc (17:40) You know, I, okay, bit of advice, or at least I'm learning for myself. I mean, it was the way my brain operates. Last year, I entered 2025, and there's something about declaring a theme. So I declared it the year of making. And I said, I need to make on all fronts, professionally, creatively, et cetera. And, know, I think part of this podcast is so, part of the reason why creating this with you was so easy is because ⁓ it was already a lot to my goals. Not that you can't welcome other things, but there's something about the Uber, giving yourself a theme that you can wrap your head around, which is to me, I guess, is really also about a story, a little smaller story that will motivate you. like, is this year for Paul? What is this year for Mark? Is it about ⁓ rewiring? Is it about? ⁓ mobility in all fronts, know, there's something kind of interesting about that, you know, that you can attach a lot of your resolutions to. Paul Fattinger (18:44) I love this. I love this. That's a great one. mean, and I want to add to this is about taking two or three things, not more. It really few and it's also, and it's the same is true for everything that you lead in, I think in a job and taking, you know, basically it's, you know, what OKRs do for a company. And so you can basically do OKRs for yourself too is the same thing. I just say what are two, three goals. Marc (18:56) Yeah. short way. Mm-hmm. Paul Fattinger (19:10) And how do you achieve them and break them actually down and make some and try to get the activity in rather not the goal. And how do you make the habit out of it? And I think to me that would be it. That's one thing. But and the other thing what you just said reminded me of was a friend of mine sent me something on this topic and it was and we talked about Chinese New Year, right? That is happening this year on the 17th of February, by the way. And what I didn't know, I don't really obviously know. I'm not Chinese, so I don't know. But you know what? It was very true for me at the last year, 25 was the year of the snake. and what is incoming is the year of the horse. And what I find very interesting that, you know, the year of the snake is also that you change your skin. at the end of it, you change your skin, you renew, you know, you kind of re it's a lot of readjusting, rebalancing, ⁓ re getting into something, which to me is very. Marc (19:44) Mm. Mmm. interesting. Paul Fattinger (20:07) You know, is a great ⁓ analogy actually for what happened in my life. And then, you know, the year of the horse is a whole different animal. It's about speed and power and execution and freedom and independence and visibility. So you want to get out there. So I think that's super interesting. Yeah, super cool. Yeah. Yeah. And what I also really liked is, and she sent me this Marc (20:13) Yeah. That's so cool. I'm vibing on these themes. ⁓ Paul Fattinger (20:37) screenshot and it says, you know, I'm reading it. This is not resolution seasons about January, right? This is the face of the deep exhale after year of internal alchemy and facing our venom, right? The snakes begin to begins to loosen its grip. You're no longer who you were. You are not yet who you are becoming. It's the uncoiling of the snake. If you ever wonder what this time is for, it's not for pushing forward this time. This is meaning, you know, this period before the new year comes in is clearing, decluttering, letting go, becoming still, being present and basically preparing for that new year ⁓ and then starting it with full force. And I love this also because I find that we always run into Christmas in full speed and then 10 days later, not even like a week later, we expect everything to be different. How? You actually never have the space because we all know we fill this time then with family or travel or something. And then from the first of January, all of a sudden everything should be different. How is that going to work? It doesn't work. can't. So I love that giving yourself some, if you want slack or room in January or whatever, define the period, know, make it mid-February, doesn't matter. To say, you know what, now I'm just taking this time to clean up my shit, to calm down a little bit, to see what's really important to me. Marc (21:38) Mmm. Paul Fattinger (22:02) and then take it from there. So I love that. I think it's really awesome. Marc (22:08) I agree. I think it would be really helpful if January were framed more like that. I think in general, to your point. Actually, Go is February 1. February is the real reflection you get to do at the time. Because also, when you were in South Africa, was here, the time with family is precious, but you're not doing shit. Paul Fattinger (22:22) Yeah, yeah. Marc (22:36) And nor should you, by the way. You need to recharge. I was watching movies and et cetera and play with my kids, that kind of thing. yeah, hmm, hmm. Paul Fattinger (22:41) Exactly. Yeah. So I really liked it. And then it also made me think of old Redrop. No, I was wondering since when humans made New Year's resolutions and it dates back to Babylonian times. So, you know, it's not crazy to do that. And it is a cycle. It is the cycle, you know, the full cycle of the sun or of the earth around the sun, as we know. But so it signifies some. Marc (23:03) Really? Right. Huh. Paul Fattinger (23:13) It is the next year of ⁓ planting your seeds, getting new crops in and so on. So there is something about this, new beginning, that's very natural. So is every moon, by the way. So you could also talk about the monthly ritual. So there is something there and we're not crazy doing that. And in fact, this year I did an interesting one, which comes from the Alpine regions. Marc (23:14) Hmm. Mm. Paul Fattinger (23:43) and my ex-wife told me about that. then it is basically translated as called the rough nights. And it describes the 12 or 13 nights, which also mark a difference between the lunar year and the solar year, right? Because the lunar year obviously is 12 times 28 and then we have 365 or 66 in the sun year. And so the difference is 12 or 13 nights. And it's called the Raunechte in German. And they happen between... Marc (23:57) Mmm. Paul Fattinger (24:10) the longest or the shortest day of the year, the 21st of December in the Northern Hemisphere and the 6th of January, so today. So on that 21st, you sit down and you write down 13 wishes and you the things that you wish to happen in the next year. You write them down, you close them, know, these papers so you can't read them. And then on the 24th or 5th, I don't remember, you start every night to pick one randomly, don't read it and burn it. Marc (24:39) Hmm. Paul Fattinger (24:39) And the wishes you burn, the universe will take care of them. And one remains unburned. And that's the one you're supposed to give your energy and focus to. And I did that. And no shit, it was the one wish I wish the universe would fucking taken. So I really, I opened it. No, I'm not gonna share that. But it was the one I really wished. Marc (24:48) Focus. That's so cool. Ha ha ha ha ha ha you share what it was? Are you comfortable sharing what it was or no? Okay. Paul Fattinger (25:09) the universe would have taken. But I think it was a beautiful ritual and there are so many. If you think of the 12 grapes, you I think you have in Italy and in Spain that you eat and there's so many things there ⁓ about the New Year. So I think to me there is something about it. I guess the way we do it in our time and age is probably not the most efficient or effective way of actually bringing about any change. Let's put it like this. Marc (25:10) The universe to circle over. course. Paul Fattinger (25:39) That's kind of where I sit on that. Marc (25:39) The business of renewal and reflection is an interesting... So what do you think people want most from these? Like from making these resolutions? it impact? Is it to hold themselves accountable? Is it to really... set themselves on the path of change. know, there's, they're different. Like I'm trying to get underneath, like what are people really yearning for? Paul Fattinger (26:16) Well, I think in the first place, are things that people want to achieve. They want to look better, feel fit, be more healthy, have more money. So, mean, we saw from the... So that's kind of the outcome. Yeah, so that's the thing. And then think wider resolution, because obviously you're not happy where you are. You want to change something. So there is a clear, I think, change trajectory in that. Marc (26:24) ⁓ okay. So basically there's the bottom half of Maslow's hierarchy, which by the way is actually interesting enough. Like that's Paul Fattinger (26:42) And then it's, think a lot is about communicating and is about that making it transparent to, you know, also your, your inner circle or your circle so that you feel more, ⁓ responsible of actually, you know, what's the right word now? ⁓ yeah. Thank you. More accountable for that. Yeah. Marc (26:54) Mm. accountable. Do you think, okay, maybe this is getting at the a little bit itch I have with resolutions. Like the root of them is some, as you described, some level of dissatisfaction that you're trying to address. And I'm not sure, like that's the, and I think that's what bugs me about them, is how they tend to manifest. Paul Fattinger (27:15) Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Marc (27:28) I don't like how I look, I don't like what's in my bank account. Versus like, this is like the thing I want to become, like everything else, which requires me to do these things. But like it's more of a level set, you know, kind of an outcome. Paul Fattinger (27:30) Exactly. Yeah, and I the feeling it's kind of the things and it was at least for me also, it was always the things that you know you should do, but you never come around to it. like next year I finally have to do is colonoscopy, which is true in my case. It has to happen. So I need to do it. So next year I still need to do that health check up next year. I should really drink less next year. So it's all the things you kind of never come around. And I think that's where it is. And then you've probably said this for the past five. So Marc (27:45) You get where going? It's a framing. Yeah, me too. Let's just do it next month. Hmm. Paul Fattinger (28:13) It has kind of a negative connotation while, yeah, I also think is the framing of it. I don't think is the, I'm not against the process itself. And I think kind of history teaches us. It's not completely stupid in, a cycle of renewal to think about renewal. It's how we execute on it and how we do it. I think is, is that's kind of the big one. Right. It's not like I read somewhere that 67 % of all gym memberships. Marc (28:20) Yeah, that's where I was going. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Paul Fattinger (28:42) that are being, you know, signed in January are never used. 67, that's two thirds. That's nuts. Yeah. And that's totally useless. I mean, it's great for the gym dudes. And there's a reason why they only do 12 for six month memberships, right? Because they know no one's actually coming back. ⁓ So, but there's gotta be a better way. I think that's... Marc (28:49) Mm, crazy. Nuts. Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm Paul Fattinger (29:11) That's where I'm at. You know, when I think about the work you do, and I did sometimes about how we do this for companies, we should do this for individuals, right? In a sense, a strategy workshop for the next year and kind of have a three year one and then break it down. Marc (29:29) That's a great business. Yeah. I think I love that idea. It's like a really powerful, I don't know. I think people want a blueprint that they can follow versus an abstract. Paul Fattinger (29:31) Yeah, guess this is what all these retreats are for. Yeah. And what's kind of then though, coming up inside of me and which I really learned this past year and which I'm very grateful for is the act of letting go and trusting the universe a little bit more. and, but which also comes, yeah, which also comes with, it doesn't mean like, listen, I let go and I don't give a fuck anymore. it also comes with manifesting what the outcomes should be, but then Marc (30:01) Totally. Courage. Paul Fattinger (30:15) Also always giving your best and trusting, you know, a little bit that things are going to come, which they really came my way, you know, this past year, I got to say. ⁓ and, and you have just way more room to enjoy what's happening. So, so, and, and, it's always very hard to explain. Also when you talk about this, and we should probably do an episode about this again, what does it mean to, you know, kind of hand over some of the responsibility to the universe? Doesn't mean you don't have any, and you shouldn't have any goals or any dreams. Marc (30:28) Mm. Paul Fattinger (30:45) or any visions, right? It's more about how you go about them and also how you take a failure and how you handle stress maybe and all these things. I think it just kind of changes the perspective. So, but I'm still kind of trying to navigate this space between, well, something's gonna happen, which is really okay. And having clear goals and then maybe being most frustrated when they don't work out. Marc (30:57) That's it. Paul Fattinger (31:08) Yeah, so I don't know if that makes sense. Marc (31:09) There's something about, no it is the tension of what you're, well especially in transitional years about what you're doing, actually doing and committing to versus trusting the universe to deliver is an interesting tension to figure out. Hey, can I ask you this before, like we kind of close this thing, what is a share of time when you've actually declared a resolution and execute on it? Paul Fattinger (31:24) Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I would have to say, I don't know. I was thinking about even about last year, I didn't do it. No, I'm serious. That's why I'm also not. That's why I kind of was in agreement with your first statement because I never have. And then as the time went by, kind of flipped and thought, maybe I just need to do it in the right way. I need to focus on less and actually do it. And I've also never looked, really looked back and said, you know, what went well, what didn't. I guess in a sense, Marc (31:38) Yeah. Mmm. Paul Fattinger (32:05) I had a resolution for my sabbatical, which was to let go and to try to do nothing and to try to focus on the things that bring me joy. And that was almost my resolution for 25, which also developed as I went. And looking back, I did pretty well on those. So yeah, that would be a time. But other than that, I was never a big resolutions guy because I don't like failing so much. I didn't even start. Marc (32:20) Mm. Ha ha ha ha ha. Paul Fattinger (32:35) As always, the best way of not losing is not playing the game, you know? Exactly. How about yourself? Marc (32:38) Exactly. Never play a game you can't win. It's fun. I think in 21, just one that comes to mind, I was like, hey, you've been ruminating on writing this television pilot for some time. This is the year you actually have to do it. And I did. And I'm really proud of that. Now that I understand what it takes to do something like that. Paul Fattinger (33:00) Yeah, yeah, yeah. Marc (33:04) You know, to declare, to make it, without an obvious payoff, any one of those things, to me feels like a... Like I draw on that energy, but again, two things where I play there, yeah, I guess it was a resolution, I wanted to make it. If I had to do it over again, I would level it up. like, hey, this is the year you're taking your... All those creative ideas that you kept swirling in your head and you're putting them on paper. It might be a little bit different thing. And then the tangible focus is helpful. That's it. Paul Fattinger (33:35) So, yeah, sorry, go ahead. So, but how are you going to go, how are you going into 26 in terms of revolutions? It was a year of the making. Do you already have something or are you going to take January to figure it out? Is that how we punted in this episode? Marc (33:48) No, do. No, no, it's exactly. Talk to us if I can. I think I'll share this as much. I think this is the year of answers. And so I've been making a lot and I think we're gonna learn whether or not, ⁓ and even including this podcast, like what people respond to and love, you And we're putting things out in the world. ⁓ I see it's a year of answers and I see it's a year of definitely being way more out in the world than ever before. So high level, you. Paul Fattinger (34:24) Wow, nice. Nice. No, I guess it is the year of execution too, in a sense to me. I like the year of the horseman. I'm going to go with the Chinese on this one. I mean, they thought about this way before we did, or I did at least. So why not just take it? They really know what they're doing, you know? So I'm going with that. It really resonated with me what was in there because 25... Marc (34:32) Mm-hmm. Hahaha They did. They're really good at what they do. Yes. Mmm. Paul Fattinger (34:53) was kind of learning a lot from me on how to approach life in a bit of a different way. And I'm just very curious to see what that's going to mean. And I, be honest, I don't quite know yet. I know, you know, this podcast is one of those things, but I do have a feeling there are a couple of things out there ⁓ that I don't know about yet. And that's where, Trusting the Universe comes in. I'm totally fine with it. I'm actually excited about it. So. ⁓ Marc (34:55) We should post it on our Instagram page. That's great idea. Paul Fattinger (35:22) It's to me more and I'm going to use this, this January to declutter and to really think what is important to me. And not in terms of goals, how much money I save or make and more into what do I want to experience? Where do I want to be as a person? And what are the things where I want to put my energy towards to, and then see what unfolds that, that, you know, kind of brings me to that point. That's how I see it. Let's see. Let's see what happens. Very excited. Very excited. Marc (35:49) Awesome. This is fun. Paul Fattinger (35:51) And mobility, that's just a must have because if my fucking back hurts like it did in the past two weeks, that's not gonna be good. In any case, talking about the Terminators and the idiots of the weeks, anything that comes to your mind, my friend? How will you want me to start? Marc (35:53) Mobility, yeah, exactly. All right, so it's hard. This is really hard not to do something non-political ⁓ this week. So I'll do a classic New York Terminator and an idiot of week. think idiot. I have no idea what we're doing in Venezuela. Paul Fattinger (36:15) I have some menu. Why? What's happening? I don't know. I really didn't read the news, to be honest. I was just like, ⁓ shit, man. Yeah. Marc (36:37) by us, the US, like I mean, there's, I think most Americans can't put that out on a map. But definitely, so it's just, because I don't believe there's a plan, I'm just gonna put idiocy, just stamp on that, I'm sure. And crazy thing, just as a byproduct, like Maduro is being tried, like literally a 10 minute walk from here, you know, so like it's bananas, like kind of how, Paul Fattinger (36:46) Yeah. Marc (37:03) The world politics just kind of hits my backyard literally, you know, it's just kind of a funny thing. But Terminator of the Week is, I got to shout out the New Yorker. was on, he was, it's just one of the best things. He was being interviewed in local news about what he thought about the Venezuela thing, right? And ⁓ it was like literally, you know, well, I think he was arrested, it was on Saturday and they were interviewing this guy Saturday afternoon, right? And he's like, yeah, you know, I don't know. here's what I do. And he's like, don't know what I think about it, but here's what I do know is like all these people protesting it, they're idiots, you know, they're all paid. Like who hears news and like gets the signs out and says no to Venezuela within six hours, right? They knew what was happening, all paid. And I love a good conspiracy theorist. It's a great viral video, it's hilarious. Paul Fattinger (37:55) A good conspiracy. Yeah, it's like you just have to put it out there and something is something's going to stick something's going to stick. So what are my minor very obviously travel related. I mean, I would have said my terminator of the week is you know, was probably South Africa as a destination as politically difficult a place it is, which is kind of the I would say the one minus that you always kind of have that in the back of your mind, but it's a great family destination for everybody living in Europe. Also quite easily accessible with an overnight flight. Marc (38:03) Ha ha ha. Mm-mm. Mm. Paul Fattinger (38:28) beautiful place very, you know, very nice. Just it was a really, really, really fucking cool place. Idiot of the week. I don't know, man, how airlines still handle luggage. I don't know because I had an hour and a half layover in Zurich and nobody knew where the fuck my suitcases are. Three are here. One is not. You call the people and it's like, I was sending you three. What about the fourth? Which fourth? It's like there's a fourth. I a different case number. It's like Marc (38:33) No, jealous, nevermind. My god. Paul Fattinger (38:53) It took two people 50 minutes on the phone to sort out four suitcases. I mean, if you extrapolate this, that can't work. This is like, the fuck? Marc (38:59) I can't I can't. I think like, okay, things I do not want to be in life is like, there's a long list, but I would say in the top 10 is on the on the opposite side of a phone line to you when you're upset. Paul Fattinger (39:13) ⁓ as we speak, I just got an email though. So, ⁓ Austrian Airlines, your lost luggage, what did they just say? That's actually quite cool, has arrived at the airport. That's the last one because three were already delivered. And then I thought actually it could be a pretty cool service that, because what is nice is that I then didn't have to carry all the suitcases out. I went home without my suitcase. I didn't have to do dirty laundry right away. I feel bad about not doing it because first of all, I took a shower and a nap, right? Marc (39:23) Wonderful. Hmm? Hmm. Mm. Paul Fattinger (39:43) So that you have this as a service that someone brings your, you know, your shit the next day. Why not? Why not? The next day you just have to bring the things you really need like probably washing stuff. Anyways, that's something to think about and like a valet service for your suitcases. Marc (39:48) Great idea. Why not? I love this. You've been you've been bubbling with ideas today. I love it. It's great. Paul Fattinger (40:04) Alright man, I'm looking forward to the next one. Let's see if we can get a guest in. Let's organize that. Alright man, here we go. Alright man, take care. Ciao. Ciao you too. Marc (40:08) ⁓ I love that. That's a good teaser. right. Big hug. Happy New Year. Paul Fattinger (40:14) second okay