LEAN.

This isn’t your typical “New Year, New You” resolution blog posting.

Don’t get me wrong — I still believe in the importance of having goals and plans for the new year. But I’m choosing to do things differently this time.

Before we can charge full steam ahead at our new missions and objectives, we gotta drop all the dead weight first.

Because here’s what I’ve learned: You can have all the vision, all the ambition, all the strategy in the world, but if you’re carrying too much baggage from the past, you’re not gonna get anywhere fast.

So this post isn’t about what I’m adding to my life in 2026.

Instead, it’s about what I’m choosing to intentionally leave behind.

The Physical Purge (Making the Invisible Visible)

Over the first weekend of December, I did something I should’ve done years ago: I purged my room.

Not a light cleanup. A full purge.

In the remaining days leading into 2026, I also decided to tear down the old KanBan board — the one I’d put up to perform productivity rather than actually be productive. It had been on my wall for so many years, just sitting there, collecting dust (and a couple of stray bugs 🪰 that are unfortunate enough to get caught on the sticky surfaces 😅).

It came down. All of it.

At the very same time, we also decided that it was time for us to remove the monitor stand from my daily carry bag.

It’s made of Aluminum. And HEAVY too. Functional, sure, but it was also draining my energy every single day. I’d been justifying it: “It still has a purpose. I could continue to make the most of it for my setup.”

But the truth? It was weighing me down. Literally and metaphorically.

And today, as I prepare to step back into the world tomorrow, I asked myself a simple question:

“What am I actually bringing with me into 2026?”

The Painful Truth About Dead Weights (And What We Won’t Admit Even to Ourselves)

Here’s what I’ve learned about carrying too much:

It doesn’t happen all at once.

You don’t wake up one day suddenly crushed under the weight of your baggage. It accumulates gradually. A mindset here. A behavior pattern there. An old emotional wound you keep revisiting. A “safety net” you refuse to let go of.

And for a long time, you’ll justify it (be it with those who know you, or with yourself).

• “I’ll keep this old way of thinking because maybe it’ll serve me later…”
• “I’ll hold onto this pattern because what if I need it…”
• “I’ll carry this emotional weight because letting it go feels too final…”
• “I’ll keep this business connection for now, because you never know if our paths might cross…right?”
• “Maybe I should continue to maintain this working relationship because you never know if you might need their help later.”

The amateur explorer problem isn’t just about not knowing what’s essential.

It’s about not trusting yourself enough to leave things behind.

Because leaving something behind means admitting you don’t need it anymore. It means accepting that the chapter is closed. For good. It means facing the unknown without that familiar safety blanket.

So you keep carrying it. “It’s not that heavy.” “I might need it [later].” “Better safe than sorry.”

But here’s what actually happens when you carry too much: the weight compounds. You move slower. You get exhausted faster. And the very things you brought “just in case” has now turned into the very obstacles preventing you from reaching your destination.

I knew this. Somewhere deep down, I’ve known this for a while.

But knowing and doing something about it? Two completely different things, my friends.

For us, December 2025 was finally the time that we did something about it.

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2026 is Our Clean Slate

While it is impossible for us to wish everything to be gone just like that. Some challenges will inevitably follow us as we begin to step into a new year together. That said, I believe that there is a difference between facing our responsibilities versus intentionally weighing ourselves down with unnecessary burdens. As we begin 2026, I’m ready to begin it with a clean slate. Well, as clean as one can be in our circumstances.

So, when I think about what life would be like in 2026 and beyond, I only bothered to ask myself one key question, “How fast can I pack up and move to wherever it is that I need to be to do my work with absolutely effectiveness?”

It is the very same question that I’ll be asking myself every single time I’m thinking of making a new purchase between now and 2028, “Will this hold me down, or hinder my relocation to São Paulo in 2028?”

If it will weigh or slow me down, then I know it is not what I need, and I will not waste my time, energy and money on it. It’s a good thing that my room is so clean right now. It only makes it that much easier for when the time comes.

A Peak into Our Absolute Essentials Going into 2026 and Beyond

When I think about what we’ll be carrying around with us as we get ready to step into 2026, I’m focusing on nothing but our absolutely essentials. No, I don’t mean cheap, and I don’t mean affordable stuff either. This is not the typical “do more with less” BS that my former shell used to spout. That is such BULLSHIT if you ask me. When we think about our essentials, we’re thinking about good quality hardware and tools that we believe will help us to be at our most effective. It’s the same way an experienced climber or explorer wouldn’t skim on certain essentials because they understand the importance and value of investing in something reliable and not cheap.

So, let’s dive into what my absolute essentials as a global industry pioneer for 2026.

A Solid Backpack

One of the very first things that I’ll definitely need among my essentials, is a good backpack. It definitely needs to be able to pack a 16″ MacBook Pro inside it, and still have room/pocket/spaces for other key essentials. Additionally, it would be good to have amper space to also carry an external monitor.

Status: Yet to be Acquired

Refurbished 16″ MacBook Pro (M4 Max)

As an industry pioneer and master artisan/builder, the working machine is the most important piece of equipment in my backpack. And when it comes to all the work that we will be doing for the next few years (2026 to 2028), we will not be settling for anything less than a 16″ MacBook Pro with the M4 Max chipset. We’ll be glad to settle for a refurbished machine because after all, prior to our relocation to São Paulo in 2028, I fully intend on making a proper upgrade to a much newer model by that time.

Status: Yet to be Acquired

espresso Pro 15 (External Displays)

One of the most important essentials, not just because I’ll be a digital nomad, but also because I will be doing work that warrants the use of a dual setup, having a reliable & durable external monitor will come in handy when I am to be constantly on the go. Speaking as an industry pioneer working in the fields of UX/Design Engineering, I honestly cannot think of a better brand to trust and rely upon than espressoDisplays.

Contrary to what some might think, I’m actually less interested in the 17″ model. What I needed is something that doesn’t add more weight to my backpack. So, 15″ with 4K resolution would be in that sweet spot for me.

Status: Yet to be Acquired

A Tablet Device (Apple or Samsung)

The other device that will occasionally be found in my backpack will be a tablet device. After spending many years owning and using many different tablet devices across different brands, it is my belief that the actual brand here doesn’t matter as much. But I do have standards. And according to my standards, I’m thinking it could be either a Samsung tablet or Apple iPad Air. For me, this tablet device is always good for days when I am packed with consultations and coaching/mentoring sessions. They are never meant for us to do heavy duty work. They are small and light enough for us to bring with us in our backpack, and has a simple keyboard cover so we can easily set it up at some remote cafe and just get some work/meetings done.

For now, we will continue to make do with the Redmi Pad Pro that is still in relatively good working condition. I always take great care of my hardware because I know that it will help to prolong it’s lifespan. And right now, I am thankful that I still have this tablet device to allow me to get some basic, light-duty work done even if I do not yet own a proper machine.

Status: Using our Redmi Pad Pro for now

100W Charging Brick

One of the things that I’ve discovered to be a great investment is my existing 100W charging brick. It provides two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. Which is more than enough for our needs, especially with our absolute essentials. It is something that I will continue to carry in my bag. I will not going anywhere without it. And if I need to travel, I will bring along the different pin heads for swapping.

Status: Already Acquired

Other Essentials

Just to be clear, everything that we have listed so far are the non-negotiables. But it is also likely that we might find other useful items to include inside our new backpack (when the time comes). But again, we won’t be adding too much to our pack. Just like an explorer thinking about his/her next expedition, “The easier it is for me to move and maneuver during my exploration, the better.”

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What Will You Be Carrying into 2026?

So, tell me, what will you be carrying in your pack as we step into 2026? Will it be lighter, or heavier? Are there stuff in your pack that you should perhaps leave behind? The best tip I can give to you is this: Be absolutely brutal with yourself about whether something is truly necessary in your pack.

Look, we’re not saying that you should “travel” with absolutely just enough. None of us can truly live life that way. We will inevitably have to bring along a few things with us, but if you can help it, make that conscious choice to leave it behind. Or trust me, it’ll only just weigh you down more.