Decide This December: Your Head Start on 2026

December is one of the most powerful months for behavior change, not because of resolutions, but because of cognitive offloading. When the year quiets down, the brain naturally shifts from execution mode to reflection mode.

The clinical term is moving from a “reactive loop” into a “metacognitive state” where you can finally observe your choices instead of just performing them.

A reactive loop is when you respond automatically instead of intentionally. Something happens, you react out of habit, and the cycle repeats.

However, Metacognitive is the opposite state. It’s when you step outside the moment enough to notice your patterns instead of being pulled into them.

This is why December is the ideal time to de-cide what stays and what goes which literally means to cut or “kill” off. When you decide, you are not adding more. You are removing friction, noise, and outdated patterns that eat your mental bandwidth.

To help guide that process, I use a simple four-part framework DE-List.

This December—Take time to reflect on your 2025 but the DECIDE what’s serving you and what isn’t serving. In most cultures, December has always been a time of completing work, closing cycles, and transition.

So let’s get into the four-part framework for De-Cision Making:

1.Remove what is weighing you down

DE Word: De-clutter = Simplify

This theme parallels what behavioral scientists call decision load reduction. The more clutter you hold, the more energy you burn. Clutter fragments attention, which leads to slower processing, poorer judgment, and elevated stress hormones.

When solopreneurs de-clutter, they reduce what researchers label “ambient task noise.” You free up working memory. You lower cortisol. You regain the ability to make deliberate choices instead of rushed ones.

Decluttering is not cosmetic. It is neurological.

2.Undo old patterns

DE Word: De-condition = Stop behaving that way. When you know better do better.

Much of human behavior is shaped by habit loops and conditioning. Even as adults, we run patterns that were imprinted years ago: people pleasing, overworking, avoiding conflict, delaying decisions, chasing approval.

De-conditioning is the process of breaking the cue–routine–reward cycle.

Once you see the loop, you can interrupt it. You can choose a different response. This aligns with behavioral extinction, where the brain rewires as old patterns lose their payoff.

De-conditioning is not about willpower. It is about understanding the mechanics of your behavior and then updating the operating system.

3.Cut what drains you

DE Word: De-tach = Stop trying to be all things for all people.

Every person has a finite energy budget. Research refers to this as ego depletion or self regulatory fatigue. Some activities restore that budget. Others drain it fast.

Solopreneurs often leak energy through:

When you de-tach, you remove what behavioral economists call “negative return investments.” These are commitments that cost more psychological energy than they produce in value.

Energy is not just a feeling. It is a measurable performance variable that affects attention, creativity, and decision accuracy. Cutting drains is a performance strategy, not a personality choice.

4.Create clarity

DE Word: De-fine = Is this getting me closer to my goals or not?

Human beings work best with clear parameters. The brain thrives when expectations are explicit, goals are visible, and roles are understood. When clarity is missing, you fall into decision paralysis, which creates procrastination and anxiety.

To de-fine something means to draw its edges. It removes ambiguity. It forces alignment between intention and action. This mirrors the principles behind implementation intentions, which show that people are far more likely to follow through when the goal is specific and the next step is obvious.

When solopreneurs de-fine their direction, they reduce friction. They increase follow-through. They accelerate progress because the path is no longer foggy.

Clarity is a performance enhancer.

How to Use the DE List in December

These four themes cover the core pillars of human performance:

Instead of giving people a long menu of words to choose from, you guide them through these four core decisions:

If they answer these honestly, they do not walk into 2026 as a “new person.”

And here’s why the timing matters.

Most people wait until January to think about change, but by then they are already back in motion. Once routines restart, cognitive load rises and the brain shifts back into execution mode. That makes deep decisions harder, not easier.

When you do this work in December, you give your subconscious a head start. The brain begins what psychologists call preparatory processing, where it quietly works on solutions long before you take action. You begin priming new patterns, lowering resistance, and building clarity in the background.

So when January arrives, you are not scrambling to set goals with everyone else. You show up already aligned, already grounded, and already clear. Instead of starting the race with the crowd, you are a full month ahead.

That is the value of deciding now. You let your future self begin the year with momentum instead of catch up.

The post Ep.53: Decide This December – Your Head Start on 2026 appeared first on The Solopreneur Movement.

Finish Strong: The 42-Day Challenge Mindset

Thinking about a bootcamp or a year end challenge? Here is the mindset that makes it work.

Why a bootcamp matters during the holidays

The holiday season wrecks routines. Schedules change, discipline fades, and most people coast. If you stay focused while others drift, you get a multiplier effect. It is not just progress. It is progress while the competition sleeps.

Give yourself permission to enjoy people, food, and time off. But also know your non negotiables and hit them daily.

What a bootcamp really is

A bootcamp is focused pressure for a short period of time. You block out noise, tighten your habits, and push for major results in a defined window.

Why you are doing it

Your reason must come from inside. Not from your boss. Not from a friend. Not from social pressure. If the fire is not yours, the discipline will not stick.

What you are willing to give up

Every challenge has a cost. What are you willing to sacrifice? What is off limits? Name your obstacles now so they do not surprise you later.

Understand the emotional cycle

You start inspired but uncomfortable. Then things get easier. Then they get boring. That is the trap. Push through the boring part and you win.

The 4 Hour Workday Framework

This is the structure I follow, and it fits perfectly into a holiday rhythm for salespeople and business owners:

What accountability really means

Accountability is simple. Not easy, but simple.

Reminders and One Liners

The post Ep.52: Finish Strong: The 42-Day Challenge Mindset appeared first on The Solopreneur Movement.

How to Build Back Confidence When You’ve Lost It

By Dr. Bruce

Confidence isn’t permanent.

It doesn’t matter how talented, seasoned, or passionate you are at some point, you’ll lose it. A deal falls through. A client chooses someone else. A launch doesn’t land the way you hoped. Suddenly, that inner voice whispers, “Maybe I’m not cut out for this.”

As solopreneurs, we ride this emotional rollercoaster more often than most. And if we’re not careful, those dips in confidence can quietly stall our momentum.

Here’s the good news: confidence isn’t something you either “have” or “don’t have.” It’s something you can rebuild – deliberately and consistently. I use three simple steps whenever I feel myself slipping.

Step 1: Return to the Basics

When I lose confidence, the first thing I do is strip away the noise. I ask myself: What are the controllables today?

High-value activities. Non-negotiables. The fundamentals of my business that, when done consistently, always produce results.

For me, that might mean:

It’s not glamorous. But it works. Like athletes going back to drills, solopreneurs rebuild confidence by recommitting to a simple plan on paper.

Step 2: Reconnect with Your Core Values

Confidence doesn’t just come from results – it comes from remembering why you started in the first place.

When I feel discouraged, I think about my own values. At my core, I want to help a younger, newer version of myself go further, faster. That’s why I show up.

Your “why” grounds you. It reminds you that your work isn’t about chasing every client or winning every deal. It’s about serving the right people, in the right way, for the right reasons.

When you’re anchored in your values, setbacks feel less like failures and more like part of the process.

Step 3: Lean on Your Pedigree

Sometimes we forget how far we’ve already come.

Whenever imposter syndrome creeps in, I reread my own bio. I think about the stages I’ve spoken on, the books I’ve written, the clients I’ve helped. Not as ego fuel – but as a reminder that I have earned the right to be here.

You have that same pedigree. Maybe it’s testimonials from clients. Maybe it’s the experience you’ve gained, the skills you’ve developed, or the persistence that’s kept you going when others quit. Don’t discount it. Your past wins are proof you can do it again.

From Shaken to Steady

Losing confidence is inevitable. Staying there isn’t.

When you strip it down to the basics, reconnect with your core values, and lean on your pedigree, you don’t just rebuild confidence—you come back stronger.

Action Plan

The next time you feel your confidence slipping, pause and walk through these three steps:

Do this daily for a week, and watch how quickly your confidence shifts.

Remember confidence isn’t a gift. It’s a discipline. And every solopreneur has the ability to build it back.

– Dr. Bruce

The post Ep.51: How to build back confidence when you’ve lost it appeared first on The Solopreneur Movement.

The Heart of a Teacher Approach to Sales and Marketing

Why the Best Solopreneurs Adopt the “Heart of a Teacher” Mindset

By Dr. Bruce

For years, my speaking bio has included a simple line: “Takes a heart of a teacher approach.”

That’s not marketing fluff. It reflects my roots. Before I was a coach or podcast host, I was a teacher—subbing in high schools in my early 20s, earning a graduate assistantship at Middle Tennessee State University at 24, and eventually becoming one of the youngest program directors in the Texas A&M system.

What I learned in the classroom still shapes how I show up today. Whether I’m coaching a client or writing a sales page, I approach it with the same mindset I used in front of a room full of students: Teach, don’t push. Equip, don’t impress. Guide, don’t guilt.

That’s why I believe solopreneurs should stop trying to sell like salespeople and start showing up like teachers.

Back in my teaching days, I followed a tried-and-true lesson plan structure:

It worked. It stuck. But as a coach, I realized it’s missing a critical fourth step: Tell them what to do with it.

Your audience isn’t just looking for information. They want direction. When someone listens to your podcast or reads your post, they’re essentially saying, “I trust you. Just tell me what to do next.”

So when you create content—whether it’s an Instagram caption, newsletter, or podcast episode—treat it like a lesson plan:

Most importantly: Focus on being a person of influence, not just a person of interest. People of influence make it about others. People of interest make it about themselves. You know which one builds trust.

Sales can feel sleazy—especially for solopreneurs who lead with service. But it doesn’t have to.

Here’s how I handle sales: I teach. That’s it.

I don’t chase. I don’t manipulate. I don’t try to “close.” I show up with value, share what I know, and trust the right people will resonate. Because if you’re in my target audience and I know I can help, that’s the offer.

Sometimes that means challenging beliefs. Sometimes it’s showing a better way. Either way, it’s rooted in education and experience—not pressure tactics.

If someone says no? That’s fine.

“Some will. Some won’t. So what? Who’s next?”

As long as I’m adding value, I’ve done my job. That’s how you sell without the sleaze, market without the masks, and build a brand that earns trust.

And yes, teaching sometimes means having hard conversations, pushing people to think differently, and standing your ground. That’s part of building trust and earning respect.

When you bring the heart of a teacher into your business, everything changes.

You stop pretending. You stop pitching. You start guiding.

You become a trusted voice, not a noisy one.

Action Plan:

Thanks for being part of the Solopreneur Movement. If this resonated with you, do me a favor—share it with someone who needs to hear it. That’s how we grow this mission.

The post Ep.50: Heart of a Teacher Approach appeared first on The Solopreneur Movement.

Why the Definition of Insanity Drives Me Insane

You’ve heard the quote before—probably more times than you can count:

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

It sounds wise. Clever. Even obvious. But here’s the problem: it’s completely misleading—especially if you’re a solopreneur.

Success requires doing the same things over and over. Not aimlessly, but deliberately. With purpose. With discipline. It’s showing up every day, even when it’s boring. Especially when it’s boring. The reps, the outreach, the writing, the learning, the listening, the tweaking—that’s not insanity. That’s the process.

The truth is: insanity is doing the same wrong things over and over again and expecting better results. That’s lack of awareness. That’s stubbornness. That’s refusal to reflect and adapt.

Consistency isn’t the enemy. Mindless repetition is. And there’s a huge difference.

As solopreneurs, we don’t have the luxury of chasing shiny objects or abandoning a strategy because it feels too routine. We have to stay focused. Disciplined. Patient. That’s where the breakthroughs come from.

So let’s stop misquoting insanity. And start embracing what actually works.

The post Ep.49: Why the Definition of Insanity Drives Me Insane appeared first on The Solopreneur Movement.

The Cost of Waiting = Opportunity Cost

Why Delayed Decisions Hurt Buyers—and Salespeople

In sales, one of the most frustrating phrases you’ll hear is:

“Let me think about it.”

Whether you’re selling homes, loans, software, or coaching services, most buyers are wired to delay. They want to wait for the perfect time to act. But the reality? That perfect moment rarely shows up—and waiting often costs far more than it saves.

Let’s break down why.

It’s Not Your Job to Convince. It Is Your Job to Influence.

A common trap salespeople fall into is thinking they need to “persuade” someone to buy. But in truth, your job is not to convince—it’s to influence.

You’re there to educate. To guide. To help someone make a smart decision based on facts, not fear. And most importantly—you’re there to protect them from making the wrong decision with the wrong person.

Because let’s be honest: there are people in every industry who are purely transactional. They’ll say whatever they need to say to close a deal, whether or not it serves the buyer’s long-term interest.

You are the antidote to that.

Why Buyers Stall (and What They’re Really Saying)

There’s a saying in sales:

“Buyers are liars.”

But instead of labeling it that way, let’s unpack it:

These aren’t lies—they’re defense mechanisms.

So rather than pushing harder, get curious. Ask questions like:

These open the door to meaningful conversation and real progress.

The Myth of Perfect Timing

Whether it’s interest rates, new features, or budget cycles—waiting for the “perfect” moment is a flawed strategy.

People think they’re playing it safe, but what they’re really doing is gambling with time and energy. And when that “ideal” time never arrives, they either miss the opportunity altogether or end up worse off.

Waiting doesn’t protect people—it often delays progress and increases regret.

The Two-Way Cost of Waiting

Most people understand that buyers incur an opportunity cost when they wait too long to make a decision. What’s often overlooked is that salespeople do too.

When you pour your time, energy, and attention into someone who never takes action, you lose the ability to invest that same energy in someone who will.

Every minute spent chasing indecision is a minute not spent building momentum somewhere else.

Trust, Respect, and the Power of the Pitch

We’ve all heard “People buy from those they know, like, and trust.” But the two most important traits?

Trust and respect.

What makes a great pitch isn’t persuasion. It’s clarity, confidence, and care. When you communicate:

…you position yourself as a leader—not just a closer.

Buyers want to feel like the decision is theirs. Your role is to help them arrive there with confidence.

Final Thought: Stop Waiting. Start Leading.

If you’re in sales, you’re in leadership. And leadership means stepping up when others stall.

The best time to act was a year ago.

The next best time? Is right now.

The post Ep.48: The Cost of Waiting for Consumers appeared first on The Solopreneur Movement.

It’s Your Duty to Fight for the Business

Why True Sales Professionals Never Back Down

In the competitive world of sales, winning business often requires more than just a good pitch—it requires grit, determination, and a willingness to fight for your prospects. I call this approach Fight Club—a place where sales professionals go to battle, not with their prospects, but for them. If you believe you are the best solution for your client’s needs, then it’s not just your opportunity but your obligation to fight for their business.

Why Salespeople Don’t Fight

The reality is, most salespeople don’t fight hard enough. Many are too afraid of being perceived as pushy or too focused on avoiding rejection. But when you shy away from the battle, you leave your prospects vulnerable to amateurs and transactional salespeople who simply don’t have their best interests at heart. Here’s the truth: If you truly believe you are the best at what you do, you have a duty to protect your prospects from mediocrity.

The 3-Question Filter

To decide whether a prospect deserves a spot in your Fight Club, you need to answer three critical questions:

If you answer yes to all three questions, then it’s time to step into the ring. It’s time to fight for their business—not just for you, but for them.

Building Your Fight Club

When a prospect enters your Fight Club, you are committing to:

This isn’t a soft approach; it’s assertive, direct, and relentlessly helpful. Most salespeople drift away after the initial pitch, but the Fight Club mindset keeps you coming back with value until the deal is closed.

Call to Action

Who’s in your Fight Club right now? Who are you fighting for? If you don’t have a list, then you have work to do. Because if you truly believe you’re the best at what you do, there should be a roster of prospects you’re fighting for every single day. It’s time to step up, show up, and fight for the business.

About the Author

Dr. Bruce Lund is the founder and CEO of Accountable CRM, the first mortgage CRM with built-in coaching and accountability software specifically designed for credit unions and community banks. Dr. Lund is also a nationally recognized speaker and coach, empowering sales professionals to achieve peak performance through disciplined sales practices and relentless follow-up.

This article is brought to you by Accountable CRM, the only CRM that combines mortgage marketing, coaching, and accountability under one platform. Learn more at AccountableCRM

The post Ep.47: It’s Your Duty to Fight for the Business appeared first on The Solopreneur Movement.

Title: From the Locker Room to Life: Aligning Daily Actions with Core Values

By Dr. Bruce Lund

After speaking at LSU’s iconic Tiger Stadium, I was struck by something beyond the grandeur of the venue or the passion of the players. What stood out most were the core values plastered everywhere—from the banners in the locker room to the motivational signs on the practice field. These weren’t just decorative slogans. They were reminders. Anchors. Daily cues to stay aligned.

We talk a lot about core values in organizations. Companies plaster them on walls, websites, and onboarding packets. But how often do we—as individuals—take the time to define and live out our personal core values?

That’s the disconnect I want to address.

The Real Game Is Internal

It’s easy to operate on autopilot. The demands of work, family, and society pull us in a hundred directions. Before long, we find ourselves chasing outcomes—money, recognition, success—without questioning if our behaviors match who we say we want to be.

Alignment means your daily habits reflect your deepest beliefs. It’s showing up as the same person in private that you project in public. It’s having the courage to say no to things that don’t serve your mission—even if they offer a quick win.

Why Personal Core Values Matter More Than Ever

In a distracted, comparison-heavy world, core values give you clarity. They become your filter for decision-making, your compass during hard times, and your measuring stick for growth. Just like LSU’s football team uses them to build culture and accountability, you can use your values to build a life that actually feels like yours.

Here’s a Challenge:

Final Thought

The best teams don’t just talk about culture—they live it. And the most fulfilled people aren’t the busiest or most popular—they’re the most aligned.

Your core values shouldn’t live on a wall. They should live in your calendar.

The post Ep.46: Are you in alignment with your core values? appeared first on The Solopreneur Movement.

Things Work Out Best for Those Who Make the Best of the Things That Don’t Work Out

How You Respond Defines Your Success

Success isn’t determined by what goes right—it’s about how you respond when things don’t. The best athletes don’t define their careers by their wins but by how they handle their losses. Those losses become fuel. They practice until they can’t get it wrong, rather than just getting it right once.

In business, it’s the same. Growth is never a straight line. It’s two steps forward, two steps back. Some days, you feel like you’re winning. Other days, it feels like the market is against you. If you don’t learn to wire yourself for resilience, this industry will chew you up. But here’s the truth: things work out best for those who make the best of the things that don’t work out.

Housing & Banking: Why This Matters Now More Than Ever

Over the past few years, I’ve spoken at multiple large institutions, sales rallies, and industry association events. Every single one of them hires an economist to predict where the market is headed. The problem? Most people in this industry are obsessed with things they can’t control—rates, inflation, Federal Reserve policy, the economy.

They wake up every day hoping for a better market instead of getting better in this market. The top producers spend 80 percent of their time focused on what they can control while understanding the uncontrollable. They recognize that housing and banking are highly commoditized and government-regulated industries where most things are apples to apples. If you’re consistently losing deals, it’s rarely just the market. It’s often a skills issue or a product issue. The best competitors always find a way to win.

Front-Runner vs. Gamer: Who Are You in This Market?

One of the biggest differences I see in this industry is the contrast between front-runners and gamers.

A front-runner looks great when conditions are perfect. When rates are low, leads are flowing, and buyers are making quick decisions, they close deals left and right. They thrive off momentum and seem unstoppable—until the market shifts.

When things tighten up, front-runners start making excuses, slow down their activity, and wait for conditions to improve. Their success is conditional. If the market is great, they’re great. If the market is bad, they’re bad.

A gamer, on the other hand, competes no matter what. They don’t wait for conditions to improve—they improve themselves. Whether rates are three percent or seven percent, they put in the work. They focus on actions, not outcomes. When deals are harder to get, they step up. They keep their emotions in check and don’t let a bad day become a bad week. Where others see roadblocks, they see opportunities.

Here’s the key difference: a front-runner is only successful when conditions are perfect. A gamer finds ways to win in any market.

Ask Yourself: Which One Are You?

Are you waiting for things to get better, or are you making things happen?

Front-runners sit on the sidelines, hoping for a rate drop. Gamers are on the field, grinding, adjusting, and finding ways to create opportunities.

This industry will always be a fight. The question is whether you’re waiting for perfect conditions or becoming the competitor who wins in any environment. Are you front-running success, or are you building a skill set that makes you bulletproof in any market? The ones who figure this out win every time.

Controlling What You Can: The Mindset Shift

I refuse to let my success be dictated by market conditions. The way to separate yourself is to move in the opposite direction of the world’s negative pull. Be an island of excellence in a sea of mediocrity. Build, maintain, and protect your confidence and energy every single day.

Most of the time, things aren’t going to go your way. The market will do what the market does. Conditions will shift. Competitors will come and go. But your job is to make the best of them.

The market is what it is. Conditions are what they are. But you are the constant. The ones who figure this out are the ones who win—no matter what.

Final Thought

Things work out best for those who make the best of the things that don’t work out. The only question is—are you a front-runner or a gamer?

The post Ep.45: Things Work Out Best For Those Who Make The Best Of The Things That Don’t Work Out appeared first on The Solopreneur Movement.

It’s a Fight, But We’re Going to Find a Way to Win

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the reality of the battle every solopreneur and salesperson faces daily. It’s not about sunshine and roses, and while gratitude is important, there are times when you need to lean into your competitive edge, get a little pissed off, and let that fire fuel you forward.

Mental toughness is not just a trait, it’s a necessity in the world of entrepreneurship and sales. This podcast stems from personal experience and from the many one-on-one coaching sessions I’ve had with top performers across the country. It’s also a reflection of the battle for market share that I and many others are currently waging.

Whether you’re running your own business, leading a team, or just hustling to make ends meet, you’re going to face days where it feels like nothing is going right. But guess what? That’s when the winners separate themselves from everyone else. So let’s dive in.

The Reality of the Fight

Let’s face it. Some days, we wake up pissed off that things aren’t moving fast enough. Maybe you’re doing everything right—making the calls, setting the meetings, showing up every day—but nothing seems to be happening. That frustration is natural, and more importantly, it’s okay.

Most people let that frustration turn into defeat. They give up. But what they don’t realize is that their breakthrough could be right around the corner. The truth is, most people quit right before things get good.

The Power of Resilience

What separates successful people from everyone else? It’s resilience. The ability to keep pushing forward, even when it feels like you’re stuck in the mud. Every great leader, entrepreneur, or athlete has faced moments where giving up seemed easier than pushing forward.

The difference? They didn’t quit. Instead, they used that frustration to fuel their next move. You’ve got to do the same. Don’t let setbacks define you. Let them push you to the next level. When you feel like you’ve hit a wall, that’s not the time to stop—it’s the time to dig deeper.

Every time you refuse to quit, you’re one step closer to that breakthrough.

Tapping into Your Competitive Spirit

If you’re in this game, it’s because you have something inside you that most people don’t—a competitive spirit. Tap into that. When things aren’t happening fast enough, get a little pissed off, and let that fire you up.

Don’t sit back waiting for the perfect moment or for things to just happen. You’ve got to make them happen. You’re not just going to sit around and hope for a win—you’re going to fight for it.

And trust me, if you stay in the fight long enough, you will find a way to win. Because that’s who you are—a winner.

Conclusion

Here’s the bottom line: The fight is inevitable, but so is the win. The key is to stick it out when everyone else is ready to throw in the towel. Next time you feel frustrated, like you’re about to give up, remember that’s the moment right before the breakthrough.

Keep fighting, and keep pushing. The win is coming, but only if you’re willing to fight for it.

Call to Action: Go out there today, this week, and take control of your success. Don’t wait for things to change—you have the power to make them change.

The post Ep.44: It’s a Fight, But We’re Going to Find a Way to Win appeared first on The Solopreneur Movement.