3Q26 Overview
This quarter came up just short of expectations, but after reviewing it, it was a good quarter despite almost all the metrics being narrowly missed — will have to work on better metrics so more hits are in line with what would be a good quarter.
Started out travel heavy, out west for a couple weeks, followed by South Carolina, then mowing and locking in for the marathon and getting a j*b — both will be found out if they were fruitful or not in early Q4, with a few fun things like OSauer's wedding/bachelor party or visiting grandmas.
3Q26 Goals
Max out 2026 Roth or have gone abroad
At the time the quarter ended, the money was set aside for it but just hadn't been put in yet, so counted as maxed
Put myself in a position where running sub-4hr is likely — hit weekly mileage, injury prevention, not get hurt
This went well as my 20 miler suggested it was well in reach, but unfortunately, after bad timing to get sick, the week before, sub-4hr seems unlikely, but I did do the runs and stayed healthy to make it likely, so goal was hit
Make something happen with Ms. Campbell
After the goal was made it was achieved quickly out of the gate, as she is now my girlfriend less than a week after the 2Q26 update went live
Start role at Envisage: hoping to learn more about how CEO Jeff operates and thinks that made him very successful
Interviewed and it went well — goal isn't yet achieved because of how slow the corporate machine works and will remain a goal next quarter - 3rd quarter in a row #brutal
Stay on track with Bible in a Year plan so it's likely I finish it in a year — plan on reading ahead when I can, to pre-yo-yo not catch-up yo-yo, or finish it in less than a year — will try to shift reading away from before bed as too sleepy to read was an issue
Finished quarter on pace, was still a yo-yo but not sure if that is really an issue, regardless Ms. Campbell is looking to join in so that will likely limit the yo-yoing
Get CHL/CCW or motorcycle license — wouldn't be opposed to both, but I don't know what my free time will be like, so the other will be a next-quarter goal if I don't achieve both in Q3
Never even made an attempt - failed the goal
4Q26 Goals
Finish the Bible before the end of the year
Land Envisage job and find out how to make it enjoyable, with the biggest concern being the commute sucking as it's very similar to Pops' and I've heard how sucky it is over the years
Look at schedule flexibility, get a gym membership and lifting by the office before or after work to let traffic die down or beat it
Run the marathon — sub-4hrs is ideal but given how rough the runs after hospital visit have been, not expected
Find next fitness goal — until then just being healthy: at least 3 days a week running/lifting or something like that
Potential goals: get back to peak lifting form, then 275 bench/315 squat/405 deadlift, faster marathon or in a cool place, 50 miler, ½ or full Ironman, climb a cool mountain like Rainier or maybe burn PTO on Kilimanjaro, learn rock climbing, handstand, standing backflip, eat 100% clean, or learn to hold my breath for 3 minutes
Find a way to make saving money a fun game
CCW or motorcycle license would be cool but not set as a goal
Learned
People respond to incentives, not the actual goal
Taking longer to get the goal but staying in the race longer and enjoying the ride can be better than 100% all in
Recovery matters, and your body is very interconnected where each system impacts another, so say you do a hard run, your immune system might be weaker
Who you know is extremely important
How your time is spent should be in line with what you value
Ask who designed the game, what the prize is, and whether it’s worth the cost to win - you should decide everything on its trade offs - not slide into just what’s convenient
It’s really hard to pick what to want that’s worthy of wanting and has costs you’re willing to pay
Some things have to be done in a period of life or certain order to maximize your experiences
Options are only valuable if you cash them in - fewer or no options isn’t bad if you like your choice
Books read: 3 - 16 total in 2026 — was a big podcast quarter bringing down book numbers, might need to log them as well
Catcher in the Rye*
Divergent
Insurgent
4Q26 Guidance:
Will likely run the marathon and start lifting again and get and start a new job, giving financial advice and building retirement plans. Will likely like the work itself and people there but dislike everything around it, like the strict schedule of work every day or traffic every day. Will probably get fixated on chess or kendama again. Predicting a very boring quarter where the high will likely be Christmas and the only cool things being maybe a weekend trip or 2.
🦬 High Low Buffalo 🦬
High:
Trip out west
Low:
Tonsil getting so swollen I had to go to the ER, then hospital, and it undoing lots of hard work running
Buffalo:
It's a strong fantasy football year as long as injuries can hold off
🎵Song of the Quarter🎵
Another Day in Paradise by Phil Vassar
Honorable Mentions:
Flashing in the Canyon by Briscoe
Airborne Ranger by Johnathan Michael Fleming
Good God, Hot Damn by Hayden Blount
Photos of the Quarter:
Click Here
Requesting feedback: what about the weekly updates can be improved? What can be added, removed, liked, disliked, etc.
-VB