Confession time: In 2025, I set a New Year’s resolution to finish my book. Then I treated it like a gym membership in January. Lots of enthusiasm. Occasional appearances. Zero results.
But I started 2026 differently. I walked up 101 floors to match my climb to the top of Taipei 101 in 2018. Given my past knee injuries and that I turn 64 this year, this is a good start.
I am sharing this for two reasons.
- To remind myself of the formula that actually works so that I can apply it to my writing.
- To give you my blueprint so you can “steal it” for your own quest this year.
The Backstory: When the Body Quits
A few years ago, a freak DVT, deep vein thrombosis, took me out of the game for six months. During the downtime, I picked a clear target to aid my recovery. I wanted to complete the Singapore Vertical Marathon within one year. That is 73 floors to the top of the Swissôtel.
At the start, I could only climb four floors before my lungs drafted a formal letter of resignation.
I had the goal, but my body was not cooperating. I realized I could not “will” myself up the building. I needed a strategy.
Eli’s Secret Recipe
The inspiration came from my friend Eli HERSCOVITZ. He turned his fat into muscle not by diet but by embarking on a quest to become a marathon runner, and eventually an Ironman. This is what he shared with me:
- Find a great coach and act on their advice.
- Redefine your goal carefully and positively so it energizes you. The goal is not to lose weight. It is to become a marathoner.
- Think and behave as marathonists do: They practice with grit, rest, eat nutritious food, and sleep according to the science of what really works.
- Build marginal capacity with micro-goals. Start consistently and pain-free, then 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and finally the main event.
- Treat rest and recovery as training, because it is.
- Do strength work 2× per week: glutes, hips, core, calves.
- Follow the 10% rule for weekly volume.
- Listen to your body. Pain gets attention, not applause.
- Buy proper shoes and socks. Your feet carry your dreams.
The Tale of the Kensei and the 6 Samurai.
A Kensei (1) rode into a town on his way to the mountains. He realized too late that he was in enemy territory. Six enemy samurai spotted him and drew their swords. The Kensei knew he could defeat three men but not six. He dismounted and ran.
He turned into a narrow alley and crouched in wait. The first pursuer rounded the corner blindly. The Kensei struck low and cut the man’s legs. The others hesitated, but soon chased him again.
The Kensei repeated this tactic twice more. He led them into new alleys and struck down the leaders one by one.
With three men defeated, the Kensei stopped running and faced the survivors. The remaining three realized they were now matched against a superior fighter. They turned and fled.
Moral of the story: When you face a formidable task, break it into achievable small chunks. By the time you get halfway, everything will fall into place.
The Journey From 11 to 77
I took the kensei approach. I had to start slaying my first samurai. So, I started with 11 floors in our building. When I reached the roof, I was red, panting, breathless… and happy.
When I felt ready, I put a new number in my mind: 22. Same thing at 33 and 44. Every target I set, my body responded. My mind was the limit.
Then I hit a wall. I could not do 55. I was frustrated. Did I reach my actual limit?
Lucky for me, my friend Titus invited me to join The Dream Bearers – volunteers climbing 50 floors of Singapore’s tallest HDB building to symbolically bring drawings from children in low-income backgrounds to the top.
My daughter joined me. We reached the 50th floor in almost half the time it took me to do the 44th.
I understood: practicing with good company and doing it for a purpose beyond yourself changes what your body can do.
Once I broke that mental glass ceiling, 66 and 77 came fast. Within a year, I climbed the Swissotel, then Taipei 101.
Question: How many times do you think I stopped on my way to the top floor at Taipei 101?
I stopped on the way to the roof of the Taipei 101 at least 10 times. Not only because I was less fit than I am today, but also because I wanted to enjoy the ride. I took every opportunity to snap a photo with a landmark building, and I enjoyed the water breaks every 20 floors, where I met people from all over the world and had a one-minute chat before climbing back up.
My 2026 goals:
- Vertical marathon: Now my goal is to climb the 160-floor Burj Khalifa this year. But until they allow that, I will have to practice for it in Singapore.
- Finishing my book: complete my research and manuscript on appreciation and feedback.
For the book, I chose Nick Jonsson as my accountability partner. He wrote the bestselling book Executive Loneliness.
Nick rebuilt his life and backed it with measurable results. He became a marathon runner and earned Gold status in the Ironman All World Athlete 2023 rankings, placing him in the top 2% worldwide.
That combination of honesty, discipline, kindness, professionalism, and long-haul stamina is the energy I want to carry into my writing year.
What resolution are you bringing into 2026?
From Inspiration to Success
To ensure your resolutions thrive through February and beyond, here is my opinion:
- Borrow fuel from your past. Remember a time you turned a goal into an achievement. You have proven you can surpass limits.
- Slice the samurai. Writing a book or running a marathon takes time. Identify your “11 floors” for this project.
- Invest in a coach. Seek a guide who knows the path.
- Celebrate the micro-wins. Daily practice builds momentum.
- Perspire. Success requires investing quality time in hard work.
As I like to say:
“Inspiration Without Perspiration = Evaporation” ~ Avi Liran
(1) Kensei (Sword Saint): The highest honorary title a swordsman could achieve. It implies god-like skill. In all of Japanese history, only a handful of people were ever called this. This is the most formidable fighter.
