Direction begins with definition.
The Black Coffee Theory
Brand Highlight
This week’s issue is proudly supported by KOMM.
KOMM helps creators and community builders turn connection into impact by giving them the tools to grow, manage, and monetize their communities with clarity and confidence.
At a Glance
This week’s edition is about direction.
What you focus on shapes what you receive.
What you release determines who you become.
What you distribute decides how far your work travels.
Quote of the Week
“You can’t become your future self while clinging to your past identity.”
Lewis Howes
Growth always comes with a quiet loss. You outgrow old habits, old labels, and sometimes even old versions of yourself that once kept you safe. The tension many of us feel is not about moving forward. It is about letting go. Becoming demands courage, not just to step into the new, but to release what no longer fits who you are becoming.
Theory of the Week
You walk into a coffee shop craving a latte. The barista asks what you want. You hesitate and say you are not sure. You only know one thing. You do not want black coffee.
She asks again. You repeat yourself. I do not want black coffee.
The barista moves on. She is handling many orders. When your drink is ready, the only thing she remembers is black coffee. That is exactly what lands on your table.
Not because you wanted it.
But because that is all you focused on.
This simple moment carries a powerful lesson. Life often responds not to what we desire, but to what we emphasize. When we speak more about what we do not want than what we do want, we unconsciously train our mind and our environment to deliver the wrong outcome.
As we step into 2026, clarity becomes a discipline. Be specific with your goals. Be intentional with your language. Say what you want, not just what you want to avoid. Direction begins with definition.
Article of the Week
How to Think About Distribution by The Startup Guy .
This piece challenged the way I think about growth as a founder. We often spend months perfecting products and ideas, but very little time thinking about how they will actually reach people. Distribution is not an afterthought. It is the bridge between effort and impact.
A great product does not guarantee growth. Distribution does.
Distribution is not just marketing. Marketing is what you say. Distribution is where and how your product travels. It is found in your onboarding flow, your referrals, your community, your email list, your integrations, and even in how easy your product is to share.
In today’s fast moving markets, that gap is deadly. You can build something extraordinary and still lose if people cannot find it.
The smartest founders design distribution from day one. They do not wait until after launch. They ask early questions. How do users invite others. What makes this shareable. What part of the product markets itself. Which channels do we own and which do we rent.
Owned channels create leverage. Rented platforms create reach. Both matter, but control always wins in the long run. Social media, app stores, and ads are powerful, but fragile. Email lists, communities, referrals, and product led growth compound over time.
One truth stands above all.
Distribution cannot save a bad product.
It only amplifies reality. If the product is weak, distribution only makes the failure louder. But when a useful product meets strong distribution, growth becomes inevitable.
And the highest form of distribution is word of mouth. When users share your product because it reflects who they are becoming, growth stops being forced and starts becoming natural.
As we think about 2026, the question is no longer only,
Is this product good.
The real question is,
Is this product discoverable.
Is it shareable.
Is it built to travel.
Because in this era, the real advantage is not just technology.
It is attention, access, and distribution.
Final Thoughts
This week came with one clear message for me. Becoming is not accidental. It is directional.
You become what you consistently aim at.
You receive what you repeatedly focus on.
You grow into what you are willing to leave behind.
As you move forward into the new year, ask yourself three simple questions.
What am I focusing on most?
What version of myself am I still holding onto?
Where do I want my work to reach next?
Clarity is not loud. It is quiet and deliberate. But when you choose it daily, it compounds into a life that finally feels aligned.
Thank you for walking this journey of becoming with me.
This weeks recommendations
In this On Purpose Podcast interview , you'll learn:
How to Stop Feeling Stuck by Making One Clear Decision
How to Build Confidence Through Difficult Choices
How to Create Clarity Without Waiting for Certainty
How to Grow Instead of Chasing Comfort
How to Strengthen Self-Trust Through Discipline
How to Design a Life That Keeps You Growing