Gentlemen,

Welcome to 2026. It’s been over a month since we jumped in deep to the content and I’m pushing the next piece (Cover Your Home) back a little longer to address what I think is more important heading into a new year:

Choosing Pressure over Comfort in 2026.

This past month I’ve been living this out. I encountered some extreme challenges with clients in my business and had to make some incredibly difficult decisions regarding our Nonprofit line of work. In the end I lived out Grace Under Fire and chose pressure over comfort on Day 1 of this year. In order to keep the best alignment I had to let go of some of the more meaningful work we do. As a result of these decisions, I have to replace $26,000/mo in lost revenue for my business in the next 30 days.

Leadership and Entrepreneurship are not for the faint of heart.

But there’s no greater joy than walking through difficult moments with the battle-tested frameworks I coach through here at Soulfire! And books like Necessary Endings by Henry Cloud which I highly recommend when going through moments like this.

Now, for the content I want you to take way today:

Here’s your task to start: Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-12:10.

In this passage Paul is writing about extreme pressure as he deals with the following:

  • Beaten 5 times with 39 lashes (40 was known to kill a man)

  • Beaten 3 times with rods

  • Stoned with rocks from people trying to kill him

  • Shipwrecked 3 times (spent an entire night adrift in the sea)

  • Went without food and water numerous times

  • Spent considerable time on the edge of hypothermia

  • Escaped through a wall to avoid being captured by a ruthless governor trying to capture him

  • Felt the pressure of all the churches he planted (and if their leaders were remaining true to what he had preached)

Despite all this do you know what Paul concluded?

2 Cor. 12:10 says this:

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This is what conviction looks like. Willing to lay it ALL on the line for a cause you believe in so far beyond your own comfort. All in order to produce a man that is weathered and able to carry the weight so much further than you could imagine.

Even Britannica says diamonds are formed “where temperatures soar and pressures are immense.”

Are you experiencing pressure heading into 2026, whether from yourself internally or from forces externally?

How you respond to pressure will determine the type of year you have. I’ve always loved how Jocko counters pressure to reframe it so you start to believe in what’s underneath the surface.

Didn’t accomplish what you wanted in 2025? Good. Didn’t follow through on your commitments? Good. Feeling like you’ve let a lot of people down? Good.

You have the opportunity to figure it out now.

When things are going bad, don’t get frustrated. Get up. Dust off. Reload. Recalibrate. Re-engage. Go out on the attack.

This year is not going to slide by. You are going to take ground and launch well. Be a man that loves God, leads his family, and builds a business that is thriving.

As Jocko once said, “All your excuses are lies.”

Don’t take the easy road.

Choose Pressure over Comfort.

Faith

What people want more than an easy button for their life is they want a mission worth living for and dying for.

Josh Howerton is one of my favorite leaders and this clip is really solid when it comes to our topic of pressure over comfort.

Family

How to plan your year the right way

This video (language alert) is a short watch but the last half is an absolute must when it comes to planning out your year and making commitments. Jesse Itzler is one of my absolute favorite people because he helped me realize the power of being a Yes Dad. That no matter how tired I am or how late it is, if one of my kids asks me to play a game with them I will always say Yes.

Business

How to build in a way that actually makes money online in 2026

Dan Martell uses a lot of clickbait as you can tell from the thumbnail below sadly, but his videos are really practical and filled with common sense. This one is worth the time if you want to understand how to use social media to fuel your growth. I want you to learn from the best and if I find something worth sharing I will always do that.

Make being intentional a priority this week so you can build the things that you’ve been putting off.

Rooting for you always,

Joshua Brown
Chief Firestarter at Soulfire

PS: I recently launched the Soulfire Brotherhood! You can find out more at apply.soulfiremvmt.co. This is not a light commitment, but in case you are on the fence I’m offering a money back guarantee. There’s no excuses for why you shouldn’t join in to make this year the best one of your life. Get around men that are on mission and living with purpose. Or go even deeper with 1-on-1 coaching directly with myself.