# Make 2026 the Best Year (Answer These 7 Questions) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl_nmulyjqI Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/Pl_nmulyjqI Generated: 2025-12-15T19:33:41.535+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The video outlines Sahil Bloom's 7-question Personal Annual Review framework designed to help individuals identify roadblocks (boat anchors, fear-based actions, energy drains) and learn transformative lessons to achieve their 2026 goals, emphasizing self-honesty and proactive change over self-protection. **Key Points:** - The framework consists of 7 key questions, starting with identifying beliefs that shrink one's aperture and things that drained energy in the past year. - Question 1 asks: "What have you changed your mind on?" to identify beliefs the younger self held that are now outdated. - Question 2, the 'Energy Calendar,' involves reviewing the past year's calendar to categorize events as creating, draining, or neutral energy. - Question 4 prompts identifying 'boat anchors'—people, mindsets, or actions that hold you back—and requires creating an 'outsider's perspective' to be objective. - Question 5 addresses fear by deconstructing what was not done due to fear, analyzing downsides vs. upsides (Fear Setting exercise). - Question 6 focuses on accountability by asking who is a 'truth teller' and who is willing to tell you the truth. - Question 7 asks: "What did I learn this year?" with the goal of identifying 3-5 extremely talented people to learn from and work with. ![Screenshot at 00:23: The slide displaying the first question of the Personal Annual Review: "WHAT DID I CHANGE MY MIND ON THIS YEAR?" alongside an image of a brain, setting the theme of cognitive shifts and challenging established beliefs.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Pl_nmulyjqI/00-00-23.png) **Context:** The video features Sahil Bloom presenting his comprehensive Personal Annual Review framework, which he developed based on his experience, including his time in private equity and working with founders. This framework is designed to provide clarity, reset direction, and set up a clear plan for the upcoming year (specifically referencing 2026) by forcing honest self-reflection across professional and personal domains. ## Detailed Analysis Sahil Bloom details a 7-question framework for a Personal Annual Review, intended to clarify goals and remove obstacles for the upcoming year, 2026. The process is divided into sections covering mindset shifts, energy management, identifying drag, and learning. Question 1 focuses on identifying beliefs the past self held that have since been reversed (What have you changed your mind on?). Question 2 uses an 'Energy Calendar' concept to review the past year's schedule, coding activities as green (created energy), red (drained energy), or yellow (neutral), aiming to identify what to do more of. Question 3 asks what drained energy, with recurring meetings and board meeting structures being noted as examples. Question 4 dives into identifying 'boat anchors'—things holding you back—and who acts as a 'truth teller' in your life for accountability. Question 5 addresses fear directly using Tim Ferriss's 'Fear Setting' exercise, which involves deconstructing the downsides and upsides of inaction. Question 6 is about reviewing greatest hits and worst misses, encouraging explicit reflection on why things succeeded or failed. Finally, Question 7 asks what transformative learnings were gained this year, suggesting identifying 3-5 extremely talented people to learn from. The overall goal is to gain clarity, remove mental anchors and energy drains, and create a powerful trajectory for the future. ### Q1 - What have you changed your mind on?: Identify beliefs you've updated from your younger self - Break out into personal/professional routines and approaches ### Q2 - What created energy this year?: Color calendar events (green/red/yellow) to identify energy creators and drainers - Goal: Spend more time on energy creators in 2026 ### Q3 - What drained you this year?: Identify energy drainers like recurring meetings and poor board meeting structures - Send around a deck/update before meetings to focus on debate, not updates ### Q4 - What were the boat anchors in my life?: Identify people, mindsets, and actions holding you back - Requires an accountability partner (truth teller) who can provide external perspective ### Q5 - What did I not do because of fear?: Deconstruct fears by analyzing downsides vs. upsides of inaction (Fear Setting exercise) ### Q6 - What were my greatest hits and worst misses this year?: Be explicit about successes and failures, and analyze the 'why' behind them to ensure continued success and avoid repeating mistakes. ### Q7 - What did I learn this year?: Identify 3-5 transformative learnings and find 3-5 extremely talented people to learn from and work with. ![Screenshot at 00:05: The host introduces his friend Sahil Bloom, a New York Times bestselling author, who has invested in 100 companies.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Pl_nmulyjqI/00-00-05.png) ![Screenshot at 00:23: Slide displaying the first question of the review: "WHAT DID I CHANGE MY MIND ON THIS YEAR?" with an image of a brain.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Pl_nmulyjqI/00-00-23.png) ![Screenshot at 02:55: Slide displaying Question 2: "WHAT CREATED ENERGY THIS YEAR?" featuring a glowing orb graphic.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Pl_nmulyjqI/00-02-55.png) ![Screenshot at 03:33: Slide displaying Question 4: "WHAT WERE THE BOAT ANCHORS IN MY LIFE?" featuring an image of an anchor underwater.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Pl_nmulyjqI/00-03-33.png) ![Screenshot at 03:44: Slide displaying Question 5: "WHAT DID I NOT DO BECAUSE OF FEAR?" featuring an image of a human skull.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Pl_nmulyjqI/00-03-44.png)