A some what quick note before we start

I’ve written this newsletter for almost four years. Thank you for being here!!
200 editions. Hundreds of ideas. Thousands of hours thinking about growth.

And somewhere along the way, I realized something uncomfortable:

The format still worked but it no longer excited me.

So this is a reset in the new year.
Not a rebrand. Not a dramatic pivot.
Just a sharper, more honest version of FASTer.

Let’s begin.

The idea that’s changing how I approach this year

Most people are thinking about what they want from this year.

I’m thinking about something else entirely:

What kind of system would make progress inevitable?

Goals feel motivating in January.
Systems still keep working in October and beyond. I am all about foundational systems and small data…

What Ive realized this last year, the problem isn’t that people aim too low.
It’s that they aim once and then rely on motivation to carry them. I have had, over a few thousand emails from readers like you to know that motivation doesn’t always work.

Motivation is unreliable.
Systems are not.

A simple reframe (steal this)

Instead of asking:

“What do I want to achieve?”

Try asking:

“What does someone who already has this, do every week, even on boring days?”

Examples:

• Writers don’t “feel inspired” they sit down on schedule

• Fit people don’t “restart” they default to movement

• Calm people don’t avoid stress they have recovery built in

Outcomes are lagging indicators of systems. This year we focus on building Systems…

The FASTer rule I’m using in 2026

Every system I build must pass one test:

Can I do this on my worst average day?

If the answer is no, the system is too ambitious.
If the answer is yes, consistency becomes automatic.

That’s how momentum is built quietly without hype. Ok enough preaching… Lets start by kicking off the first edition of the new year….

Welcome to the Evolution

Happy New Year! It's January 12, 2026, and after 200 weeks of grinding out insights that have helped thousands (including me) level up, it's time for a refresh. The old format served us well punchy lists, real talk stories, and no BS advice but let's be honest: routines can get stale. Starting today, we're mixing it up with more visuals, your voices in the mix, and deeper dives that spark action.

This edition's theme: Reinvention in Uncertainty. With AI reshaping jobs, economies bouncing back from whatever 2025 threw at us, and opportunities hiding in the chaos, how do we pivot without losing momentum? I'll share a personal story, quick wins, and some contrarian heat to kick off your year strong.

If you're new (welcome!), this is your weekly dose of entrepreneurial fuel. Hit reply with your thoughts we're building a community here.

Featured Story: My Own Reinvention Pivot

Four years ago, when I launched FASTer, I was knee deep in the entrepreneurial trenches and helping founders and firms hustle in real life whilst consistently sharing my learnings every week, contemplating extra toppings on life (you know, the good stuff). It is not easy…

But 200 editions later, I've seen patterns: subscribers who transformed their outcomes by applying one simple shift, like auditing their time or embracing "boring" scalability.

Enter 2025. Last year tested me, AI tools disrupted consulting workflows(for the better, almost 3x gains since I went full time into it in Sept).Instead of clinging to the old, I reinvented: I built a digital twin (inspired by those Saudi trillion-dollar dreams I wrote about way back) to analyze my habits and to offer transformation as a service on a “Figure It-out Together” (FIT) Model . Want to talk to Faizan, think its too expensive to get on a call with him, you can pay by question, by outcome, by problem type, or by user tokens. What ever you think brings the best value to you, your business vs getting on a personal call or session.All driven by an intake form.

I asked my self, this, “Why should my years of codified knowledge be locked in with my personal availability at my price points”, why not let the user pay for value vs price. The catch, its still not a public system, I continue to be selective but the work has scaled.

Massive unlock. My twin has done more work, than me, I could not be more proud. Ive unlocked my work at scale. What I do with my time is what is high return on value and time for me. I have also done more free advisory work since Sept 2025, than I did in all of 2024. Because, I understood scaling of my time.

Result? I cut non essential meetings by 50%, freeing time for high impact experiments and focusing on just meta gains for my advisory work. I also realized, how I work with founders a few hours on my chosen schedule is 5x More profitable and 10x more sane for me vs subscribing to other peoples timelines.

I have said no to 11 advisory intros since September, I have only taken on 4 clients where I feel they can unlearn and re learn and have the ambition to scale. I have a new filter where founders who want to be executive producers vs script writers or directors don’t work out in the long term so I pass on them. They are chasing operating systems and rhythms because they can’t sell and need a hobby to keep busy. That hobby is to tell every one how to do their job, besides doing their own as the founder, Its been a profound learning.

Top 2 customers I did not on board wanted systems without being systematic. I am grateful for those learning outcomes.

Here's the framework I used (and you can too):

1. Audit Your Local Maximum: Map your current habits on a graph where are you stuck in "good enough"?

2. Spot Hidden Levers: Look for 2026 trends like AI personalization or sustainable niches. Learn …No ones coming to help…

3. Test Boldly: Pick one "wild thing" (e.g., launch a micro-SaaS) and iterate weekly. Or a Sidewalk washing business, no one cares, do what you care about but get it done! The test is to do things……

4. Measure Outcomes: Track with simple metrics revenue up? Energy levels? Cut the losers from your life, sadly we all want to be Politically Correct, but the single biggest reset you can have is to just not give a “F” about those who add nothing to your personal or professional life. My friend’s made fun of me, when about 2 years ago I started updating phone Contacts with callers associated traits “X-Always wants free advice” “Y-Always wants an intro”, etc etc, slowly auditing why people call and re-framing my time. You don’t have to be mean, just be ruthless with guarding your time, cut the noise. Also: Pro tip, don’t be some one else’s noise.

5. Adapt or Die: If it flops, pivot fast. Remember WD-40? 39 failures before the win.

This isn't theory; it's how I turned uncertainty into acceleration. What's your reinvention story? Reply and I might feature it next week.

Quick Wins: 5 Non-negotiables for Q1 2026

Ready to act? These are battle tested hacks to kickstart your year:

• AI Audit Your Day: Use free tools like ChatGPT to review your calendar ask: "How can I 2x output here?" Save 5+ hours/week.

• Network via Hobbies: Skip LinkedIn cold DMs; join a local group (e.g., Toronto tech meetups) tied to your passions. I met a collaborator at a culinary class, extra toppings led to extra revenue. Just shipped a new product with them.

• Monetize Downtime: Turn commutes into asset building: dictate newsletter ideas or brainstorm side hustles via voice notes. Your personal tech is your “personal times” NEW distribution network. Write this down. Use it!

• Curiosity Compounding: Read one "non-business" article daily (e.g., on quantum computing, or growing alge or breeding snails in Africa ). It sparks cross industry ideas. For 365 day I have had no social media installed on my cell phone sans Twitter.. Its a fantastic feeling.

• Weekly Wild Card: Commit to one experiment, like testing a TikTok sales channel. Track results no judgment on fails.

What's your top Q1 goal? Hit reply to this and let me know : A) Scale business, B) New side hustle, C) Personal growth.

Recommendations & Discoveries

• Book/Article: China's Civilian Army: The Making of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy, Peter Martin. China is a beast, now I know why!

• Tool/Experience: Try Notion AI for habit tracking. It's like a personal coach without the fees.

• Reader Pick: Shoutout to subscriber Alex W. (from replies): "Loved your take on incentives, Will share with the community next week.”

Contrarian Corner

Everyone's hyping AI as the savior, but here's the edge: Don't bet the house on it yet. In a world chasing shiny tech, the real winners double down on human edges, like deep relationships or niche expertise machines can't fake. Coddling your skills? Nah, toughen up: expose yourself to discomfort (e.g., cold outreach) to build anti fragile outcomes. Why? Because when AI glitches (remember that NYSE loop?), humans with grit prevail.

Thoughts? Hit reply let's debate. Lets Make 2026 more engaging, whats stopping you from asking questions?

Community Spotlight

First up is our new section: Simone from Issue #198's playbook shared how she pivoted her agency using "boring stuff that scales." Revenue up 14% in 2025 kudos! I am gearing up to share her story next week with all the approved details!

Want the spotlight? Reply with "Spotlight" and your win story. Starting Next week, I will share the details for those who want to share with the community. I have already requested a few of you, all others welcome!

Thought of the Week: "Chaos is a ladder." – Littlefinger (but make it entrepreneurial).

A ladder represents potential for those who stand at the bottom. A ladder represents danger for those who stand at the top.

2026 is yours to reinvent stay focused, make it achievable, systematize the chaos. Keep transforming, faster and best of all grow by sharing and finding partners here.

Better Outcomes to all…

-Faizan…