The Habits That Will Decide Whether 2026 Is Better Than 2025 with Doug Wilder

What if the reason 2025 looked exactly like 2024… had nothing to do with motivation, and everything to do with habits?

In this episode of Success Through Connections, I sit down with longtime friend and legendary business coach Doug Wilder for a conversation that might completely change how you think about growth, networking, and what it actually takes to create a better year ahead. And fair warning—this isn’t about hype, hustle, or overnight wins. This is about the small, unsexy habits that quietly compound into massive results.

Doug has spent over 30 years coaching hundreds of professionals, from CPAs and attorneys to executives and entrepreneurs, and today, he pulls back the curtain on what really separates people who stay stuck from those who move forward year after year.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why your daily habits, not big goals, determine whether 2026 looks different than 2025
• The real difference between vision, mission, and goals—and how to stop overcomplicating all three
• How to network without being “slimy” (and the one behavior that kills opportunities instantly)
• Simple, doable networking habits that don’t overwhelm you, even if you hate networking
• Doug’s powerful concept of habit stacking (and his surprisingly intense morning routine)
• Why measuring effort—not results—is the secret to staying consistent
• The one habit Doug believes everyone should start with (hint: it starts in your bedroom)
• How connections, not cold pitches, open doors you didn’t even know existed

We also share real stories, laugh about gray hair, call out bad LinkedIn behavior, and unpack why asking for help is one of the most underused success strategies out there.

If you’ve ever said:

• “I don’t have time to network”
• “I’m doing the work, but I’m not seeing results”
• “I want next year to be different, but I don’t know where to start”

…this episode is your sign.