According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Horse. And if you know anything about horses, you know they don’t tiptoe into tomorrow – they thunder into it.
The horse is a symbol of energy, freedom, speed, and endurance. In the Chinese zodiac, it represents people who are bold, expressive, and unstoppable once they lock onto a goal .
That is the energy this year demands from you. Because 2026 will not reward the cautious – it will reward the courageous. This is your year to move from hesitation to acceleration, from good intentions to bold executions .
Let’s confront the brutal facts:
The world has never moved faster .
AI is rewriting entire job descriptions.
The economy is shifting under your feet.
Global instability, political theatre, economic volatility, and chronic personal stress are no longer abnormal – they’re the new normal.
The rules of success are being rewritten weekly.
Waiting for things to “settle down” is the new way of falling behind.
So here’s the shift – horses don’t fear the wind. They run like it.
And that is your challenge and your opportunity in 2026: not to resist change, but to ride it; not to wait for certainty, but to create momentum in whatever situation you’re in.
The Year of the Horse is about momentum. It’s about accelerating into uncertainty.
Horses don’t wait for perfect conditions – they rely on their stride, their stamina, and their spirit. The people who thrive in 2026 will be the ones who know when to gallop hard – and when to breathe deep. Because horses don’t win races by running wild. They win by running wise.
So here are Lipkin’s 3 Practices for harnessing the power of the horse:
Practice 1: Sharpen Your Edge: Make 2026 the year you invest relentlessly in your own capability. Commit to continuous learning in your craft, your industry, AI and technology so you can ride the wave of change.
Audit your habits: double down on the routines that make you clearer, calmer, and more creative – and cut the ones that drain you, distract you, or dull your edge. In the Year of the Horse, your sharpest competitive advantage is how quickly you can learn, think, and decide. Let me say that again: In the Year of the Horse, your sharpest competitive advantage is how quickly you can learn, think, and decide
Practice 2: Accelerate Your Adaptability. Speed and flexibility will separate the thrivers from the survivors in 2026. Here’s how you turn disruption into your drivers:
- Continually scan for change and treat every change in markets, technology, or customer behavior as a signal to adjust and advance
- Move from long debates to fast experiments: test, learn, iterate; stop waiting for perfect answers and start running smart trials. Continual discoveries lead to big breakthroughs.
When others freeze, you move. When others complain, you create. When others stall, you start. That is how you turn adaptability into advantage.
Practice 3: Grow Your Herd: here’s the beautiful part of the story: the horse is not a solitary creature. It runs in herds. It creates synergy. It thrives in connection. In 2026, community is not optional – it’s essential. Who you ride with will define how far you go.
Here are two moves that could change everything for you: one, surround yourself with people who stretch your standards, elevate your optimism, and tell you the truth, no matter how hard it is. Two, become a source of energy and belief for others; the more value you create for your herd, the more momentum will flow back to you .
In the Year of the Horse, the strongest position is not just being a great runner – it’s running with a great herd. Your herd is your force multiplier .
So here’s my challenge to you this year: Embody the spirit of the horse. Live with speed and purpose. Let passion pull you forward – not fear. Be the first to move. Be the one who inspires others to run harder and faster.
2026 is not just another lap around the sun. It is the year to unleash your full power, to own your freedom, and to gallop toward your greatest possibilities.
2026 will belong to the people who refuse to hold back. The innovators. The connectors. The dreamers who turn disruption into distinction .
So saddle up. Because in the Year of the Horse, you’re either riding to your destiny – or you’re standing still, watching it disappear into the distance .
Now is the time to sharpen your edge, accelerate your adaptability and grow your herd.
This is Mike Lipkin and let’s charge into 2026 together.
