The podcast emphasizes a transformative mindset for achieving success in 2026, urging listeners to go "all in" by making decisive commitments and persevering through challenges. It highlights the importance of setting ambitious, non-negotiable goals and taking relentless action, as goals are essential for growth and separate top performers from others. The host advises eliminating distractions, excuses, and negative self-talk, while fostering discipline and a positive outlook. Leadership involves maintaining a clear vision, staying focused amid obstacles, and creating an environment where teams can thrive. Listeners are encouraged to take full ownership of their results, act as CEOs of their endeavors, and understand that success stems from personal development and consistent effort, enabling them to help others reach their potential.
[MUSIC PLAYING] Hello, friends. Welcome to Level Up with Debbie Neal. I am your host. There is nowhere I would rather be than right here, right now, with you. This podcast is all about leveling up in all aspects of our lives. Thank you for being here. I am so grateful. I'm excited to be on this journey with you. Together, we are leveling up. You ready? Hey, friends, how are you? So I don't know. You don't really see much of a video of this, but I'm actually holding my microphone, which actually weighs-- feels like it weighs 20 pounds. OK, welcome. I hope you're amazing. This is what I want to talk about today. I want to be talking about adding fire to your life. This is the year to go all in. If you haven't had that moment yet of saying, I'm actually leveling up in 2026. You could be listening to 2027, but we're in 2000. I am leveling up. I'm leveling up the way I think, the way I speak, the way I show up, the way I build, the way I goal set, the way I create discipline. Like, I am ready to be all in, OK? And so what I want to talk about is what actually-- we hear the term no matter what. Like, no matter what. Like, what does no matter what actually mean? So it means you're doing it this year. So what all in means is your decision, your perseverance, your example, your excellence, your urgency, today. I want you to declare and take that kind of responsibility. I feel like every single one of us, including me, OK, had been playing way smaller than we're capable of, especially in the year 2025. It is time to develop yourself into the leader that the world wants to follow. And that goes back no matter what you do for a living, no matter what company you represent, people are buying you. They're following you. They want to be led by somebody with conviction, somebody with passion, somebody with high standards, somebody who's committed, not just committed when things are going well, no matter what. So I'm going to talk about that. I've talked about this so often, decide. Decide long term. It's not like, oh, I'm interested in growing to this level. Like, you're making a decision. Decide long term, slam the back door. There's no other option. Decide to be all in, no questioning. Will there be obstacles? Yes. Will there be rejection? Yes. Will there be times that your business will bring you to your knees? Yes. But I'm calling on your greatness to be true to your word. Because at the end of the day, all we have is our word. Be disciplined to do what you said you were going to do. Now, I'm not here saying you have to make these big grandiose declarations on Instagram. You don't have to do that. But you know what you've declared. Discipline is what you do when no one is watching. And that is what's going to show up in your results later. So be disciplined and follow through. So other people could have the best a better life. When you play small and you don't become who you're meant to be in this world, you hold other people back. And the reality is, the truth is, average people don't follow through. They say they're going to do something and they don't. They say they're going to get healthier and they don't. They say they're going to exercise and they don't. They say they're going to read and they don't. They say they're going to set a goal and achieve it. And they don't. Average people love success until it gets hard. And then they start to look around. Maybe it's my company. Maybe it's my team. No, maybe it's you, OK? Grow where you are. You will hit challenges. You know, when you said yes to your business, maybe you fell in love with the income potential, maybe you fell in love with the products whenever it may be. We all come to the table with something special and unique, but that's only going to get you so far. You're going to become your own lit. And so it's growing through how we show up in the world. So decide to be disciplined, to be better. One of the things you want to do is set powerful goals. All successful people who have accomplished great things have had huge goals. They have focused on the goals and they took action. Like what good is a goal if you're not going to take action on it? And so many times we wait till we're ready. Stop. And then maybe you said big goals in 2025 and you haven't hit them, get in the saddle, get up, and do it again. Because one of the things that takes people out of a game is shame. Shame hides. People hide. People are embarrassed. And I'm saying this with love, get over it. Because it's just taking that one step in front of the other. Be relentless. Successful people are relentless to pursue their goals. They have fixed their vision on goals that most people think are impossible. Friends, everything's impossible till you accomplish it. Impossible when you separate the M from the P, simply reads, I'm possible. So the key word is that it seemed impossible. But impossible doesn't exist. Impossible is in the dictionary of fools. Absolutely nothing is impossible. When we say that something's impossible, you know what we're doing? We're giving ourselves permission to play small. It's simply a reason not to try. Every single thing is possible when you love it enough. Are you in love with your goal? Like, what will your goal accomplishing it do for your life? Do you want more time? Do you want more choices? Do you want more flexibility? Do you want more finances in your life? I love when people say money is not everything. Money is not important. No, money is not the most important thing in my life. My health, my family, of course, Jesus number one. But without money, you know what? My children would have been funding their own weddings. They would have been funding their own colleges. They would have been, I don't know, not going out to dinner as a family of nine that we are now. It costs money. So what is it that when you achieve your goals, you will be able to do in life. Maybe it's helping out parents. Maybe it's helping out a friend. Maybe it's being able to vacation. Maybe it's to be able to buy the home that you want. We're here. We have one life. What are the things that bringing you closer to your goal will allow you to do in the world? Maybe it's give back, serve. And so goal setting is the number one quality of highly successful people. Goals for me have driven my business. And this is what separates the top from the rest and the top income earners from everyone. Goals determine what you are going to be. So how many of you have your goals and your action plan with you always? Like you know, you could look them up on your phone. Maybe they're the backdrop on your phone. Maybe they're in your notes. How many of you know exactly what you have personally done this past year and this month so far? What are your goals for this month? What are your non-negotiable deadlines? I know for us, we have a really big conference coming up in three months. It's 90 days. It's game on. So when our goals are non-negotiable, our leadership grows tremendously. Because it's like, I'm figuring it out. If you have a big conference coming up, have you set a goal of what level, what management level you're going to be when you get there? How many people you're going to serve? How many new leaders you're going to promote? Is it negotiable for you? Is this something that you're interested in or committed? And there's a big difference because when the going gets hard, then you know you're interested. When you're committed, it's like, I am working through this. Goals are not necessary to motivate us. They are essential to keep you alive. But when we stop growing, when we settle for the saddest quote, I'm reading this book now by John Maxwell. It's called "Leader Shift." And he literally, I don't know, I don't know what a paraphrase him in there. Forget what it says. But basically, it's like, one of the greatest tragedies is no matter how old you are, if you don't have goals anymore, and you just ho-hum with your life, right? So your team and your future team, they deserve big goals. They want to be led by-- it's not just OK, just to be nice or supportive-- a leader leads, a leader shifts, a leader adapts, a leader set goals. When your goals are not gigantic, you will miss the biggest players in your business. So if people say, what if I don't want to have big goals? Then you don't want to have a big team. And you don't want to have a big business. Be OK with that. So with goals, the way we achieve goals are to create and build a packed calendar. So a packed calendar consistently. So what somebody will do, like, oh my gosh, I'm just going to go crazy for three weeks. And then if they don't get the results they want, they kind of like fizzle out. Have massive, massive activity. Commit to that for a full year, and then evaluate where you are. Be a new business machine. We don't drag people. I have people in my business that are incredible. But it's not up to our existing business to grow you to the next level. You need to be bigger than your team. Another thing when you think about being all in this year, no excuses, you guys excuses are so old, they're just whatever. So no excuses, no excuses about your team, no excuses about your circumstances. Excuses are the most unprofessional thing. Excuses scream amateur. Excuses are code for, I simply don't want it bad enough, period. I mean, that's what it says. We don't complain. When we complain, when we make excuses and justify, we attract that and we create that in our business period. Your goal is to be positive all the time, you're alive, you're breathing. You get to build your business. You get to grow. You get to overcome obstacles. So find something positive and be the example of positivity, no distractions. Friends, this is the year to remove distractions. I don't care who you voted for. I don't care which political party you're with. I don't care what country. You know, it's like there's so many distractions going on. And sometimes I need to remind myself, they're not all thinking about me. Like it's going on regardless. And to be quite honest with you, nobody knows the truth. Everything is fabricated. Just remove the comparison, who watches people that left a company, who watches people that are kicking it up. So no distractions. Now, will you have distractions in your life, of course. So when I say no distractions, it doesn't mean that life is not going to happen. You might go through things in life this year that are hard. And it could possibly suck. But one of the things I say to people, if you're going to go through hard or sucky, why have your business sucky too? So what I'm saying is that I'm not saying you're not going to encounter stuff. What I'm saying is build your business anyway. And something to look, oh my gosh, that's so heartless really. Like if you're a doctor and you go through hard, you're going to take care of patients anyway. I think so. Everybody else who has a regular traditional nine to five job, you're going and you're building your job. Why is it that we're entrepreneurs? And we have the option of not showing up like we're going through a really hard time. And not only to sound insensitive, I've gone through really hard things in my 20 years of building this business, but I'm a leader. And my team deserves me to show up even when I go through hard. My team deserves me to navigate, to pivot, to leadership, to set goals, to show up in a loving way. And so does my family. I don't know about you guys, but my business pays my bills. So I love people who say like I'm feeling emotional. I really need to like have some downtime for a month. What does that even mean? And some people are like, wow, she's so insensitive. No, I'm actually very sensitive, but I also realize that if I want to actually provide for my family, I need to go through things in my life and also figure out how to build my business. Unless I want a hobby. If you guys want a hobby, take off for a month. That's fine. Figure it out. Feel your feelings, but leaders feel through them. 2026 is the year you launch your business. The year you transform into an entrepreneur, founder, boss. One powerful move puts the future firmly in your hands. Starting a business with Shopify. Maybe you've got an idea you can't shake. A craft everyone tells you to sell. A store you've already designed in your head. With Shopify, 2026 is when you finally make it happen. Shopify gives you everything you need to sell online and in person. Millions of entrepreneurs have already made this leap from household names to first-time business owners, just getting started. Shopify gives you all the tools to easily build your dream store. Choose from hundreds of beautiful templates that you can customize to match your brand. Marketing is built in too. Create email and social campaigns that reach customers wherever they scroll. As you grow, Shopify grows with you. Handle more orders, expand to new markets, and do it all from the same dashboard. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/levelup. Go to shopify.com/levelup. That shopify.com/levelup. Enter your first, this new year with Shopify by your side. So life will always happen. You need to be bigger than your stuff if this year is going to be different. When you have clear goals, obstacles seem effortless. So be unstoppable, be laser beam focused, want it more than you could even imagine. Are goals to be a visionary? Are you a visionary? Do you have a vision for your year? Do you have a vision for your life? Do you have a vision for your finances? Do you have a vision for your team? We are vision casters. Are you painting a picture of a clear vision? What is your vision? Because you know what that is? That's your story. That's why people want to join you. My vision guided me, not my site, because vision has no limits. Site is very limited. Your vision is your responsibility, and it has absolutely no limits. When you lack vision, you hold other people. I talk to four people today, and they don't want to do business with me. Stop saying that stuff out loud. Take yourself out to the woodshed, and give yourself a good kick in the ass. If you want to build this business to something really big, stop, focus on your vision, and know that that's a byproduct of it. Did somebody tell you that you're going to talk to three people, and all those three people are going to join you, and protect your vision? If you're having a bad day, go to somebody with a bigger vision, and a bigger business than you, and ask them for advice. If you're somebody, and you're casting your doubt, and talking about lack of vision to other people, shame on you, and if you're listening to somebody doing that, bigger shame on you. So protect your vision. When you do not have discipline when you're a vision, you end up looking through other people's eyes. So if you're surrounding yourself with people that are complaining, and they're talking about I'm not making enough money, you're not doing enough, like stop. Your pay is reflecting your efforts and your last 90 days. So when you're complaining about your pay, why don't you add up all the hours that you worked last month, and that's exactly why you're earning, why you're earning. You guys, I'm like, I'm letting you have it in a good way, because I am ready for all of us to level up. When your vision is cloudy, you've allowed it. Who are you surrounding yourself with? What kind of group chat are you with? Are you surrounding yourself with leaders that are talking about doom and gloom? Are they talking about new birth, and new business, and new goals? When your vision is so clear, it becomes a reality. The bigger your vision, the more lives you touch. Make your vision about other people. People will follow you when you know where you're going. We are going to be a, what is it, where are you leaving your team? When your goals in vision are clear, your team will rise to your goals and expectations. And you want to share what you do with everyone. So if you're in a recruiting business the way I am, I share products, and I share a business, ask people with passion to join you. Like, no, this is what I'm doing. What do you think? Ask with passion, with purpose, with conviction, and with intention. Are you sharing it with your heart? I want you to leave logic at the door. Are you worried about being pushy? Because when you're worried about being pushy, you don't really believe. Faith has a sound that has an energy. If people don't want to buy my products, I'm not worried about being pushy. I know they're amazing. If people don't want to join my business, that's okay. My biggest fear is not them saying no to me. My biggest fear is somebody saying, Deb, why don't you let me know how big this opportunity could have been for me and my family. So if you feel that way, if you feel pushy, you don't really believe to the core, what you have, and what you're capable of. And you want to build that belief every single day. So are you afraid of a no? Because no is part of it. Put a value on what you have. So you want to be the bar because you are the constant. So when you stay the constant, meaning like your belief is steady, your vision, they're growing, but like they're not, they're, they're unshakable. So when, when you can remain those things, nothing changes. Players will change. So do you change your tone when somebody quits, when somebody wants to slow down or when they say, no, do you change your tone when a person is down or a person is negative? Like you guys, this is the time to step up and lead. Be bigger, excuses will change, tone will change, momentum, energy, seasons will change. But you remain the constant and your urgency is everything. You are not responsible for your team's success. However, you are 100% responsible for the atmosphere that you create. If you are not where you want to be, it's 100% your urgency period. When you're on fire, you figure it out. You coach to win. You don't even engage in nonsense. So you want to be all in, don't look for easy. When we look for easy, we make it so much harder for other people and stop looking back and playing a story that's no longer serving you. Maybe it's a goal you said that you didn't hit. Maybe you just didn't set it. Maybe you, I don't know, you once had a title that you don't have anymore. Maybe you don't think you're good enough. Maybe you don't think you're smart enough. Maybe you don't think you know enough people. Maybe you're waiting for the perfect time enough. When we live in the past, we don't move forward period. And that goes for the great. Maybe you had a great year. It's time to still move forward. You can't rest on your success. You build on it. So that goes for the great. It goes for the good. It goes for the bad. And it goes for the ugly. Stop comparing yourself and asking about other people, right? How come so-and-so isn't promoted yet? You are collecting evidence as to why your butt isn't promoted yet either enough. This is the year to have massive discipline. Discipline needs to be worked like a muscle. It is your responsibility. Your success comes down to your discipline to be better. And that's mentally, physically, professionally showing up, speaking, activity, appearance, change is the only constant. This is the year to take complete ownership. You are responsible for your results. Regardless of your level show up like the CEO of your business from day one, act like one, be one, you're your brand. So earning more money, earning a trip, getting promoted, expanding, leveling up, what's the plan? Because the trips, the money, the lifestyle are all a byproduct of developing yourself into the person that you were meant to be. When we do this, we have the ability to help others reach their greatest potential. Challenges are there to remind you to go for it. Your actions, your expectations, and achievements, they're not about you. They're giving other people hope. And this is the year to get your energy in check. People are attracted to your energy or they are repelled by it. If they're not joining you, really analyze your energy is a full of gratitude, love, vision, abundance, because your energy is infectious. So I want us to take full responsibility. Let me ask you a question. Do you realize what your success does for other people? What doing what you said you were going to do does for other people? Do you work your business with that kind of responsibility, with ownership, and drive? Are you driven to succeed? Are you driven to earn an amazing income? Are you driven to be the example of what's possible for your team? Are you driven to lead your team to the next level? Drive is so much different than willing to help your team. This is not daycare. Are you driven to be the best version of you? Friends, this is the year to build with all you have and be all in. Do you really see what you have? You are the author of your life. You are holding the pen. Every single one of you listening today has exactly what it takes to build a multi-million dollar business, but here's the secret. You must treat it like one first. It is a result of doing this consistently regardless of your title. We don't work for letters. We work for the numbers. Work to grow your numbers, your results. I want you to leave today with a sense of urgency because being in is not enough. This is the time to be all in. This is the best time to create success. The most amount of millionaires come out of a recession. People are either paralyzed or propelled, so here's the million dollar question. Will it be you? And I am going to urge you to stop overthinking this. You've got this. It's your time to bring out your no matter what. It's your time to be all in. It's time to be the person who shows everyone how it's done. Happy 2026 friends. I love you. [Music]
Podcast Summary
Key Points:
Commit fully to personal and professional growth by being "all in," which involves unwavering decision-making, perseverance, and discipline regardless of obstacles.
Set clear, ambitious goals and maintain relentless focus on them, as goals drive success and differentiate high achievers from average performers.
Eliminate distractions, excuses, and negative influences; instead, cultivate a positive, visionary mindset and take consistent action to build your business or career.
Embrace leadership by staying constant in your vision and urgency, creating a positive atmosphere for your team, and taking complete ownership of your results.
Summary:
The podcast emphasizes a transformative mindset for achieving success in 2026, urging listeners to go "all in" by making decisive commitments and persevering through challenges. It highlights the importance of setting ambitious, non-negotiable goals and taking relentless action, as goals are essential for growth and separate top performers from others. The host advises eliminating distractions, excuses, and negative self-talk, while fostering discipline and a positive outlook.
Leadership involves maintaining a clear vision, staying focused amid obstacles, and creating an environment where teams can thrive. Listeners are encouraged to take full ownership of their results, act as CEOs of their endeavors, and understand that success stems from personal development and consistent effort, enabling them to help others reach their potential.
FAQs
Being 'all in' means making a firm decision to commit fully, with perseverance, excellence, and urgency, regardless of obstacles or challenges. It involves showing up consistently and taking responsibility for your growth and results.
Discipline is crucial because it ensures you follow through on your commitments, even when no one is watching. It builds consistency and directly influences your results, helping you stay focused on your goals.
Powerful goals provide direction and motivation, driving you to take action and achieve great things. They help you focus on what matters, transform your vision into reality, and separate top performers from the rest.
Vision acts as a guiding force, painting a clear picture of where you want to go and inspiring others to follow. A strong vision has no limits and helps you overcome obstacles, attract like-minded people, and create a positive atmosphere.
Remove distractions by staying focused on your goals and avoiding comparisons or negative influences. Excuses are unprofessional and indicate a lack of commitment; instead, maintain positivity and take ownership of your actions.
Protecting your vision keeps you motivated and prevents doubt from creeping in. Surrounding yourself with positive, goal-oriented leaders helps maintain clarity and energy, ensuring you stay on track to achieve your aspirations.
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