I’m in a strange in-between season right now. I’m waiting on a new AI book that drops in January, so I’ve been hovering “between books.” I also just finished reading the Bible—a three-year journey—so I’ve stepped away from daily scripture reading for the moment. Add to that some nagging foot issues (compression socks, orthopedic inserts, fewer walks with the dog), and a diet that helped me lose 25 pounds over the spring and summer… only to slowly drift off course again. If I’m honest, I’ve slipped back into a version of myself I don’t really like. That’s the frustrating part. This has been a successful year by almost any external measure. Business is moving forward. We’re staring down a financing hurdle that requires precision and discipline. Marketing needs to tighten up. Venues need to be filled. Guests need to be delighted. And then there’s life. An adult daughter battling addiction. A teenage son testing limits. A house full of kids—mine and others—who deserve attention, patience, and love. And a growing pack of grandkids who think Grandpa is basically Santa Claus with better jokes. When I list it all out, it’s impossible not to feel grateful. Challenges and blessings alike, things are genuinely good. And yet—I know they could be better. That’s what brought me back to Atomic Habits. I read it a few years ago, and it played a real role in helping me build a life I’m proud of. Somewhere along the way, I eased off the discipline that got me here. Not dramatically. Just subtly. Enough to matter. The good news? I don’t think it takes much to get back on track. I’m ready to rebuild a tight morning routine. Ready to recommit to the habits that actually move the needle. Ready to stop negotiating with myself about discipline. Because 2026 matters. It’s the year where a lot of long-term work begins to compound. We’re positioning ourselves to turn a roughly $500k investment into a $5M valuation. The pathway is clear. The opportunity is real. What’s missing isn’t strategy.

I’ve been chewing on a big idea the last couple days, and I want to capture it here for the handful of you in this little corner of Skool. This is where I tend to work things out in real time, and this one feels important. For the first time in a long time, I’m seriously considering resurrecting my old intellectual property — the stuff I poured myself into years before glamping ever took over my life. It’s funny how ideas circle back when you’re actually ready for them. Back in the Monument Publishing days, I produced an enormous amount of material: homeschool speech and debate curriculum, books on family life, the Love in the House series, even Wendy’s Love in the Kitchen cookbook. After I sold the company, the only speech & debate product I retained was Jeub’s Guide to Homeschool Speech & Debate. Everything else shifted hands, and I moved on (to glamping). But lately I’ve been thinking: What if Chris Jeub Ltd becomes the home for all of that again? What if I build a new publishing arm for myself — but built for 2025, not 2010? Not a re-creation of Monument Publishing (no more boxes of books, no more camps, no more massive production cycles), but a lean, AI-powered publishing engine that makes it easy to resurrect old IP, update it, repackage it, and release it back into the world. The idea didn’t come out of nowhere. Rob Benjamin, the creator of AI Automation School, posted a question about “productizing” workflows in the age of AI — and suddenly something clicked. I realized I already have a treasure chest of content… I’ve just never had the tools to turn it into a true system. Now I do. Think about it: - AI can rebuild manuscripts from old PDFs. - AI can update voice, clean up structure, and even generate companion materials. - AI can lay out books, generate covers, format chapters, create web pages, automate email sequences, and run the entire marketing arm. - And once the workflow exists, I could republish old projects in weeks instead of years.

I spent the last two days in Grand Junction with my son, Zech, and his debate partner, Beniah. They won 1st place in Team-Policy debate! This could be a big year for the 14th Jeub kid. He's on track to winning his second "Founder's Award," an award given at nationals for students who qualify in each speech category, the wildcard, and a debate format. Only one other Jeub kid has gotten the award (Tabitha, my 8th), and Zech is on track to win it twice. And no one has done particularly well in debate, so Zech looks like he'll take that glory, too. A big part of my life was spent publishing curriculum and running camps all over the country. I sold Monument Publishing, the leading curriculum publisher for homeschool speech and debate, in 2002. I'm now "just a dad" lugging his kids across the country to tournaments. Gotta say, it's kind of nice not peddling books and online memberships. Want to know something else? A shy student who took my speech and debate class three years ago at a homeschool co-op won 1st place in Lincoln-Douglas debate, a separate category that my son competed in. "It all started with you," her proud mom told me tonight. Pretty special. Funny how the adventures you take part in in life often comes back around to bless you. This community of speakers and debaters is quite something, and I'm proud to have been a significant part of this community. [Pictured: Beniah (left) and Zech (right)]

Sometimes little things make big memories. My mother in law has had cognitive challenges for several years. However, she still lights up when Elvis music is played. Therefore, my wife pulled together an Elvis Christmas party before her parents start an extended road trip. We all had a part but I got asked to be the face of the event. ...did I mention how expensive Elvis impersonators are? I think we'll look back and say that today was one of the little things. Even my teenage son thought it was cool. My wife saw how important a few moments of family silliness could be, but as with so many other event, I was just along for the ride. It'll be a Blue Christmas without Gammy and Papa but today was a good substitute. Moments like these matter, not because of what we do, but because what they mean to the people involved ...giving and receiving simple expressions of love. My wife sees them coming, months ahead of time. She's special that way.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!