Episode Overview

Podcast: Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Host: Scott Becker
Episode: 2026 Whatever it Takes
Date: December 31, 2025

In this short solo episode, host Scott Becker shares his mindset and personal mantra for the upcoming year: "Whatever it takes." Stepping beyond purely business topics, Scott offers candid insight into his personal and professional goals for 2026, emphasizing tenacity, practicality, and ethics. Using relatable anecdotes about fitness and golf, he explores the theme of achieving results without ego or concern for tradition, so long as it’s legal and ethical.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Whatever It Takes” Mindset (00:27)

• Scott introduces the guiding principle for 2026: achieving goals by any (legal and ethical) means required.
  • Quote: "There are no pictures on the scorecards." (Scott Becker, 00:34)
  • He stresses that results are what matter, not how you get there—provided the methods are correct.
• This pragmatic approach underlines his readiness to embrace any tool or strategy needed to hit his goals.

2. Personal Fitness Goals (01:00)

• Scott candidly shares his objective to lose a few pounds this year.
  • Unconcerned with pride or traditional routes, he’s willing to leverage any helpful method, including GLP-1 shots or drinking more water.
  • Quote: "No pride in how I do. So we're going to do it." (Scott Becker, 01:20)

3. Competitive Spirit in Golf (01:30)

• Another highlighted goal: beating his friends in golf.
  • Strategies could include buying new clubs, trying out expensive putters, extra lessons, or more practice.
  • The emphasis is on outcomes, not return on investment or tradition.
  • Quote: "If it means new irons, or if it essentially means a new putter, we're going to be beating our friends in golf this year. Some of them I haven’t beaten in a couple years. This is really the year." (Scott Becker, 01:53)

4. Business and Financial Goals (02:16)

• Scott briefly references ongoing financial and business goals, extending the “whatever it takes” philosophy to his professional life.
  • Quote: "Legal, ethical, winning. Whatever it takes. No pictures on the scorecard." (Scott Becker, 02:20)

5. Closing Messages & Inspiration (02:35)

• Scott encourages listeners to embrace their own “whatever it takes” year for 2026.
  • Quote: "God Bless America. Make 2026 your best year ever. This is the year." (Scott Becker, 02:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "There are no pictures on the scorecards." (00:34)
  – Sets the tone of the episode, focusing on results over process.
• "If it means cheating through using a GLP-1 shot or something like that... whatever it takes, I'm going to get that weight down and take off a few pounds. No pride in how I do." (01:10)
• "If it means buying a new putter to use one of these lab putters for 500 bucks... I don’t care about the return on investment, I don't care about the money. I plan to win regardless of what it takes." (01:37)
• "Legal, ethical, winning. Whatever it takes. No pictures on the scorecard." (02:20)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:27 — Introduction of the “Whatever It Takes” theme for 2026
• 01:00 — Personal fitness goals and willingness to use any tool or method
• 01:30 — Beating friends at golf: strategies, attitude, and investment
• 02:16 — Application of this philosophy to business goals
• 02:35 — Uplifting year-end encouragement to listeners

Tone & Takeaways

Scott Becker speaks with characteristic pragmatism, self-deprecating humor, and a competitive edge. The episode is motivational but grounded, offering a personal look at how relentless pursuit—balanced by ethics and practicality—applies across life domains. Listeners are left with a challenge to adopt their own “whatever it takes” approach for a successful 2026.