As we step into this new year, I want to pose a question that could define not only the direction of your year but also the trajectory of your life: Will you be a thermometer or a thermostat?
At first glance, the difference might seem subtle—a matter of semantics, perhaps—but it’s far more profound than it appears. A thermometer reacts to the environment, passively reflecting the conditions around it. A thermostat, however, takes control, setting the tone and actively influencing its surroundings. Which one you choose to embody has the power to shape everything from your mindset and relationships to your success and well-being.
This powerful metaphor isn’t just an idea; it’s a call to action—a challenge to rethink how you engage with life and business. Are you content to react, or are you ready to take charge? Thermometer vs. thermostat, what does that really look like? Let’s explore what this distinction means and how embracing the thermostat mindset can transform the way you show up in every area of your life.
Thermometer People: Measuring the Environment
Thermometer people are reactive. They reflect the environment around them, adjusting their mood, energy, and actions to match whatever is happening externally.
If the room is negative, they absorb the negativity. If circumstances are challenging, they feel defeated. They’re at the mercy of their surroundings, letting external factors dictate their internal state.
In a way, thermometer people are passengers in their own lives. They wait for conditions to improve or for someone else to set the tone, rather than taking the lead themselves. This can create a cycle of dependence on external circumstances, leaving little room for personal agency or growth.
Thermometer behavior can feel safe because it removes the pressure of decision-making. However, it also limits potential and leaves individuals vulnerable to instability and external chaos. Breaking free from this mindset requires awareness and a conscious decision to stop simply measuring the environment and start influencing it.
Thermostat People: Setting the Tone
Thermostat people are different. They don’t just reflect the environment—they change it. They decide how they want to feel, think, and act, and they influence the world around them to align with their energy.
When thermostat people walk into a room, you can feel their presence. They bring solutions to problems, positivity to negativity, and hope to uncertainty. They’re leaders, not followers. Their ability to shift the dynamic of a space stems from their self-awareness and intentionality, qualities that allow them to remain centered even when circumstances are challenging.
Thermostat people understand this fundamental truth: you can’t control everything that happens around you, but you can control how you respond. By choosing to embody this principle, they create environments where growth, collaboration, and success flourish. Their ability to set the tone rather than reflect it transforms them into catalysts for positive change.
The mindset of a thermostat person is not innate—it’s cultivated. It requires practice, discipline, and the willingness to embrace discomfort as you learn to influence rather than react. But once you make this shift, it becomes a powerful tool for shaping your reality.
Thermometer vs. Thermostat: Which One Are You?
Take a moment to reflect. This past year, have you been more of a thermometer, reacting to your environment? Or a thermostat, setting the tone for your life and influencing others?
The beauty of the thermometer vs. thermostat metaphor is that it’s not fixed. If you’ve been a thermometer, you can decide to become a thermostat. It’s a choice—a commitment to show up differently in your life and business. Understanding where you currently stand is the first step toward transformation.
Thermometers may feel stuck, waiting for things to happen to them. Thermostats, on the other hand, make things happen. So, ask yourself: Are you ready to shift from reacting to leading? From measuring to influencing? The choice is yours to make.
5 Ways to Become a Thermostat Person
If you’re ready to step into the role of a thermostat, here are five strategies to help you get there:
1. Start Each Day with Intention
Before the world has a chance to influence you, set your own temperature. Decide what kind of energy you want to bring to your day. Whether it’s calm, confident, or focused, make a conscious choice to embody it. Starting with intention helps you take charge and begin each day as a thermostat instead of a thermometer.
2. Surround Yourself with Thermostat People
Energy is contagious. If you want to raise your game, spend time with people who are already setting the tone in their lives. Learn from their habits, mindset, and approach to challenges. Being around thermostat people reinforces the behaviors and mindset necessary to lead, rather than follow.
3. Respond, Don’t React
Thermostat people pause before reacting. When faced with a difficult situation, ask yourself: What’s the best way to respond in alignment with my values and goals? This pause can make all the difference. Instead of allowing external factors to dictate your actions, you take charge and lead from a place of clarity.
4. Be the Example
Influence starts with you. Whether you’re at work, at home, or in your community, commit to showing up as the person who sets the temperature. Positivity, resilience, and creativity are magnetic. Being an example doesn’t just impact others; it reinforces your own commitment to living as a thermostat.
5. Commit to Personal Growth
Thermostat people understand that to influence the world around them, they must first grow themselves. Invest in your mindset, skills, and emotional intelligence to keep leveling up. By focusing on personal growth, you ensure that your ability to set the tone evolves as you do.
2025: The Year of Leadership
2025 is a blank slate, a new opportunity to decide how you’ll show up for yourself and the people around you. Will you reflect the energy of your circumstances, or will you create the conditions for success?
In the thermometer vs. thermostat metaphor, the difference is clear: one reflects, and the other leads. Thermostats set the stage for transformation. They don’t wait for change; they create it. This is the essence of leadership, and the world needs more of it.
Here’s what I know: The world needs more thermostat people. People who lead with purpose inspire change, and set the temperature for others to thrive.
And the best part? You have everything you need to become that person.
My Final Thought
Being a thermostat isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention. It’s about deciding to take control of your energy, your mindset, and your influence. The thermometer vs. thermostat mindset is a choice you make daily, and it’s one that can redefine your life.
As you step into your journey, ask yourself: What temperature am I setting for my life and the people around me?
The choice is yours.
If you’re ready to embrace your inner thermostat and make your life one of transformation, let’s work together. Join me at Billionaire Braintrust and book your 1:1 time with me today or register for one of my group sessions.
You can also tune into The Lifestyle Expansion Blueprint Podcast for strategies, insights, and inspiration to help you lead with confidence and clarity.
This is your year. This is your life. Set the temperature and watch the world rise with you. Let’s make it happen.
Stay expansive.
