By Joe Doherty

ecember is the month when many of us set resolutions for the coming year. Maybe you want to exercise more, eat better, lose weight, or stop smoking in 2026.

If you have not done so already, I encourage you to include at least one resolution related to your role in the self-storage industry. For purposes of this column, I will suggest supporting the grassroots lobbying of your national and state associations. Legislators hear from paid lobbyists like Daniel Bryant and me all the time. They want to hear more from people like you who create jobs in their communities, provide an important service to their neighbors, and/or run or work for a successful business.

Before getting to some recommendations, I want to demonstrate the importance of grassroots lobbying by highlighting the activities of two state associations this year. First, the Georgia Self Storage Association (GASSA) successfully pushed through a bill to eliminate the state’s antiquated newspaper advertising requirement. This happened because many operators in the state took the time to meet with their legislators and cultivate support for the bill. In fact, GASSA’s outreach was so successful that only one legislator voted no on the bill—a bill that never even made it out of committee in previous years!

On the other side, both geographically and positionally, the Washington Self Storage Association (WA-SSA) successfully opposed a sales tax that would have added at least 6.5 percent, and in some parts of the state more than 10 percent, to customers’ bills. While several other industries are facing new sales taxes, the storage industry is not, thanks to the dozens of operators that WA-SSA assembled to testify against the destructive bill.

So, what can you do to help? The American Psychological Association offers several considerations on how best to stick to your resolutions. I will focus on three of those considerations: start small, talk about it, and ask for support.

Chances are, you will hear from your national or state association asking you to email or call your legislators to support or oppose a bill in 2026. Take a few minutes (seriously, that’s all that needed) to reach out. Don’t know what to say? No problem. We make it easy for you by including a template email or talking points.

Stop by your local legislator’s district office or meet your legislator at a community meeting or event. I have found that, by and large, state legislators are approachable people who care deeply about their communities and want to hear from their constituents. This remains true even when they do not share my political affiliation or views on hot-button issues. Even if your state does not have any pending self-storage legislation, it helps when operators develop positive relationships with legislators because you never know when those relationships could come in handy.

We all need professional help sometimes. Daniel Bryant and I are here to help you, as are the executive directors and board members of the state associations. If you need help connecting with a legislator, want talking points for a bill, or have a suggestion for lobbying or legislative activities, just let us know.

Now that you have met your self-storage resolution, go ahead and reward yourself with that slice of chocolate cake!