Your Best Year Starts with a Plan

I’ll never forget one December back in my corporate days. My manager asked our team to work on our annual plans. The unusual part? We were instructed to write plans for the year we had just finished, not the one ahead.

Odd, right?

Because nothing had been planned, we simply turned all our accomplishments into “the plan.” Everything we had done magically became everything we “meant” to do. And since the list looked impressive, it wasn’t hard to earn an “exceeds expectations” rating.

That strategy might work when your role is mostly task-oriented, and no one is truly holding you to forward-looking goals. But it doesn’t work if you want real growth, real alignment, and real momentum.

And here’s where I’m going to be honest:

I coach leaders and business owners every day on planning with intention — but I don’t always give myself that same focus. Not because I don’t know how to build a plan, but because (like so many of us) I’ve been prioritizing everyone else first. That changes in 2026.

As you reflect on your past year — and you should celebrate every win — this is also the perfect time to start looking ahead. Not just at the next few weeks, but at the next version of your life and leadership.

Start With a Vision

Push beyond the next 12 months.

Imagine it’s 2028:

• What does your role look like?

• What business results are you celebrating?

• Where did you travel?

• What opportunities opened because you said “yes” to something bold?

If three years feels overwhelming, dial it back to 2026.

One year from today — what accomplishments would you want to include in your holiday letter?

Know Your Why

Your why becomes the anchor. It keeps you grounded when challenges come and helps you filter what matters from what simply fills time.

The Big Rocks That Shape Your Year

You’ve probably heard the metaphor: if you fill a jar with sand first — the small tasks — there’s no room left for the rocks that matter. But if you start with the big rocks, everything else fits around them.

Planning works the same way.

1. Start With the Big Rocks

These are the priorities that move your vision forward:

• The project that creates meaningful impact

• The strategy that aligns with your long-term goals

• The commitment that stretches you in a good way

Define when you’ll begin, when you’ll end, what success looks like, and who needs to be involved.

2. Add the Smaller Rocks

These are the supporting tasks and actions needed to bring the big rock to life.

3. Save the Sand for Last

The sand represents small daily activities — easy to complete, but low in long-term value. Handle these after the big pieces are in place. Delegate them if you can.

Find an Accountability Partner

Whether it’s a peer, another leader, or a coach, accountability:

• keeps your plan alive,

• strengthens your commitment,

• and prevents the “I’ll get to it later” cycle we all fall into.

Plans Only Work If You Keep Them Visible

Setbacks happen. So do windfalls. Adjust as needed — but don’t tuck your plan in a drawer and look at it once a year. If you do, you’ll only see missed opportunities.

Review your plan weekly. Update it monthly. Let it guide your decisions.

Next December, you won’t need to “rewrite the plan” after the fact. You’ll already be living it.

If you’re ready to create a plan you’ll actually use in 2026, I’d love to support you. Sometimes all it takes is one focused conversation to bring clarity to the year ahead. Click here to schedule a 30-minute discovery call.

To be sure you don't miss a single blog, subscribe on LinkedIn or sign up for my weekly newsletter. To learn more about my coaching, speaking, and training services, email me at doris@dunnwise.com, reach out via DM or visit my website at www.dunnwise.com. And be sure to listen to the Leaderish Podcast for great insights on Leadership.