🦋 Read This Before You Set Any 2026 Goals

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It's January 2027. You're looking back on 2026, and you're proud.

You can't believe what you've achieved. You feel fulfilled, grateful, and hopeful.

Isn’t that where you want to be a year from now? Let’s talk about what it takes to get there.

Why am I sharing this framework again?

Long-time readers will recognize this exercise from last year. That is intentional. Leadership isn't about finding a "new magic trick" every year; it's about mastering the fundamentals.

First, we will talk about the two big mindset shifts: Long View Planning & Identity Driven Growth. Then I will share with you the plan for a new you in 2026 👇

🔭 The Long View

Most people start their New Year’s planning by asking: "What do I want to achieve in 2026?"

I want you to start bigger. I want you to ask: "Where do I want to be in 15 years?"

Project yourself to 2040. This isn't about predicting the future perfectly—life is unpredictable. It is about direction. When you visualize that long-term destination, it acts as an anchor. It clarifies what is actually important right now versus what is just "urgent."

Once you see that 15-year destination, you have to ask the most important question of all: "Who do I need to become today to be the person who achieves that tomorrow?"

This connects the long term to the short term. You don't wait 15 years to become a leader. You start embodying that person now.

This brings us to the most critical shift you need to make this year: moving from Outcome to Identity.

🧠 Identity Driven Growth

We are conditioned to focus on outcomes. But outcomes are fragile. They often depend on timing, luck, and other people—variables you cannot control. The only thing you fully control is the process: your quality of work, your discipline, and your attitude.

Let's look at a practical example:

❌ The Outcome: Getting a promotion. You can't fully control this. It depends on headcount, company budget, office politics, timing, etc.

✅ The Process: Operating at the next level. You control this 100%. This means consistently delivering high-quality work, connecting with colleagues, learning new skills. If you do this well repeatedly, recognition follows.

But I want you to go even further. As you are perfecting your process, I want you to focus on who you are becoming (Identity).

Why is Level 3 the most powerful?

Because a "disciplined, strategic leader" doesn't just get promoted once. They also lead better teams, manage their health better, and handle crises better. When you focus on Identity—on becoming a higher version of yourself—you aren't just building a skill for one area of your life. You are building a character that serves you for the rest of your life.

So, how do we turn this philosophy into a plan for 2026?

🛣️ The Path to a New You: Your 8-Step Plan

1️⃣ Define Your North Star (The 2040 Anchor)

We cannot plan the route until we know the destination. Spend time visualizing your life in 15 years.

• The Projection: Where are you? What have you achieved? Why do you want that?

• The Person: Most importantly, who are you? What are your key mindsets, habits & practices? How do you live your life? Who are you surrounded with?

• Action: Write down a paragraph describing this "Future Self." This is your anchor.

2️⃣ Reflect on the Trajectory (The Data)

Now, look back at 2025. You cannot optimize what you do not understand. Here is how I do this: I pick one day in December and block off 5-6 hours. I turn off my phone, open my journals from 2025, and review summaries from previous years. This reveals patterns I would otherwise miss. If you didn’t journal, reflect on this:

• When was I most proud of how I showed up this year? What does that moment reveal about the kind of leader I want to be?

• What gave me energy, and what consistently drained me?

• Where did I act out of alignment with my values? What fear or story was driving me in those moments?

• Which conversation, decision, or risk did I postpone—and what did that cost me?

• If I keep living exactly the way I did in 2025 for the next 5 years, will I arrive at my North Star (Step 1)? What do I need to keep, what do I need to change?

3️⃣ Define the Identity Gap

Compare Step 1 (Future You) with Step 2 (Current You). What is missing?

• Example: Maybe your Future Self is strategic and calm, but your Current Self is reactive and overwhelmed.

• The Goal: Your primary mission for 2026 is to close that gap. This is the most powerful goal you can set because it changes you, not just your circumstances.

4️⃣ The "High-Five" Rule (Prioritize Goals)

If you have too many goals, you have no goals. Limit yourself to 5 goals max. Ask yourself:

• What would make the biggest impact and get me closer to my 2040 vision?

• What are the consequences if I neglect this?

• Do I truly care? Your goals are only as strong as your emotional connection to them.

5️⃣ Make it Measurable

Vague goals are the enemy of progress.

• Bad: "I want to be a better listener."

• Good: "I will not interrupt others during meetings and will ask one follow-up question before giving my opinion."

• Behavioral: "I want my team to report that they feel more heard by Q4."

6️⃣ Design the Process (The Habits)

This is where you take back control. Break Step 4 - Goals down into daily actions you control:

• Outcome (Fragile): Run a marathon.

• Process (Controlled): Block 45 mins every other day on your calendar to run - habit and behavior level.

• Identity (Permanent): Become a runner - sustaining the habit over time.

7️⃣ The Daily Compass

I spend 5 minutes every morning reading my goals. It sounds simple, but it acts as a compass. If my daily to-do list doesn't move me toward some of those 5 outcomes—or reinforce the Identity I am building—I rewrite the list.

8️⃣ Track & Pivot

Once a week, look at the data. Are the numbers moving? If not, change the Process, not the Identity. If your goal is behavioral (like being calmer), ask the people around you for honest feedback. You will have to try & adjust; learn & experiment, to reach your goals and to become who you want to become.

🤔 The Hard Truth: What will you sacrifice?

Planning is easy. The follow-through is where most people fail.

Everyone wants the gold medal, but are you willing to train like an Olympian? To become a new version of yourself in 2026, the old version of you has to make space. Be ready to sacrifice comfort, old habits, or time to make this happen.

✊ Failure is Part of the Plan

You will stumble. You will have a bad week/month. That is not the end—it is part of the process. Success is not a straight line; it is simply the ability to go from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. When you know where you are going and why, setbacks stop looking like defeats and start looking like necessary data points.

🫂 Be Kind to Yourself

Finally, give yourself grace. You are aiming high, which means you are pushing your boundaries. When it gets hard, treat yourself with the same kindness you would offer a good friend.

Let's Make 2026 Legendary!

You are currently living only a fraction of your potential. Let's change that. We'll be here to support you.

Here’s to the New You ✊

PS: If you are interested in receiving a free coaching with me and exploring if you qualify to join our Leadership Accelerator program, hit reply!

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