Three Things to Focus On So 2026 Isn't a Groundhog Year.
For me, the familiar feeling hit in early January.
You probably know the one.
It's an interesting blend of anticipation and plans and energy and enthusiasm for the year ahead, fresh with promise and possibility…mixed with a slightly queasy sense that groundhog year might kick in. Again.
That the same old patterns - the revenue rollercoaster, the marketing mayhem, the questionable organisation systems held together with sellotape might derail your ambitions. Again.
That the bigger vision you have for yourself, for the impact you’re so capable of delivering might be popped back on the shelf and along with it, a sizable slice of yourself-belief. Again.
Bugger that! Let’s make 2026 the year when that “Perpetual Potential” foe is vanguised shall we?
Ok, yes, that descriptor may have had something to do with the fact I’ve spent a fair bit of my time off deep in the world of fantasy novels.
But, as the heroines and heroes I’ve been following give rousing speeches about how you can't transform anything “by thought alone”, flipping the calendar to a new year and mentally gathering your sword and steed for the battle ahead isn’t enough to create a winning strategy, no matter how potent your imagination.
We need to mix data, intent and support.
The work to do
In her book Dare to Lead, Brené Brown defines a leader as "anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential".
That’s why I define myself and YOU as leaders.
A good leader needs to begin with clarity about where you actually are now, so you can make grounded decisions about where you're going and the best route to take you there.
And that requires pausing long enough to look at three critical areas many of us don't examine closely enough.
1. Your Revenue Reality
I know you likely have XERO, QuickBooks, or MYOB sitting right there on your desktop. But when was the last time you actually broke down where your revenue came from last year?
Most business owners I work with are genuinely surprised when we map out their revenue pie. Numbers paint a picture of what’s really going on in your business foundations and your client feedback colours that picture in.
In many a Recalibrate Workshop, we discover the service thought to be the bread and butter of the business actually contributed less overall than assumed (especially when scope creep eroded the rate charged). Or that the service they've been thinking about dropping is actually the one with the highest profitability and potential demand if just a few marketing changes were made.
Here's what you need to know:
Where did your money actually come from? Not where you think it came from, but the real numbers. Break it down by service line, product, or however your business is structured.
What's the contribution ratio? Which offerings are pulling their weight? Which are consuming far more time and energy than they're worth?
What about profitability? Revenue is rather seductive, but profitability is what matters. Sometimes when you look closer you find that fabulous $50K project cost you $35K in subcontractors and even more in stress not to mention the opportunity cost as your attention was syphoned away.
Once you have these figures, compare this year to last year.
What's growing? What's declining? What changed?
If you're sparky-brained like me, this exercise can feel tedious as hell. But it really matters even more as we tend to make decisions based on what feels exciting rather than what's actually working. This data helps keep us grounded.
2. Your Marketing Truth
This one can make you wince a little because most of us know we're not doing marketing as consistently or strategically as we should be.
Even those of us with marketing backgrounds and qualifications!
But rather than beating yourself up about what you're not doing, let's look at what you are doing and pinpoint what’s actually working and what’s not. Rip that bandaid off!
List every marketing activity you engaged in last year. LinkedIn posts. Networking events. Email newsletters. Speaking gigs. Referral partnerships. All of it.
Then ask yourself:
What was your intention with each activity? Were you building visibility? Generating leads? Nurturing relationships? Establishing authority?
Are you getting the results you intended? Not vague "I think it's working" but actual data. Enquiries. Conversations. Clients.
What metrics are you tracking? (And if the answer is "none," that's okay. Now you know.)
I've noticed a tendency for us to often continue marketing activities out of obligation rather than effectiveness. We post on Instagram because we think we should, even though our actual clients find us through LinkedIn. We go along to networking events that drain us when speaking at industry conferences generates far better leads.
The other piece that's worth examining is whether you're consistently marketing across the full client journey - from someone discovering you exist, to understanding how you can help them, to actually becoming a client.
Most of us have gaps somewhere in that journey.
And if you're like me, you'll notice you avoid the marketing activities that feel inauthentic. You may manage to force yourself to do them for a while… but it’s never sustainable. Don't judge yourself harshly, observe yourself with curiosity because again, that’s valuable data. Now turn it around - what does work with your natural rhythms and strengths? That’s what we want to leverage.
3. Your Systems & Support Reality
This is the one that most directly impacts whether you feel like you're running your business or your business is running you.
Take an in-depth look at these areas:
Client management
Service delivery
Operations (admin, finance, all the behind-the-scenes stuff)
Team and suppliers
Strategy and mindset support
Rate each area from 1-5.
What's working smoothly? What's held together with good old sellotape and grit? Where are the obvious bottlenecks or gaps?
Then ask yourself: What could you simplify, automate, or delegate? Where could better systems free you up for higher-impact work? And critically, do the systems you have actually align with how you work best, or are you constantly “making do ”even when they frustrate or hamstring you?
A kicker - how many subscriptions do you have that are not contributing in any real way! Each time I do this exercise at the start of the year, I’m shocked at how a few more little blighters seem to have crept in…bright shiny options that I thought were destined to solve my problems and lighten my load actually just lightened my wallet!
Are you in good company?
I’ve experienced and witnessed this undeniable truth again and again - if you're spending too much time in quiet isolation, self-doubt, a drop in energy and enthusiasm, and decision fatigue are inevitable. We all need connected support, other women who actually understand this business journey, just as much as we need functional systems.
So, if you are a solo or small business owner, take a good look at your support systems. Where and how can you spend time in the company of like-minded women who will inspire, challenge, and celebrate you and your work?
Lean into Your Emotions
After you've looked at your revenue, your marketing, and your systems, pause and ask yourself: How do I feel about what I'm seeing?
Do you feel "Oh shit, not again"? Or do you feel "Oh, this is exciting!"?
Because that emotional response largely shapes your business landscape.,
Your emotions aren't noise in the decision-making process. They're data. Pay attention to them.
So, What's Next?
You don't need to overhaul everything. You can start with one strategic shift that will have a genuine impact.
What you do want is to ensure 2026 becomes your year - to not allow old habits, other people's demands, and business-as-usual to derail your intentions.
If you'd like to sit down with other businesswomen who’ll be exploring these ideas, I'm hosting the first Insight Table breakfast for the year on February 18 in Canberra.
By mid-February, we'll all know whether our January intentions are actually in action or if groundhog year is nibbling at our heels. Join us for an honest conversation about what's working, what's not, and what we can still shift before momentum stalls.
There are just 10 seats available, and you can read more and book yours here.
Because 2026 doesn't have to be 2025 2.0 when you're willing to look at where you actually are before old patterns cement themselves.
P.S. If you’d like to get started on this work yourself, I've created a resource that walks you through these three check-ins with space for your own insights. You can download The Business Focus Finder here.
