Preparing for 2026: How to Grow Your Business, Your Leadership Skills, and Your Network.
Every December, most business owners take stock — reviewing their numbers, closing projects, and looking forward to a short break.
But the most successful leaders do something different: they prepare.
They don’t wait for January to get organized or inspired.
They take the last quarter to clarify, prioritize, and align both their business and personal growth.
Because the truth is:
The best time to prepare for next year’s success is before the year begins.
The question is: How do you prepare — and what should you prioritize — so 2026 becomes your breakthrough year?
Let’s dive in.
1. Clarity Beats Busyness
If you’re like most entrepreneurs or leaders, you’re constantly busy — emails, meetings, clients, deadlines.
But busyness doesn’t always equal progress.
John C. Maxwell, in Developing the Leader Within You 2.0, said it simply:
“You cannot overestimate the unimportance of practically everything.”
He learned early in his leadership that effectiveness isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing what matters most.
Maxwell uses his famous 3 Rs as a leadership filter:
- What is Required? — What must I do that no one else can?
- What Gives the Greatest Return? — Where do I get the highest value for my time and energy?
- What Brings the Greatest Reward? — What gives me energy and fulfillment to keep leading well?
When you use this framework, you move from reacting to everything — to leading with clarity. And clarity, not busyness, creates momentum.
2. Focus on the 20% That Creates 80% of Results
John Maxwell also emphasizes the Pareto Principle — 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts.
The key is to identify your “vital few” and give them your best time.
Ask yourself:
- Which 20% of my activities create 80% of my results?
- Which clients, partnerships, or products generate most of my success?
- Which habits have the greatest impact on my leadership growth?
Successful leaders protect their 20%.
They spend less time on the urgent — and more time on the important.
3. Strengthen the Three Pillars of Leadership Power
In Power Score: Your Formula for Leadership Success, Geoff Smart and his co-authors discovered that great leaders align three things:
P × W × R = Power
Where:
- P = Priorities — Do you know what matters most?
- W = Who — Do you have the right people on your team?
- R = Relationships — Do you have the trust and collaboration needed for success?
When all three align, your business and leadership move faster with less stress. When one is missing, everything slows down.
Take Bill Hewlett and David Packard of HP. They built their company on clear priorities (innovation and quality), the right people (values-driven engineers), and authentic relationships (respect and trust).
Their focus turned a garage startup into a global tech powerhouse.
That’s the Power Score in action.
4. Lessons from Leaders Who Mastered Preparation and Prioritization
John C. Maxwell — From Overwhelmed to Intentional
Maxwell shares that he once said “yes” to everyone — every project, every meeting, every opportunity.
A mentor finally told him:
“John, you’ll never be effective until you learn to say no to good things so you can say yes to the best things.”
That moment changed his life. He built his leadership legacy around intentional living and purposeful prioritization.
Stephen Covey — The ‘Big Rocks’ Lesson
In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey taught the “Big Rocks” story.
A professor filled a jar with sand and small pebbles, then tried to add large rocks — they didn’t fit.
When he reversed the order, putting the big rocks first, everything fit perfectly.
His point:
“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
Great leaders always make room for what truly matters first.
Warren Buffett — The Power of Saying No
Buffett once told a group of MBA students:
“The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say no to almost everything.”
He spends 80% of his day reading, reflecting, and thinking — not reacting.
Preparation is his superpower. Focus is his discipline.
Jim Collins — Great Companies Prepare, Not React
In Good to Great, Jim Collins observed that the best companies don’t wait for opportunity — they prepare for it.
He said, “Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness is largely a matter of conscious choice and discipline.”
Collins found that leaders who plan proactively outperform those who rely on luck.
Sheryl Sandberg — Preparation Meets Opportunity
Former Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg said in an interview,
“You will never be 100% ready. But preparation builds the confidence to take imperfect action.”
Her approach shows that preparation isn’t about control — it’s about confidence. When you prepare well, you can act decisively.
These stories share one theme:
The more intentional the preparation, the greater the impact.
5. Prepare Your Business
Before 2026 begins, take time to realign your business around clarity, systems, and purpose.
Here’s where to start:
Clarify Your Mission and Economic Objectives
- Write your mission in one sentence:
- “We exist to [create impact] by [what you do], so that [desired transformation happens].”
- Then identify your top three measurable goals for 2026.
- (Example: increase recurring revenue, expand into new markets, train future leaders.)
- Give each one a deadline and a reason why it matters.
Audit Your Offerings
- Which products or services deliver the most profit and satisfaction?
- Which ones drain your time but produce little return?
- Simplify your offerings around what’s most effective and aligned.
Streamline Operations
- Build simple systems that create accountability — weekly meetings, scorecards, and shared dashboards.
- Structure creates freedom.
Plan for Cash Flow
- Predictable cash flow creates peace of mind.
- Forecast your next 90 days. Identify upcoming expenses and opportunities to invest wisely.
Reinforce Your Brand and Customer Experience
- Your brand is your promise.
- Ask yourself: Is our client journey consistent, clear, and easy to refer?
- Consistency is the language of trust.
6. Prepare Yourself as a Leader
You can’t build a growing business with a stagnant leader.
Your business will only grow to the level of your leadership.
So, as you prepare for 2026, invest in your own development:
- Set Personal Growth Goals. Choose one skill to master — communication, emotional intelligence, or delegation.
- Find a Coach or Mentor. Every great leader has someone who challenges them to think differently.
- Build Daily Rhythms. Start your day with reflection, journaling, or learning — not notifications.
- Recharge Intentionally. Rest is part of growth. Schedule time for renewal so your energy stays sustainable.
- Revisit Your Purpose. Ask: Who am I becoming? Your clarity of purpose fuels resilience.
As Maxwell says,
“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily.”
Preparation isn’t an event — it’s a habit.
7. Strengthen Your Network and Connections
Your network is one of your most valuable assets — but only if you cultivate it intentionally.
In business, relationships are the soil where opportunities grow.
Here’s how to nurture yours before 2026 begins:
- Reconnect with Your Top 10 Influencers. Rebuild ties with people who matter to your mission.
- Give Before You Get. Offer help, referrals, or resources without expecting immediate returns.
- Join Growth Circles. Surround yourself with people who challenge, inspire, and sharpen you.
- Collaborate, Don’t Compete. Look for ways to create win-win partnerships.
- Follow Up Consistently. Genuine connection requires consistency — not convenience.
Your network will either limit your growth or multiply it.
8. A Simple 3-Step Plan to Prepare for 2026
- Reflect. Review your year — lessons, wins, and gaps.
- Refocus. Identify your top three priorities for both business and personal growth.
- Recommit. Take one meaningful action this week that moves you closer to your 2026 vision.
Success doesn’t come from wishing — it comes from working your plan.
Final Thought
The end of the year isn’t a finish line — it’s your launch pad.
If you want 2026 to be your best year yet:
- Clarify your vision.
- Prioritize what matters most.
- Invest in your growth.
- Strengthen your relationships.
Because success doesn’t start in January — it starts now, with preparation, focus, and faith in the process.
“You cannot build a better business until you build a better you.” — John C. Maxwell
Ready to create your 2026 Growth Plan?
