2026 Has Already Begun: No Plan? Don’t Panic (But Here’s How to Turn Things Around)

Here we are. January is already underway.

Around you, the New Year euphoria is fading. Your competitors' "resolutions" are already starting to crumble against the reality on the ground. And you? If you are reading these lines, perhaps you started the year with your nose to the grindstone, managing emergencies without taking the time to chart your course for the next 12 months.

Is this serious? Yes, if you keep flying blind. No, if you stop today to set a structure.

Moving forward without a plan risks scattering your focus and facing emptiness. But here is the good news: the future has a greater power of influence than the past. It doesn't matter that you didn't plan anything in December; it is your present that creates your future.

Here is how to catch up and structure your year 2026 in less than an hour using the Reverse Planning method.

1. Fast Forward (December 31, 2026)

Stop looking at your "To-Do list" for today. It only contains emergencies, not ambition. The long-term goal is what triggers ambition.

The Exercise: Project yourself mentally to December 31, 2026.
The Question: If this year was the best of your entrepreneurial career, what was concretely achieved?
The Action: Write down your "Dream Project." Be specific (revenue, number of clients, free time, new products). This is your final destination.

2. Work Backwards (Reverse Engineering)

This is where you save precious time. Instead of asking yourself "What should I do tomorrow?", start from the end. Long-term goals must be cut into achievable segments.

December 2026: The goal is reached.
June 2026 (Medium Term): To succeed in December, where do you imperatively need to be halfway through the year? This is your "motivation" goal.
March 2026 (Short Term): To succeed in June, what needs to be wrapped up by the end of March? This is your "concentration" goal.

By doing this, you eliminate the superfluous. You keep only the actions that directly feed your final goal.

3. Choose Your Weapons (Strategies and Tactics)

Now that you have your quarterly milestones, how will you reach them? Do not confuse busyness with strategy. A strategy is the most efficient, fastest, and least expensive path to your result.

The Action: Identify 5 key strategies for this year (e.g., Massive delegation, Digitization, Partnerships...).
The Tactics: For each strategy, what concrete levers are you activating this week? (e.g., "Post a recruitment ad," "Purchase this CRM software").

4. Come Back to "Today" (Immediate Action)

You now have a clear vision that starts from the end of the year and flows down to this month. All that remains is to trigger movement. The very short-term goal triggers action.

The Action: What is the first action, no matter how small, that you can take within the next 24 hours to validate your March step?

Do it. Not tomorrow. Today.

Conclusion: Commit Yourself

It is imperative to put all of this in writing and sign it. A plan in your head is just a dream. A written plan is a contract.

You didn't plan 2026 in 2025? That doesn't matter. The essential thing is to take back control now. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is today.

So, are you ready to write the script for your year 2026?

HEY, I’M FRÉDÉRIQUE

But call me Fred.

Born in France to entrepreneurial parents, I've been calling Vancouver home since 1993. As a certified ICF coach and bilingual professional, I bring a unique perspective to my work. My professional journey led me to own a web design company for 17 years. In 2016, I transitioned into business coaching, leveraging my extensive experience to guide others.

Through this blog, I aim to create a space where small business leaders can reflect on their paths, gain insights, and find support in making crucial decisions. My goal is to share my experiences and knowledge to help you think critically about your business journey and empower you to lead with confidence.