Three Easy Ways to Get Ahead for 2026:

And trust us, it doesn't take long!!

If you wait until January to plan, you’ll spend the start of 2026 catching up. The businesses that stay ahead don’t set goals in the quiet moments, they make space for them when things are busy.

And that’s the point: planning isn’t about finding more time; it’s about using the time you already have to do the things that will really make an impact.

So before the final push of the year, take an hour to step back and do three simple things.

1. Review Your Year to Date (YTD)

No matter how busy the festive season gets, you need to know where you stand now, financially, operationally and personally.

What’s worked? What hasn’t? Where has your effort outweighed your return? This isn’t about criticising the year that’s gone, it’s about understanding what truly drove progress and reflections like these make the next year better.

2. Do a Quick and Dirty Summary

Two lists are all you need:

• What’s worked well

• Even better if

  
  

This is a powerful exercise because it forces honesty and focus. We worked with a client, a small independent retailer, who has did exactly this before their December rush. They realised 40% of their sales came from just two product ranges which they were running low on, they adjusted their January stock orders and marketing accordingly. That really simple reflection boosted their January sales and meant they were up on

3. Forecast and Plan

Now, turn all that reflection into direction.

Ask yourself:

• What do you want to achieve in 2026?

• What does your customer want more of?

• How are you going to deliver it? (Be specific. Vague goals don’t move a business forward.)

In the same retail example, once the business saw where their revenue was concentrated, they planned earlier campaigns around replenishment, partnerships, and seasonal demand. By the time January hit, they were already acting on data, not reacting to it.

So please, if you do one thing this week, take an hour and give yourself a quick review;

We want you to start 2026 on a high, so it gives you the breathing space to do more.

The sooner you set your 2026 direction, the smoother your start will be.

If you’d like to review your year, reset your goals or rethink your strategy before the year ends, but dont have the time or resources, we can help.

Visit www.sheconsults.uk to explore how we work with growing businesses.