First Reflection, Now the Vision
Welcome to Part 2 of my year-end review process!
We are currently going through an exploration to help you zoom out, capture possibilities, and start 2026 with a game plan that sticks. (Instead of starting the new year feeling disorganized, just coming off of holiday stress, and already behind on work from the get-go…been there, and it’s not fun 😬).
I started this series last week, and I’ve challenged all of my readers to follow this review process with me. It doesn’t matter if you’re a business owner, corporate leader, or individual contributor.
Ready or not, the calendar is flipping for all of us.
So get out your notebook or Google doc, and let’s start Part 2 of this year-end review!
Before you read any further, please be sure to complete the work from last week’s post. You will need your reflection before continuing with today’s step of the process.
Setting the Tone: Reflection and Creativity
Today we are going to be crafting our vision for 2026.
But visions don’t form in a vacuum. Visions require creativity. They also require a little bit of hindsight (it’s hard to imagine where you’re going without knowing where you’ve been).
So before you start thinking ahead, I suggest pulling out the answers you wrote down from last week’s post, and reading them aloud.
As you read your reflection, you will most likely be drawn to dwell on your missteps. (There goes that inner critic popping up again!)
Instead, I encourage you to focus on the positive.
Celebrating what went well helps you recognize what you should keep doing in the future, to continue getting great results. It also generates a powerful flow of momentum.
This momentum is going to carry over into your vision as you think about what’s truly driving you forward.
Your Life in 2026: Capturing The Vision
Next, consider each of your primary life categories that you wrote down last week. With those in mind, do the following thought exercises:
- Imagine all your self-doubt and limiting beliefs magically disappeared overnight on December 31st, 2025, and you woke up on January 1st knowing you could not fail.
- What would you do differently in the coming year?
- What risks would you take?
- What areas of your life would you focus the most energy on changing?
- Imagine you could time travel to December 31st 2026. You get there and realize you’ve achieved your goals and dreams for the year.
- What is true in your life at the end of 2026?
- What are you most proud of from 2026?
Take a few minutes to envision each scenario, and write the answers down along with your reflection from last week. Use your imagination. Be creative…even if it doesn’t feel realistic in the moment.
This is your vision for 2026.
Pulling It Together
Congratulations!
You have now completed the first two parts of the year-end review process:
- Part 1: Reflection
- Part 2: Vision
Next week we will pull it all together with Part 3: Plan.
Remember, I’m right in this process with you. This week I’ve been wrapping up Part 1, and tomorrow during my year-end retreat I’ll complete this vision process.
I hope you are following along at home, and would love to know if this process has turned up any ‘aha’ moments for you. Send me a short note if you’ve been writing down your answers, and share what’s been the most helpful so far.