You’re a Time-traveling Wizard
This time of year, it seems like every newsletter, article, and social post is about reviewing 2025 and setting goals for 2026…
…mine included.
(I mean, just last week I wrapped up a 3-part series to guide you through a year-end/year-beginning retreat.)
And don’t get me wrong; these reflections can be very, very helpful.
But it occurred to me that sometimes we over-complicate things, don’t we?
So for anyone who didn’t make it through the whole process, I want to offer a simple approach to setting intentions and gaining momentum for the year ahead.
It’s based on a fundamental skill that’s lurking underneath all the tips, tricks, and strategies you’ve seen from me and every other coach or guru during this season: time traveling.
You’re a Time-Traveler: Future-Casting for 2026
Our ability to time travel is a superpower. We can visit the past through our memories. And we can visit the future in our imagination. It’s the latter that I want to focus on. Let’s call it “future-casting”.
This super-simple strategy is when you take a moment to be still and quiet, focus on a specific arena of your life, and imagine a specific time in the future.
Go ahead and pick your time…down to a day and year.
Then envision what you would want to be true if you had a magic wand.
That’s it.
Wave your wand and see—what obstacles disappear? What magically pops into existence? What does your life look like?
The Great Enemy: Overthinking
I use this future-casting approach regularly in my work with clients. It’s a great way to imagine what’s possible.
But here’s what I’ve seen get in the way of successful future-casting:
- Overthinking
- Trying too hard to get it “right”
- Believing that you’re “not good at visualizing”
Among these, overthinking is the big “vision killer.”
We tend to err on the side of logic. We start asking if it’s realistic, practical, or achievable way too soon…and before we know it, we’re thinking through every detail before we ever let the vision take shape.
Future-casting is one exercise where logic doesn’t need to apply. It doesn’t have to “make sense.” You have full permission to tap into your inner wizard and dream.
Putting It Into Practice
If you’re up for it, I have a very specific future-casting request. Consider where you are in your leadership journey now. What’s going well? What could be better?
Now, imagine that it’s July 1st, roughly six months from now.
What do you want to be true in terms of your leadership impact?
Let your imagination go as you picture how you will be interacting with your teammates and the results of your management approach.
And if you imagined yourself feeling confident, grounded, and resilient, then maybe it’s your year to join Thriving Leaders Circle.
This is my core program for leaders who want to…
✔ Build core leadership skills such as delegating, giving feedback, and coaching team members
✔ Align with their core values and lean into their strengths to lead with intention and impact
✔ Micro-manage less and inspire more, giving team members more ownership over their projects
✔ Go from “I feel like I’m faking it” to “I’m confident in the way we’re growing as a team”
We’re starting February 3rd and will wrap up June 30th. There’s already a stellar group of leaders signed up to learn and grow together, but we have room for a few more!
This program is a solid investment of your time and your organization’s funds. Learn more about Thriving Leaders Circle here.