How to Plan a Year That Doesn't Depend on You

Far too many business owners plan their year by setting their goals without evaluating their workload.

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I've done it. And every goal involved me to execute it. Every priority involved my attention.

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But there's a better way to plan.

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Experienced leaders create leverage for themselves - and that approach changes everything.

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That means getting clear on the role the business needs them to play next, making some trade-offs, and putting structure around themselves so progress doesn't depend on their constant involvement.

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Here's how you can apply that approach:

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1️⃣ Start with the role, not the goals.

Define who you need to become for the business's next stage. Then align the company around that role instead of staying anchored in the version of you that got you here.
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2️⃣ Limit the priorities.

You get two. Maybe three if you're disciplined.
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True priorities force focus and alignment. Everyone knows what matters and what doesn't. Too many priorities doesn't work, because when everything is important, nothing moves forward.
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3️⃣ Plan around the decisions that will slow the business down.

Identify the decisions that currently wait involve you, then redesign the plan so those decisions can be made without your involvement.

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4️⃣ Make sure the business can handle the plan before committing to it.

Make sure the team, systems, and roles can handle what you're trying to build before you chase new goals or opportunities.

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Planning this way reduces your role as the bottleneck.

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You can finally lead with clarity when the business is built on structure rather than just your daily effort.

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You can't afford to continue being the 'gray matter' for the business.

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As you look at the year ahead, you have to look from every angle and ask yourself: where is my plan still relying on me to hold everything together?
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If you want to talk through what leverage looks like for your business in 2026 👉🏻 reply to this email or book a time with me, and I’ll talk through it with you.

On the last day of 2025, I want to say thank you for being here. For reading, for engaging and for showing up to do the hard work of building something that lasts.
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See you in the new year!

(Read more of what clients say on my updated LinkedIn profile. 👇🏻)

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#golden-1225