Pro-tip for planning next year

2026 planning starts now ;)

Don’t wait until January ’26 to plan your next year. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰.

Block 1–2 hours this week to reflect on your goals and outline your roadmap.

A good roadmap should include the following points:

🔹 A small set of strategic goals

 3–5 goals max. They should be meaningful, measurable, and aligned with where you want your career to go — not just what feels urgent.

🔹 Concrete milestones

 Break your goals into quarterly or monthly checkpoints. These keep you accountable and prevent the “I’ll deal with it later” trap.

🔹 Skill-building actions

 List the specific activities that move you forward: courses, projects, certifications, writing, networking, mentoring, or hands-on practice.

🔹 Success criteria

 Define what “done” looks like. Otherwise, your goals become moving targets.

🔹 Resources & support system

 Identify the people, tools, and environments that make progress realistic: mentors, coaches, peer groups, books, or communities.

🔹 Risks & blockers

 Think about what could slow you down (time, motivation dips, competing priorities) and add mitigation strategies.

🔹 Review and adjustment loops

 A roadmap is a living document. Schedule monthly check-ins with yourself (or with your mentor) to reflect and adjust.

𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐭𝐢𝐩: Before you invest lots of time going through your roadmap, do a quick sanity check with a mentor. It can save you weeks of heading in the wrong direction.

And here’s a little insight from someone who mentors year-round:

Finding a mentor in January is almost impossible. Everyone suddenly wants to work on their resolutions. But in December, demand drops significantly, which means it’s much easier to secure a slot and get high-quality guidance.

Future you will thank you for starting early 😉 

Talk to you soon?