How to be high-performing in 2026

Written By Wendy H

When you think of future-you, do you imagine yourself reaching your goals? Being high-performing? Just being an all-around exceptional individual? When you think of 2026, would you like this exceptional 'you' to be how you are showing up, consistently?

Leverage what is left of 2025

I have shared videos, resources and articles before on the benefit of 'de-annualising' your thinking. From shifting away from 'we have twelve months' to do [task] and instead replace this with 'we have twelve weeks' to do [task]. I am a massive advocate for this operating approach, as it tightens the length of time you are working within, it forces you to be picky with what you spend your time on, and it also raises the stakes to achieve something rapidly.

As at the time of writing this, we have 9 weeks left this year. We can apply the principles of the 12-week year to the remaining bundle of time to strengthen your ability to achieve a stretch goal, practice your prioritisation and follow-through, and mark off meaningful tasks, pushing you closer to your goal.

Practical Prep Work

What I find super rewarding is when I know I am starting a task/challenge on X date, and to actually get in the headspace of that task BEFORE the official start date. For example, if I know I have big goals and dreams for 2026, and in my mind I will start working on these from 1 January 2026, I actually like it when I start living and breathing the skills & habits I need to do those tasks BEFORE 1 January 2026. A few examples below:

  • If a goal in 2026 is to be a key note speaker, I would seek speaking opportunities NOW before the end of 2025.

  • If a goal in 2026 is to host a podcast, I would seek being a podcast guest with others NOW before the end of 2025.

  • If a goal in 2026 is to expand into organisational consulting, I would start connecting and offering value to those potential clients NOW before the end of 2025.

In some sense, this is the 'start before you are ready' trope. However, this is also what I like to think of setting up the new behavioural habits and programs that can then run on autopilot by the time the 2026 tasks commence. This is helpful because by the time you are 'starting' to work on those goals, you have already practiced, overcome fears, and got some momentum going. Not to mention, gathering loads of evidence for the reasons why you 'can'.

What you can do, NOW

Even if you are not sure of the focus or growth areas you will prioritise for yourself for 2026, think of something that will stretch you right now. Just start it. Now. Why not? You have 9 weeks of 2025 to build your future-self habits. Create the programs that will run for you on autopilot for next year.

>If you want to post on social media every day in 2026... start building that habit NOW.

>If you want to get to 10,000 steps every day in 2026... start walking NOW.

>If you want to read books in 2026 and 'be a reader'... pick up a book today, NOW. (In fact, why not pick up The 12-Week Year by Moran & Lennington?)

You don't need to delay, you can just DO it right now. Doesn't matter if it isn't perfect. Doesn't matter if you haven't gotten the SEO/tagging/captions etc etc etc set up. Who cares. Just do the thing. This is about YOU practicing and establishing the habits and high-performing, capable behaviours for YOURSELF so that you grow, scale and reach that future-you sooner.

To motivate you even more, check out some of the resources I have taken an interest in lately:

YOUR TASK:

Share with someone who you want as an accountability buddy, to build your future-habits together, in what is left of 2025.

Wendy H
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