Why 2026 Doesn’t Need a Perfect Plan: How Female Entrepreneurs Can Create a "Becoming Year" with Grounded Non-Negotiables
Jan 05, 2026
A Gentle Invitation: Step Into the Year Without a Sprint
Welcome to 2026, friend. We know the drill: January hits, and suddenly everyone is launching, planning, sprinting. But this year? We’re doing it differently.
2026 is the Year of the Horse—a symbol of movement, clarity, and stepping into leadership with power and grace. But this kind of leadership doesn’t start with a to-do list. It starts with identity.
This year, we're becoming.
We’re inviting space.
We’re listening to rhythms over rigid routines.
And we’re trusting our boundaries to lead us where the plan can’t.
2025 Was a B–: Honest Reflections from the CEO Seat
Let’s be real: 2025 wasn’t a bad year. But it felt like studying hard for a test and walking away with a B–.
There were wins: family travel, business restructuring, program growth, community deepening.
But there were also growing pains, transitions, and stretches that asked a lot of us.
And that’s why 2026 is different.
We’re not building from scratch. We’re becoming the women who can hold what we built.
This year isn’t about volume. It’s about depth. And depth is built from rhythm, not hustle.
The Becoming Year Framework: A Simpler Way to Set the Tone
You don’t need a 40-page strategic plan to make 2026 powerful.
You need a few anchoring non-negotiables that reflect who you’re becoming and what matters most.
Let’s walk through the Becoming Year Framework—a 4-part method that gives you structure without suffocating your creativity.
This is the exact approach I’m using—but it’s designed to be customizable. My examples are here to inspire you, not to define your path.
Step 1: Choose Your Theme
Instead of massive goals, start with a single word or idea.
Ask yourself:
- What do I want to feel more of?
- What do I want to embody?
- What word brings clarity to my season?
Popular Becoming Year themes include:
- Ease
- Clarity
- Expansion
- Presence
- Momentum
- Trust
- Boundaries
- Alignment
Choose the one that hits you in your body, not just your brain.
Step 2: Identify 3–5 Non-Negotiables
These are not big resolutions.
They’re the anchors of your rhythm:
- What keeps you grounded?
- What keeps you supported?
- What moves the needle sustainably?
Here are mine:
- One weekly podcast episode
- One email newsletter (no matter what)
- One in-person networking event/month
- A CEO Week schedule (theme days that support you)
But here’s the key: You don’t need a podcast. You don’t need my rhythm.
You might anchor into:
- A weekly co-working session
- A 10-minute daily walk (without your phone)
- Biweekly content batching
- A client “off” week every quarter
- Daily journaling or meditation
The point is to create a structure that supports your energy—not someone else’s version of success.
Introducing a new private podcast series that’s just for you if you’re sick of all the Instagram BS! (or insert social channel of your choice). You can build a business without being a slave to the social engine. Grab the free series.
Step 3: Decide What You’re Not Doing
You don’t need to do more. You need to do less, better.
Ask yourself:
- What am I done forcing?
- What am I not carrying this year?
- What gets to be sacredly off the list?
Letting go is a leadership strategy.
Examples:
- Hustling for algorithm engagement
- Saying yes to every opportunity
- Launching without space to recover
- Multitasking through your creative time
You have permission to edit.
Step 4: Set a Q1 Rhythm, Not a 12-Month Plan
This isn’t about forecasting until December.
It’s about:
- A 6-week focus
- A January intention
- A seasonal rhythm
Here’s what mine looks like:
- Monday: CEO Day
- Tuesday: Podcast Day
- Wednesday: Learning + Sauna
- Thursday: Strategy + Catch-Up
- Friday: No Meetings
Yours could look totally different. Maybe Fridays are your deep work days. Maybe Monday is your home day. The goal is rhythm that reflects your reality.
Stillness as a Strategy: Why January Is Not a Sprint Month
If you’re resisting the urge to plan every detail of 2026, good.
Stillness is where clarity grows.
Instead of sprinting into January, what if you gave yourself:
- A month of recalibration
- Space to reflect before building
- Permission to trust the whisper instead of the pressure
You’re not behind. You’re becoming.
What If You Don’t Have “The Plan” Yet?
You don’t need to know exactly where you’re going to start walking.
In fact, most of the best seasons begin with space—not certainty.
Here’s the truth I’m living by:
- Your boundaries will reveal your priorities
- Your habits will shape your clarity
- Your consistency will show you what works
It’s not about doing all the things. It’s about doing the right few things—and doing them well.
Who Are You Becoming This Year?
2026 isn’t about proving. It’s about becoming.
Ask yourself:
- Who am I becoming this year?
- What non-negotiables support that identity?
- What do I need to stop forcing so I can grow?
The answer isn’t in a planner.
It’s in your habits.
It’s in your presence.
It’s in your boundaries.
Let this be the year you trust what you’ve rebuilt.
Let this be the year you become the version of you who can hold it.
Because that’s how sustainable business growth is built.
About the author
Holly Haynes is a female business coach and business strategist who loves a good plan and flow chart. She is crazy passionate about teaching women like you how to build your dream job and scale to 6-figures without sacrificing your weekends or priorities.
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