By: Evelyn Summerville
Effective Strategies to Make the Most of 2026
What if 2026 is the year you crush your goals? It is possible. With the right strategy, you can close the gap between dreaming bigger and achieving breakthrough results. Use this blueprint as a guide to ensure success is yours and not left to chance.
In 2026, it is time to be strategic. It is time to utilize a goal-setting framework that acknowledges your ambitions and the realities of competing priorities and finite resources. A framework that also helps you build confidence, remain agile, and become recognized as the trailblazer you are.
Ready for your best year yet? Use these goal-setting strategies to crush 2026 and beyond!
Ground yourself in what matters most.
Being grounded in your mission, vision, and core values is the foundation for effective goal setting. These guiding statements bridge the gap between who you are today and who you are becoming, as well as what you will accomplish. This clarity filters through what you must do from what is nice to do.
“Give yourself permission to try something new, even ideas that might not work.”
Choose six or seven goals for the entire year.
As the saying goes, having 10 priorities is having zero priorities. Each goal requires different resources, including energy and mental focus. Having a short list of goals prevents overwhelm, allows you to build momentum faster, and increases your likelihood of success.
Give each goal a strategic assignment.
Think critically about how any potential goal advances you in your life and career. Then choose the ones to implement in 2026 that are most important now and will have the greatest impact on your future. Finally, confirm that your goals fit into one of the following categories, each serving a unique purpose:
Non-negotiable goals
These are goals directly connected to your mission and must be achieved within the year. Non-negotiable goals become your top priority, requiring you to fiercely protect time, budget, and boundaries to achieve success. For example, launching a new product or raising $200,000 in funding.
Accelerator goals
While mission-driven goals speak to right now, accelerator goals set you up for success over the next three to five years. These goals will have compounding advantages such as gaining new knowledge, expanding your network, or building your personal brand. Consistent effort and application are important for you to achieve your accelerator goals.
Experiments
Give yourself permission to try something new, even ideas that might not work. Experiments develop your growth mindset as you focus on learning valuable lessons. Experiments are based on curiosity and can lead to innovation. Make sure to select experiments that are lowstakes, like pilot testing a new business model or launching a new social media strategy.
Develop an accountability system.
Share your goals with your personal advisory board, mentors, and sponsors. Check in with them monthly or quarterly to review your progress and revisit your priorities.
Evelyn Summerville is an executive, leadership & life coach. Drawing on a rich 25-year career as a corporate and nonprofit executive, Evelyn is dedicated to helping executives, leaders, and teams define their potential and build vibrant cultures that prioritize well-being, engagement, and a sense of fun.
