New Year, New CEO Mindset: My Annual Activities for Goal Setting

It’s been a slow and intentional re-entering into 2026 for our team. Each of us Strategists took nice, long holidays; and we’re rested, refreshed, and energetically ready for the year. Dave and I went to Australia, believe it or not. When we lived in London, a few of the lifelong friends we made were Aussies, and we owed them a trip Down Under. The trip had highs and lows, and I was so ready to be back to Nashville and work. The time away made me crave my own life (and work!) back home and put me in the perfect headspace to deep dive into my annual activities for goal setting.

I’ve noticed over the past years, that it’s become out of vogue to talk about resolutions or goals. Instead, I read a lot about accepting what is, doing less, and softening the rigor.

<Sigh> I don’t know about this… I think this social force has created 2 negative consequences:

1. People have come to de-value good, old-fashioned hard work (sorry to sound like a grandpa). But my view is: working hard and working well is fun, and it’s a privilege.

2. Everyone wants the rewards of hard work. But they don’t acknowledge the trade-off. If you want a breather and to do less, please do. Really. I’ve no judgement if you fully own it.

I’ve come to learn accept about myself: I really admire people who work hard. It doesn’t mean someone who’s in burnout, humble-brags about how busy they are, or heaven forbid: doesn’t enjoy their life. I think there’s so much joy and pride in accomplishing a hard day’s work. And if you like what you do, it can be hard and you can enjoy it. To me, that’s fun. (There: I said it).

How Does Setting Goals Lead to Success?

And Why January? The Power of Temporal Landmarks

I don’t know if anyone would refute the practice of goal setting in January (even though we do it with clients, year-round). But in case you’re cynical about why it’s everywhere this time of year, it’s because… science!

In When, Daniel Pink talks about January 1st like this:

The first day of the year is what social scientists call a ‘temporal landmark.’ Just as human beings rely on landmarks to navigate space – ‘To get to my house, turn left at the Shell station’ – we also use landmarks to navigate time. Certain dates function like that Shell station. They stand out from the ceaseless and forgettable march of other days, and their prominence helps us find our way…

Temporal landmarks interrupt attention to day-to-day minutiae, causing people to take a big picture view of their lives and thus focus on achieving their goals.

These markers can be powerful pattern interrupters, helping us step back, reflect, and realign our priorities.

Why Goals Matter for Your CEO Mindset (whether you’re the CEO of a business or your life)

People often get this idea of “being a CEO” all wrong. When clients talk to us about wanting to step into their CEO role, they describe it as “more time to vision and strategize.” And although that is a part of it, my gosh, it’s SO. MUCH. MORE. It’s also dealing with the hardest problems in your business. Because in fact, if you have a great team around you, they are only escalating the toughest issues. Being a CEO means you’re no longer solving the easy stuff.

And if you’re not the CEO of a business, here’s another lens to consider: you can be “CEO” of a department, a team, or even as a subject matter expert. You can be the CEO within your family. You can also be the CEO governing your life. In fact, I strongly recommend this.

Embodying a CEO Mindset means that you’re doing everything intentionally. You have one eye on the telescope and one eye on the microscope. You’re clear-eyed about where you want to go; and each day, your decisions, actions, and systems lead you there.

Everyone should be a CEO in one way or another, so these activities for goal setting are for you, no matter where you apply the CEO Mindset.

My Annual Activities for Goal Setting

1. Make Time and Physical Space.

Schedule 1 full away day. It doesn’t have to be far, nor fancy (but it can be, if you want!). The important thing is to break the patterns of your day-to-day. No emails and no “normal” work. Choose a space away from your usual desk: an Airbnb, a co-working space like The Malin, or a new-to-you coffee shop. (Confession: this year I cheated and simply switched rooms in my house. Instead of my office, I comandeered the dining room table as Ellevated Outcomes Retreat HQ).

2. “Dream and Scheme.”

In other words, think about the big picture. You can

• Vision board
• Complete Tim Ferriss’s Be, Do, Have exercise (this was life changing for me) or
• Use this prompt I recently learned and loved from The Success Solution:

Finish this statement: “If I could have it any way I want it ______________.”

3. Define Your Top 3 Priorities.

Determine 3 priorities for the year that will move you closer to reaching the big picture. (No more than 3!)

4. Make Them SMART.

A bonus! Here’s a ~20 minute video, where we teach how to make SMART goals.

5. Plan Temporal Landmarks in Your Calendar.

Use January as your springboard, then proactively schedule your quarterly business reviews. Go ahead and block a full day on your calendar at the start of each quarter, for the rest of this year. (Really, schedule it now).

Putting It All Together: Your CEO Mindset for a Fulfilling 2026

Goal setting is not one-and-done. It’s an ongoing process that requires reflection, adaptability, and endurance. I’ve found that there are 3 (non-sexy) secrets to goal-setting success:

1. You must constantly iterate on what you’re REALLY trying to achieve. For example, many people set goals around how much money they want to make. With only a few exceptions, this is the unwise (and unfulfilling) way to do it. Money is a how, not an achievement. It’s simply a means to an end.
2. Continue pushing yourself to clarity and simplicity. Limit yourself to 3 big goals at any given time. These should reflect your priorities both in business and in life, ensuring alignment with your long-term vision.
3. Set up systems to get you there. Don’t rely on your will. Build the system to support you.

And if I may make (just one more!) plug for goals, ambition, and striving, I want to leave you with this quote from Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday: Secrets of Happy People. Harvard researcher Shawn Achor states:

Happiness is the joy we feel, striving toward our potential.

For me, goal setting and working toward goals is a must in a happy, fulfilling life. Because like Shawn Achor says: it’s not about the achievement. It’s about the process of striving.

PS – If you’re a creative, small business owner looking for a more hands-on, bespoke approach to setting your business goals and reaching them, we’d love to see if Ellevated Outcomes can help. You can schedule a consultation here.