Don’t Let January Happen to You: A Simple Year-End Reset for Business Owners

As we wrap up the year, it’s worth pausing for a moment.

First—thank you.

Whether you’ve been listening to the podcast, reading weekly emails, following along online, or spending time inside the community, your attention means more than you may realize. In a world full of noise, choosing to show up consistently is something I don’t take lightly.

As the holidays approach, I hope you give yourself permission to focus on two important things.

1. Be Present

Put the phone down.
Laugh with your people.
Enjoy the slow, quiet moments that don’t always fit into a busy calendar.

2. Give Yourself Some Credit

If you run a service business, you made it through another year of challenges—weather delays, packed schedules, staffing issues, customer expectations, supply problems, economic pressure, and everything else entrepreneurship throws your way.

That’s not normal.
That’s you choosing the hard path—and sticking with it.

Before we head into 2026, here’s one important reminder:

Don’t Let January Happen to You

Most business owners mentally check out in December. Then January 2nd hits—and they jump right back into reacting instead of leading.

This year, do it differently.

A 10-Minute End-of-Year Exercise

Set aside just ten minutes and write down the following:

• What worked this year → keep doing it

• What didn’t work → cut it

• What you’ll commit to improving → choose only 1–2 things

Then ask yourself one powerful question:

“If I did ONE thing consistently in Q1, what would create the biggest result?”

That’s it.

Not 27 goals.
Not a perfect plan.
Just one lever you can pull every single week.

Because the people who will win in 2026 won’t necessarily be the smartest—they’ll be the ones who stay consistent with the fundamentals.

I’m cheering for you.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and here’s to a strong start in 2026.

Keep moving forward,
Ryan Lee

# end-of-year reflection, service business owners, business planning 2026, entrepreneurial mindset, consistency in business, Q1 business goals, year-end reset, small business growth #