The Framework for Making 2026 Your Best Year Yet

7 snips

Jan 3, 2026

Explore the secrets behind successful goal-setting and why most resolutions falter early in the year. Learn how to reflect on your past without judgment, identifying what truly energizes or drains you. Discover the WMI framework to prioritize your life, and how belief systems can sabotage behavior. James emphasizes focusing on one key goal and outlines practical steps for the next 30 days to maintain momentum. Uncover the connection between hormonal health and high performance for consistent results.

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ADVICE

Handwrite A Camera-Roll Year Review

Do a handwritten year review by scanning your camera roll for one moment per month to see what truly happened.
Use that quick scan to identify what gave you energy and what drained you so you can learn from patterns.

ANECDOTE

Personal Year-In-Photos Example

James recounts highlights like trips to Antarctica, South Africa, and his book release to illustrate the camera-roll review.
He uses these moments to show how some experiences energized him while others drained him over the year.

ADVICE

Run A Quick Truth Audit

Do a brief truth audit: list low points, what's missing, and what you needed more of last year.
Then record highs, lessons learned, and any patterns you notice to inform next steps.

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Join me at the 2026 Goal-setting Workshop here - jjlaughlin.com/2026goals

I’m breaking down my exact goal-setting system and the annual planning method I use with my private clients to help them stop starting over and actually follow through.

This episode is about clarity, alignment and action. Not hype. Not motivation. And not beating yourself up when things don’t go to plan.

I walk you through the thinking behind my annual reset process and explain how to reflect on the past year without judgement, identify what truly matters, and build goals that are achievable and sustainable.

In this episode, you will discover:

Why most goal-setting fails before February
How to review the past year without shame or self-criticism
A simple way to identify what gave you energy and what drained it
How to use WMI (What’s Most Important) to prioritise your life and work
Why belief systems quietly sabotage behaviour and results
How to narrow your focus to the one goal that matters most right now
What to do in the next 30 days so momentum actually sticks
Why high performance is hormonal and how the MEDS framework supports consistency

You’ll also hear about a free goal-setting workbook you can download to work through this process step by step. It’s the same workbook my coaching clients use to reset, reflect and build a clear plan for the year ahead.

If you’ve been setting goals with good intentions but struggling to follow through, this episode will help you slow down, see clearly and take meaningful action.

Because hope isn’t a strategy.

Habits beat hope every day of the week.

Download the free workbook here - https://www.jjlaughlin.com/2026workbook
Join me at the 2026 Goal-setting workshop here - https://www.jjlaughlin.com/2026goals
Get the Growth Weekly Newsletter sent straight to your inbox and join 1000’s of other high-performers on the road to self-mastery - https://www.jjlaughlin.com/newsletter

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Join me at the 2026 Goal-setting Workshop here - jjlaughlin.com/2026goals

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