Realistic Annual Planning for Women Entrepreneurs with Megan Sumrell

What if the way you’ve been taught to plan your year is actually setting you up to fail? That’s exactly what we’re diving into with Megan Sumrell, a time management and productivity expert who helps women entrepreneurs create schedules and plans that actually work.

After more than 20 years in IT and project management, Megan realized traditional planning systems built on masculine structures don’t account for women’s realities: biological cycles, caregiving responsibilities, and unpredictable schedules. 

She developed a new framework designed specifically for women entrepreneurs, so you can finally set goals and stick with them without burning out.

In this episode, Megan and I explore why conventional annual planning fails, how to shift your mindset so your plans feel achievable, and the exact steps you can take to design a realistic roadmap for your year ahead.

If you’ve been avoiding annual planning because it feels overwhelming, or your goals never survive past March, you’ll want to press play on this conversation.

⏱️ Episode Timeline

• [2:32] – Why annual planning can feel overwhelming (and why so many women avoid it).
• [3:09] – Megan’s backstory: from IT project management to time management for women.
• [7:08] – The biological and mental load differences that affect planning.
• [13:26] – Why “planning in a vacuum” leads to failure.
• [18:39] – How to create appropriately scaled plans that match your season of life.
• [28:57] – Aligning the idea of 10x growth with realistic planning.
• [38:52] – A reflection exercise to jumpstart your 2026 annual plan.
• [44:13] – Inside look at Megan’s annual event, Planapalooza.

💬 Top Quotes from Megan

1. “When we try to apply masculine planning techniques in a feminine reality, we end up thinking something’s wrong with us, when in fact, the system just doesn’t work for our lives.”

2. “Annual planning isn’t about writing rules in stone. It’s about creating a roadmap that allows you to pivot intentionally when life inevitably shifts.”

3. “Most people plan in a vacuum, assuming they have wide-open calendars. But the truth is, your time has a budget just like money does.”

4. “Wouldn’t you rather accomplish one realistic goal this year than abandon five because they weren’t sustainable?”

5. “Life is never going to stop throwing curveballs. The sooner we learn to plan with flexibility, the more progress and peace we create.”

🔗 Links & Resources

• Planapalooza – Megan’s annual planning event (I'll be there!)

• FREE TRAINING: HOW TO PLAN, MANAGE, AND ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE... Even With a Crazy and Unpredictable Schedule! 

• Connect with Megan on Instagram: @megansumrell

• Download The Pink Bee app (free on iOS + Google Play) for productivity tools and training

If this episode helped you rethink annual planning, I’d love if you shared it with another entrepreneur who needs this encouragement.

And don’t forget to follow, rate, and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more business owners ready to plan and grow smarter, not harder.