How to Actually Move Forward in 2026 (Without Burning Out by March)
You’re heading into 2026 with big plans:
New revenue targets
Product launches
Maybe a rebrand or new service line
A few dozen OKRs
And that elusive “strategic pivot”
You’re refuelled, optimistic, ready to hit the ground running.
And if you’re like most agency leaders, you’re about to ruin it.
Not because ambition is bad... we love ambition. But because trying to do too much, too soon is a fast track to burnout and stalled growth.
Sound familiar?
The Typical Pattern
We see it every year:
Set a bold 3-year vision
Break it into a dozen OKRs
Commit to “doing it all” this quarter
End the quarter having done… none of it
Rinse and repeat. Energy fades. Momentum stalls. Goals roll forward without progress.
Big intentions, scattered action, zero traction.
Keep Your Strategy Stupidly Simple
Here’s the truth: strategy only works when it’s simple enough to act on.
Long decks, colourful timelines, wishful OKRs - none of that matters if your team can’t remember your core objectives without checking the Notion doc.
The mindset shift is simple: your goal is not to do more - it’s to create momentum.
Momentum comes from fewer, bigger wins, not busywork or productivity theatre.
The Rule: One or Two Big Things per Quarter
Think in quarters, not years, months, or vague “later” timelines.
Pick one or two genuinely meaningful priorities per quarter. That’s it.
Do this consistently, and your big 3-year vision starts to happen organically.
Skip this step, and you’ll end up with 24 half-done micro-projects that don’t move the dial.
What Counts as a “Big Thing”?
Most strategic moves fall into three buckets:
1. KPIs Hit
Sales targets achieved
Utilisation up by 10%
Gross margin stabilised
2. Growth Markers
Headcount hits 20 and team structure evolves
New product launched and sold
First marquee client landed
3. Strategic Projects
Repositioning and pricing overhaul
Revamped onboarding experience
Automation of key workflows (e.g., reporting, proposals)
One is enough. Two is great. Three? Likely a setup for failure.
Why Agencies Struggle
A few reasons - all solvable:
Overambition: More OKRs ≠ more progress. Everything is a priority = nothing is.
Stuck in execution mode: If your team is 90% delivery, there’s no energy for strategy.
Avoiding trade-offs: Choosing priorities means saying no… uncomfortable, but necessary.
How to Actually Move Forward
Here’s a step-by-step approach for 2026:
Write your 2026 vision
Keep it simple: what does “success” look like in December?Break it into four quarters
What needs to happen by March, June, September, and December to reach that vision?Pick 1–2 big wins for Q1
Use the KPI / Growth Marker / Strategic Project model. Focus on what matters, not what’s loud or urgent.Assign ownership and accountability
Someone owns it. There’s a deadline. There’s a simple definition of “done.”Ignore everything else
Keep a backlog, but don’t let it distract you. Decision fatigue is real - focus on strategic priorities.
Real Example: The 8-Step Leap
A 12-person digital agency we coach started the year trying to do everything:
Sales enablement
New website
New service line
Pricing revamp
Culture reset
Leadership restructure
We helped them choose two:
Shift pricing model to improve gross margin
Build and launch a repeatable, productized offer
They hit both. Margin improved. Sales became easier. Confidence grew.
Quarter 2? Team restructure - now with better numbers, clarity, and energy.
By year-end, they were 40% more profitable with the same headcount.
Not because they did more. Because they did less, better.
What This Requires
This simple approach demands discipline:
Say no - a lot
Be clear on what really matters
Lead with focus, not optimism alone
Stay committed, even when it’s boring or hard
Keep your eyes on the scoreboard, not the noise
Remember: busy is the enemy of momentum.
Busy moves sideways. Strategy moves forward.
Final Word (Friendly Challenge)
Most agency owners fail not from lack of vision, but from never building the system to make vision real.
In 2026, build that system.
One or two big things
Quarter by quarter
Step by step
It’ll feel slower. But by December, you’ll be amazed at how far you’ve come - a business that works because you finally did less, better.
And if you need help figuring out which big things to focus on?
We’re here - in Mastermind groups, on strategy calls, or over a coffee. You don’t have to do it alone.
But you do have to start.
Want to chat about it? Email me on Janusz@gyda.co
