Hi {{first_name}} ,
There is something seductive about the thought of a new year, isn’t there?!
It is a chance to turn the page. To start a new chapter.
With 2026 just around the corner, it is deliciously tempting to mentally "delete" the last 12 months and rush straight into setting big, shiny goals for January.
But I want you to hit pause.
If you ignore or forget your experiences without evaluating them, you are destined to repeat the same mistakes. As the saying goes, the best predictor of future performance is past performance.
Meaning? You are likely to perform in the same way again, over and over, unless you check yourself.
To build a professional stage that matters in 2026, you first need to review the foundation you built in 2025.
Think of it this way: If you plan to redecorate a room, you don't just drag new furniture in. First, you look at what you already have. You decide what to keep, what to repair, and what to throw away.
Here is my personal 5-step method to review your year, clear the clutter, and create a strong foundation for your next move.
How to Review Your Year
1. The Data Dump
Before you analyse, you need data.
Find a quiet corner and sit down with your calendar, camera roll, and journal. Pull together everything that happened this year. Don’t just focus on work. Look at your relationships, health, and finances.
Write it all down…the projects you finished, the trips you took, the habits you started (or broke).
Don't judge it yet. Just get the facts on the page.
2. The Audit
Now, look at that list and ask two questions.
What worked well? What achievements are you proud of? Which projects lit you up?
What did not work well? Be honest here. What failed? Where did you lose money, time, or energy?
We often want to bury our failures. But as a woman taking ownership of her personal brand and future, you need to look them in the eye.
3. The Analysis
This is where the learning happens. Pick your top three wins and your top three "losses" and ask why.
For the wins: Was it luck? Was it hard work? Did you leverage a specific strength? For the losses: Was it out of your control? Did you lack a skill? Did you self-sabotage?
You need to understand the cause so you can replicate the success and avoid the failure.
4. The Clean Out
Inspired by decluttering expert Marie Kondo, this step is about deciding what to carry into 2026 and what to release.
Keep: Strategies that deliver results, relationships that support your growth, and habits that give you energy.
Release: The guilt about things that went wrong. The toxic clients or friends. The limiting mindsets. The goals that no longer serve your vision.
If something didn't "spark joy" or bring you closer to the person you want to be in 2025, don't let it take up space in 2026.
5. The Celebration
Finally, take a moment to acknowledge who you are right now.
You are not the same person you were on January 1st, 2025. You have evolved. You have survived the curveballs and celebrated the wins.
Forgive your mistakes. Be proud of your resilience. Raise a glass to the year you are leaving behind.
The Bottom Line is…
You cannot build a new future on a cluttered past.
This week, before you write a single resolution, book a "Year in Review" meeting with yourself. Treat it like a board meeting for the business of You.
Clear the decks. Then, you will be ready to build.
All my best,
Nichola
P.S. If you have a friend or colleague who is already stressing about 2026 goals, forward this to them. Sometimes we all need permission to pause and reflect.