Declutter to Deliver in 2026

Now, with the first week of Jan behind us, it now feels like a new beginning. Hopefully you have some ambitious yet reasonable goals ahead of you this year. 

(And, if you are like me, this cold, wet weather got me to pull out the good ol’ paper planner, and get the new year ‘officially’ started this week. Which in turn, opened up a can of worms of things to get caught up on.)

This week’s Question of the Day relates to the new year, the admin mountain (or avalanche), and how best to plan for the times ahead.

So, let’s jump right in.

Great question! New year, new goals. Yay, love the excitement of January and the fresh starts.

But, this does not mean we leave things by the wayside—it is also the perfect time to get your ducks in a row before things move full steam ahead.

So, if I was in your shoes (and I am doing a lot of these suggestions myself!), I would prioritize these six areas this month.

#1. Revisit your Value Proposition

A year in startupland is like 3 in the corporate world. Things change SO fast. Revisit your value proposition, and get clear.  What is the value you are offering this year? What are your priorities and business’s benefits? What problem are you focused on, and how do you solve it for the customer? 

Write it down. Make this your north star for 2026.

#2. Set Strategic Goals (on Paper)

Oftentimes, once things ramp up, we can get pulled into here, there, and everywhere, (which can cause strategy and mission drift that can only be seen in hindsight.) 

Circle back to dome core questions (you hopefully asked yourself before the new year!), and take a look at what you want to accomplish. Quarter by quarter, what does your year look like? Are there major milestones you should be preparing for now, like fundraises, launches, or new customer segments? 

 As a team, brainstorm the possibilities, and then be ruthless in the planning and focus. 

#3. Check in with Team Priorities

Now is the time to have 1:1 conversations with your team, freelancers, and supporters. There could be happenings behind the scenes that you are unaware of, or if you are still in school, some people may be in the beginning of interview season for internships or consultancy roles.

Get clear about commitments now with the freshness of the new year. Align with what their roles and responsibilities are, the obligations of directorships, equity vesting and contracts, and get any IP transfer agreements sorted before those go to the bottom of your to-do list.

It is always better to have tough conversations with teams now before emotions get involved later. 

#4. Align (or Find) the Right Mentors

Similarly to team members, you will want to check in with your advisors and mentors.

Some things you may want to ask or think about:

• What are their current time commitments?

• What networks could they open up for you this year (that are congruent to your strategic aims)?

• And, even a tough but true one, are they even the right people to be active advisors in your inner circle?

• Or, who do you need to get in your corner to make that strategy come to life?

#5. Think about Cleaning Up Your Finances

We can have a whole newsletter dedicated to this…

But simply put, clean up your finances and budgets, relative to the stage you are at. If you are pre-revenue, come back to your financial forecasts, projections, and budgets. Early revenue stage? Make sure your sales projections and profit and loss are intact. Double check your bank statements, invoice deadlines, and reporting requirements.

I know it is only January, but taxes will be coming around the corner fast.

#6. Update any Websites, Linkedins, and Social Media

I mean this in two scenarios. Firstly, review your design, branding, and wording (because you may have updated your value prop from point one!). Check to make sure all your hyperlinks are up to date, and take an audit if there are any areas you need to work on…( ie. is that headshot the one from 3+ years ago?)

From a not so glamorous take, you should also make sure all your copyrights are up to date–it is like when you were in primary school and need to change all the 2025’s to 26’s. And, review any policies linked out (like your privacy policy!) to keep everything square in the new year.

#7. Get a Dose of Inspiration

Beyond the admin, use this time to get inspired. Take a look at expanding your library or podcast inventory. (If you have not read the 12 Week Year, I recommend it!) Speak to a few founder friends or alumni who are a few steps ahead of you. Or recommend yourself or someone else for my new Startup Spotlight series, so we all can hear their stories!

2026 I know will be a big year for a lot of you. And if there is anything I can do to help, that is what I am here for! So please, if there is a question on your mind, don’t hesitate to submit your own Question of the Day (QoD).

If this has been useful to you or if you have feedback to improve, please drop me a quick line. Or share with a friend!