Set the Table for 2026: Strategic Moves Every CEO Should Make Before December 31

Nov 3

While most people wait until January to get organized, November is a great time to prepare for the year ahead. The rush of the holidays hasn’t peaked yet, and your insights from this year are still fresh.

Here’s how to use this month to reflect, refine, and position yourself for a strong 2026.

1. Identify Your Most Profitable Offer

Look at your numbers and ask: which offer brought in the most revenue or delivered the most satisfaction this year? Sometimes it’s not your highest-priced product, but the one that’s easiest to sell or replicate.

Once you identify your winner, build around it. Could you package it differently? Create a VIP version? Add automation? Maybe create a special holiday offer? Profit clarity gives you a roadmap for what to prioritize next.

2. Audit Your Systems

Every bottleneck is a signal. Make a list of where things felt slow or messy this year. Was it onboarding? Client communication? Social media planning?

Choose one or two systems to improve now. Updating templates, automating invoices, or refining your CRM process might not feel glamorous, but it creates efficiency that pays off in the new year.

3. Strengthen Relationships

This is a great time to reconnect with partners, mentors, and collaborators. Send a short note thanking them for their support or asking how you can support them.

Small gestures open doors for next year’s opportunities. The partnerships that grow your business often start with simple acts of genuine connection.

4. Review Your Finances

Before tax season hits, review your books. Organize receipts, categorize expenses, and look for patterns. Where did your money create growth? Where did it feel wasted?

Clarity now makes January feel effortless. If you have a bookkeeper or CPA, schedule a short meeting to plan for next year’s goals while everything is still fresh.

5. Set Energy-Based Goals

Instead of listing everything you want to do, ask how you want to feel. Do you want your business to feel lighter, bolder, or more aligned? Then build goals that create that energy.

Maybe it’s hiring support, raising prices, or saying no to projects that don’t fit your mission. Sustainable growth starts with clarity, not more tasks.

The beauty of this season is the mix of reflection and anticipation. Take time to celebrate what you built and use that momentum to shape what comes next.

When you set the table now, you walk into the new year already in motion.

Mercedes Leahy