2026 New Year’s Resolutions from Small Businesses

It’s officially 2026, which means that our annual tradition continues on as we ask the amazing CarolRoth.com contributor network of business owners, experts, advisors and entrepreneurs to share their own business-related New Year’s resolutions for 2026. Let their resolutions guide, inform and motivate your own small business in the new year. Their resolutions are presented below, in no particular order.

You may notice some similar resolutions listed, but I kept them separate, as something in the way one is framed may resonate differently with you.

*Please note that all information listed below was submitted by our community members as a courtesy. Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC, Carol Roth and our affiliates neither endorse nor recommend any of the following and should you purchase from or hire anyone, please ask for references and do your due diligence first.

1. “The 5-Minute Courage Habit”

My 2026 resolution is to practice a “5-minute courage habit” every workday—taking five minutes to tackle a small but uncomfortable action I’d normally postpone, whether it’s initiating a tough conversation, pitching a bold idea, or rethinking a process we take for granted. Small courage, compounded daily.

Thanks to: Suzann Kaltbaum of Suzann K Fine Art.

2. The 1% Plan

Small daily improvements may feel insignificant but they compound dramatically over time. By focusing on getting 1% better every day I'll build momentum for the next day. The focus should be on my trajectory rather than position; if you're on a good trajectory, all you need is time to improve. I'll notice what gives me energy and when I feel drained so I can make better choices on my calendar with people and activities that help me reach that 1% goal. Doing less can be more impactful!

Thanks to: Paige Arnof-Fenn of Mavens & Moguls.

3. Stay Away From Toxic People

My 2026 New Year's resolution is to keep toxic people arms length. Because toxic people drag us down, deplete our energy, and deliberately sabotage our goals.

Having the wrong people around us is just as damaging as having the right people around is helpful. So, it's worth spending a year focusing on removing the wrong people that hold you back.

Thanks to: Jon Rhodes of Narcissism Blog.

4. "Silence" Is New Productivity

In 2026, my resolution is to design for digital calm. With constant noise in our work lives, I’m focusing on creating minimalist, distraction-free digital spaces that help people think, write, and breathe better. True innovation starts with a clear screen—and a clearer mind.

Thanks to: Rohan Kadam of Whitescreen.wiki.

5. 10X Growth

This year, WeirdBrain Media is focused on helping creators launch higher-quality shows in less time. Our resolution is to streamline production workflows, expand our remote recording capabilities, and give every client the tools to grow their audience faster than ever.

Thanks to: Ilir Salihi of WeirdBrain Media.

6. The Learning Advantage

I plan to provide an interview format LinkedIin Live program every Tuesday at 10 am CST titled "The Learning Advantage: From Insight to Impact", where I'll sit down with L&D leaders, and lifelong learning champions to explore how organizations are turning learning into a true competitive advantage.

Thanks to: Deborah Laurel of Laurel and Associates, Ltd.

7. Get Out of the "Weeds"

My number one New Year's Resolution for 2026 for my business, Everyday Woman, is to get out of the "weeds" more. This means continuing to recognize the value of my employees and what they can take off my plate, so I can focus on my area of expertise and take the business to the next level once again. When you create processes and procedures for your team, it frees up the micromanaging and takes you to the next level!!

Thanks to: Galit Ventura-Rozen of Everyday Woman.

8. Bigger, Better, Stronger

Bigger, Better, Faster & Stronger humans will make AI a tool that helps you, your company, and your staff succeed and become the leader in your field. It's the humans that will lead the world, not AI alone.

Thanks to: Chris Carter of Approyo.

9. See It. Film It. Finish It.

In 2026, my business resolution is to fully film and complete our feature documentary, "Europe in Ontario", a passion project years in the making. Stories deserve to be finished, and this is the one I refuse to leave behind.

Thanks to: Kevin Huhn of MARKD Productions.

10. My Main Goal for 2026

My main goal for 2026 is to work smarter, not harder. I plan to develop an online course so that I can create an income stream from my years of experience in public relations and communications.

Thanks to: Debbie Goetz of Debbie Goetz Media Connections, LLC.

11. From the Mountaintops

In 2026, I want to shout from the mountaintops about the lessons I’ve learned in the valleys. In other words, my focus will be to book speaking engagements where I’ll have the opportunity to empower others who are experiencing trials I’ve gone through.

I’ve had the privilege of building businesses, leading teams, and raising strong-willed children. These experiences give me the ability to speak to others who are facing challenges that come with those experiences.

Thanks to: Royce King of 3 Waters Marketing, LLC.

12. Cheers to 20 Years!

Time flies when you’re having fun. This saying rings true for Paper Chaser this year as the business celebrates 20 years of operation (established 4.22.2006), providing online office support. Embracing the lessons learned, my word of the year is endurance, resolving to shrug off the stressors of small business ownership and focus on the proven strengths that support the staying power!

Thanks to: Melissa St. Clair of Paper Chaser Biz LLC.

13. Excellence Or Nothing

Our company’s resolution is to fire “good enough” from our business and from our clients. We’ll only work with leaders who are willing to address the issues driving their results and treat people as their sharpest competitive edge. If a team wants comfort and average, we’ll step aside. If they want excellence, we’re all in. We’ll protect our time, say no to misaligned work, and double down on building cultures where high standards, clarity, and accountability are the norm.

Thanks to: AJ Cheponis of Straightline Consulting Group.

14. Install More Windows in Mobile

Having opened a second location in Mobile, Alabama, a main goal for us in 2026 is to increase our business there even more. While we also provide doors, hurricane shutters, and more, we are especially focused on our window offerings in the city. We're tweaking our budgets and marketing strategies to help achieve this goal in the coming months, and I'm excited to be getting started now.

Thanks to: Craig Ricks Jr. of Acadian Windows in Mobile.

15. One Word to BeeBetter

I've done this already (Trust me, it works), so I'm challenging others to try it for 2026: When someone asks, "How are you?", instead of saying fine or good, change your word. Great, Amazing, Wonderful. It will feel artificial at first, but it soon becomes part of you and will change your year for the better.

Thanks to: Peter Bradford of BeeBetter Movement.

16. Find New Business That Fits

Something I’ve learned in 2025 is that some clients are just not a good fit. Just like in a personal relationship, if you find yourself struggling to find common ground or agree on an approach, it might be time to do a little soul searching and maybe even part ways. In 2026, I will try to match new business outreach (and vet incoming queries) according to my personal values and work style. There’s no sense trying to cram a square peg into a round hole. In the end, it only causes heartache.

Thanks to: Brian Hyland of Cricket Public Relations.

17. Getting Real in 2026

In 2026, I want to lead with more intention and more grit. In life and in business, I’m showing up honestly, saying what matters, and serving clients with work that truly impacts people. I’m done with unnecessary noise and the pressure to be everything to everyone. I’m choosing purpose over urgency and keeping faith at the center of every step. This year, I’m building a business—and a life—that’s bold, aligned, and unapologetically real, no matter what the world expects.

Thanks to: Trish Stukbauer of ie marketing.

18. Job seekers' Unfair Advantage

As a business, we want to firmly expand our product offering in the new year. Right now, we're the best in the business at helping job seekers build their resume. In 2026, we want to finally make the expansion way beyond that. In this job market, job seekers need an unfair advantage to find, apply to, and land their next job. In 2026, we want to become that unfair advantage.

Thanks to: Stephen Greet of BeamJobs.

19. Expand Educational Content

I want to turn 2026 into a year where we bring precious-metals investing one step closer to everyday Canadians. I aim to expand our educational content including why metals like platinum or silver may matter for long-term wealth protection, and make that information as easy to understand as checking your morning weather. I want Aurica to go beyond being a bullion broker: to become a trusted source where both seasoned investors and first-time buyers feel confident entering the metals market.

Thanks to: Josh Perez of Aurica Inc.

20. Make Remote Work Inclusive

My New Year’s resolution is to double down on the mission of making remote work truly inclusive. I resolve to refine our vetting process even further by ensuring every job posted meets rigorous standards not only for salary and benefits but also for psychological safety and team culture, so that people with health vulnerabilities or caregiving needs feel welcome and empowered. I want RemoteCorgi to be more than a job board but also a trusted gateway where remote work becomes realistic for all.

Thanks to: Frederic S. of RemoteCorgi.

21. Predict. Prevent. Perform.

I will lead 2026 by pushing Togo to shift from being a service provider to being a strategic supply-chain extension for mid-market companies. I plan to deepen our use of data and tech tools to anticipate disruptions before they occur so clients experience supply-chain orchestration, not chaos. I’ll invest in building a cross-border analytics capability, turning logistics from a cost center into a competitive advantage.

Thanks to: Mike Fullam of Togo.

22. Growth Engine

I aim to make 2026 the year we turn marketing from a cost center into a growth engine. I will focus on refining automation and personalization so every small business can feel the impact of scalable, data-driven CRM and outreach. The goal is to help clients get leads, and build reliable, repeatable growth systems rooted in trust, efficiency and results. This year is about proving that smarter marketing creates stronger businesses.

Thanks to: Reed Hansen of MarketSurge.

23. Focus on Clarity

I will in the coming year re-center our efforts on making voice-driven meeting summaries not just a convenience, but a baseline for decision clarity. I will push to refine our AI so that every meeting whether in-person or remote, results in a clear recap of action items and next steps within minutes of ending. I am committed to restoring focus on conversation outcomes instead of attendance, so teams spend less time revisiting meetings and more time building on them.

Thanks to: Sahir Rajan of WrappUp.

24. Lightning-Fast Turnaround Time

My 2026 resolution is to make 'faster than you think possible' our new standard. While competitors take days to respond to quotes, we're doubling down on our lightning-speed turnaround times for roofing materials and components. Speed isn't just a competitive advantage—it's respect for our customers' time. This year, we're proving that quality craftsmanship and lightning-fast service aren't mutually exclusive.

Thanks to: Hannah Richter of ADCO Metals.

25. Be the Best Indiana CDL School

With a campus located in South Bend, a goal of ours is to be the best CDL truck driving school in Indiana. We’re planning new ways to advertise our key differentiators, like using trucks (never simulators), on-site testing, and lifetime job placement assistance. Our industry is undergoing a shift with the DOT putting many other CDL schools on notice for not meeting federal standards, which makes it important to promote our decades of experience and adherence to federal and state rules.

Thanks to: Lauren Gast Stevens of TDI's Indiana CDL School.

26. Putting Leaders First in 2026

My New Year's resolution for my business is to make our executive search process even more candidate-centric. We want to spend more time understanding a leader’s long term goals, rather than just looking at their experience. Our goal is to help clients build stronger leadership teams by aligning talent with the work culture.

Thanks to: David Magnani of M&A Executive Search.

27. Choose Connection

I’m committing to using my phone more and text and email tools less. I will call my colleagues, customers, partners and vendors more often, and rely on e-messaging less. I want to hear their voices, share real conversations, and stay connected in a more intentional way. These calls may be small moments, but they’re what strengthen relationships. In 2026, I choose presence, connection, and showing up with a simple phone call.

Thanks to: Ashley Kenny of Send Heirloom, Inc.

28. Raise the Bar

My 2026 business resolution is to build a two-tier support ecosystem for entertainers and entrepreneurs. I'm focusing on aligned clients who value my creative expertise while expanding Candidly Social with AI tools for those who aren't ready for full management. This allows me to support creative professionals at every level with authenticity and innovation.

Thanks to: Raisa Sendrovich of Candidly Social.

29. Expanding Access for Students

My resolution is centered around expanding access to mental health services on college campuses to help students who are falling through treatment gaps. Through our current NYU partnership, students access TMS services (covered by their student insurance plan) and can access treatment without disrupting their education. In 2026, it is a dream of mine to expand this program further to other New York universities, creating accessible pathways for students to access effective treatment.

Thanks to: Dr. Bryan Bruno of Mid City TMS.

30. Sharing Our Expo Playbook

In 2026, I’m excited to create more robust community resources for our clients and partners to help them confidently navigate the expo landscape. Right now we offer some great free templates on topics including trade show press releases, budgeting, and staff scheduling. Next year, I’m hoping to expand our template library so that we are better positioned to share not only our services but also our decades of expertise and experience with our clients.

Thanks to: Thomas Samuels of Cardinal Expo.

31. Teach More, Sell Less: A Brand

My main business New Year’s resolution for 2026 is to **intentionally give away more high-value blogging education for free**. By opening access to practical courses and training, I want to strengthen trust, grow brand authority, and prove that generosity can be a powerful long-term branding strategy—not just a marketing tactic.

Thanks to: Janice Wald of Mostly Blogging.

32. The Data Driven Performer

My 2026 business resolution is to make every show a research laboratory. I want to measure people's responses in real time, analyze what creates trust and intrigue in a moment, and use that data to hone my material for an increasingly refined, human experience with each performance.

Thanks to: Randy Charach of Magician and Mentalist.

33. Empathize First - Sell Second

With the spiraling costs and non-renewals of California Insurance Policies, I endeavor to empathize with clients first before discussing insurance.

While it is so simple to get into the details of why someone's insurance costs are doubling, it's often easy to forget that a human actually has to deal with the shock of it all (and pay the bill.)

Patiently Empathize - then Get into Explanations, Premiums, and Details.

Thanks to: Scott Johnson of Marindependent Insurance Services L.

34. The Other AI

My 2026 resolution is to spend more time with "the other" AI...Appreciative Inquiry. Appreciative inquiry is a strengths-based practice that helps teams discover and focus on what's working, not what needs fixing. Rooted in positive psychology, the research shows appreciative inquiry is incredibly effective in producing better business results. And in a world obsessed with problems, choosing possibility and positivity is a radical act. That’s the energy I want to lead with in 2026.

Thanks to: Emily Scherberth of Turas Leadership Consulting, Inc.

35. Rest as a Business Input

My 2026 resolution is to build rest into the actual system — not as a perk, but as infrastructure. People make better decisions when they’re not physiologically depleted. If I want better strategy, judgment, and execution, rest has to be engineered, not encouraged.

Thanks to: Lily Shapiro, PharmD of ATIKA.

36. Hire Our First AI Employee

Here is my NY Resolution:

To design, build and hire our first ever AI employee who is working constantly 24-7, and will be responsible for a live section of our business! The AI employee will help the team be more productive and also help our clients with an even better customer experience. I also need to figure our what our new meet the team page will look like - and what to call them!

Thanks to: Mike Walker, Co-founder & Managing Director of MGN Events.

37. Ad Clicks to Ad Revenue

In 2026, my focus is using AI tools to drive real local demand for small businesses, not just more ad clicks. That means improving what happens after the click: faster follow-up, clearer offers, and better nurturing so more website visitors become booked appointments and paying customers.

Thanks to: Kevin Rogers of Viridia Analytics.

38. Automate or Stall

My 2026 business resolution is to eliminate every remaining manual workflow in my company. Any task that repeats should be rule-based, logged, and automated. Automation is the only way to scale without burnout, improve consistency, and remove human bottlenecks. My goal is to fully automate recurring work so growth is driven by structure, not exhaustion.

Thanks to: Albert Richer of What are the best.

39. Retention Over Reach in 2026

In 2026, my business resolution is to treat retention like a product, not a side project—focusing on fewer channels, deeper customer relationships, and measuring success by repeat buyers and lifetime value instead of vanity top-line growth.

Thanks to: Smári Ásmundsson of NØRSE CØDE.

40. New Year's Resolution

I’m a chronic creator of New Year’s resolutions that usually fall flat a few weeks in, which puts me firmly in the majority. I get it. But this year feels different. I just started my own business, and maybe it’s the higher stakes or a renewed sense of purpose, but I’m committing to posting two videos a week on social media. Not perfectly edited or scripted, because I know that wouldn’t last. Just one-take videos, shared as-is. Cheers to visibility!

Thanks to: Kaylee McClellan, CFP® of Innovative Planning Group.

41. No Founder Feels Too Small

My New Year’s business resolution for 2026 is to create clearer packaging guidance for tiny batch founders so they never feel too small for detailed support. I want to show more of how we shape their products from the first dieline to the final sample so they understand each step and feel confident in the packaging they’re launching.

Thanks to: Autumna Qian of LeafPackage.

42. Speed Builds Trust

In 2026, my main business resolution is to improve speed and clarity in how we communicate with customers—from faster estimates to clearer expectations before a project begins. I’ve learned that strong communication builds trust, reduces stress, and leads to better outcomes for both business owners and clients.

Thanks to: Ty Tarchane of Everything Knoxville Remodeling.

43. Seven Days of Yes: My 2026

My 2026 business resolution is to pick one week this year where I will say YES to every reasonable customer request. It is inspired by the first rule of improv, Say Yes. I want to see what new ideas, services or improvements emerge when I stop filtering and start exploring. It is an experiment in openness, curiosity and unexpected opportunity. Wish me luck!

Thanks to: Ray Simon of Crisp Resumes.

44. Pre-Care Video Messages

My 2026 resolution is to replace generic appointment reminders with personalized "pre-care" video messages for complex cases. Before a patient arrives, I'll send a 60-second video explaining what we'll focus on, empowering them for their session, and dramatically increasing engagement and value perception from the moment they walk in.

Thanks to: Jerry Hsieh of InteroChiropractic.

45. Growth for Growth’s Sake's OUT

The goal is to reject the automatic “grow or die” reflex. Too many founders confuse revenue expansion with progress. In my world, a client adding 50 employees can mean 6x more HR complexity, 3x more legal exposure, and lower margin per dollar. This year, I will be pruning referral partnerships that generate volume without quality, turning down PEO providers that inflate client churn, and stopping three planned automations that save time but lower customer LTV.

Thanks to: Guillermo Triana of PEO-Marketplace.com.

46. I Have "Think Day" for 2026!

My 2026 business resolution is to permanently block out one silent, unscheduled day every week. No client meetings, no training, no calls. Just internal reflection, high-level planning and staring at numbers or ideas without distraction. In fact, I have already nicknamed this practice “Think Day” and slotted it every week into next year’s calendar. Non-negotiable, zero exceptions, and zero apologies for it.

Thanks to: Kiara DeWitt, RN, CPN of Injectco.

47. I'll Remove All Busy Work

In 2026, I will eliminate all of the busy work, reports and processes that are put in place to make people feel like they are busy. No more pointless check ins, no more 5 level permissions processes and no more unnecessary tracking sheets. Busy work is a silent killer, it's a hidden cost that robs people of the time to be creative. It's masquerading as progress, but it's robbing the company of hours of valuable thinking that could be going into growing the business.

Thanks to: Blake DeWitt of Investorade.

48. Fewer Opinions, Better Results

I'm going to have fewer opinions and form conclusions more quickly. I've lost at least 80 hours this past year bouncing decisions back and forth between people I respect, only to end up exactly where I started. That's 10 8-hour work days. Frankly, it's made me dumber, not wiser. I don't need six Slack threads to green-light a product change or rewrite a sales script. In fact, I'm limiting the feedback loop to a single round. Anything beyond that is procrastination by another name.

Thanks to: Blaz Korosec of Medical Director Co.

49. Quality Over Quantity!

My resolution is to cut my decision count in half. I want fewer decisions, not more data. Too much input dilutes conviction. The top 20% of our decisions in 2025 drove 90% of our return. That tells me something. So I’m building tighter filters. In the end, time is the only real cost. Every spreadsheet, call or meeting has a hidden toll, even the ones that look productive. I’ll take 5 game-changing deals over 40 safe ones any day.

Thanks to: Jen Adams, BSN, RN of Texas Academy of Medical Aesthetics.

50. Double Down on Content

The last half of 2025 got really busy for us, so we weren't able to stay as on top of content creation as we like to be year-round. What we're most excited about in the new year is recommitting to some of our content goals, including making a new YouTube video for every new blog post as well as revisiting older posts that could be made into good videos.

Thanks to: Lauren Keys of Trip Of A Lifestyle.

51. Find New Partnerships

Going into the new year, we're focused on finding and partnering with additional advertisers to help us grow our college tutoring company, CramBetter. As we do that, our goal is to create processes to streamline ad planning for the future, too.

Thanks to: Marty Parks of CramBetter.

52. The "Why" Behind The Wiring

I resolve to spend an entire day each week focused solely on mentoring my apprentices. We often rush from job to job without time to actually train our apprentices; so we end up training while we are at work. I want to take more time to teach the 'why' behind the wiring rather than just the 'how.' I believe that creating a new generation of electricians is the biggest investment that the electrical industry can make. For me, it is more than just creating new jobs; it creates a legacy.

Thanks to: Daniel Vasilevski of Pro Electrical.

53. My 2026 Writing Resolution

My New Year’s Resolution is to eliminate "fluff content" from all of our clients’ projects. I am done with filler and SEO stuffed nonsense! We will provide nothing but readable, engaging, informative, actionable, and efficient copy for each client. If it does not do at least one of these three things, it is cut. End of story. Clean. Simple. Effective. This is our standard.

Thanks to: Elliot Sterling of Opus Virtual Offices.

54. Progress Over Perfection

My business resolutions and goals for 2026 is to make perfection our enemy by focusing on progress. At Maadho, we are trying to launch products faster, test concepts earlier and embrace the idea of imperfectly progressing towards sustainable product innovations. When we wait for things to be perfect, it inhibits our ability to grow. Therefore, this year is about learning from our actions!

Thanks to: Jesse Singh of Maadho.

55. Clarity Creates Speed

My business resolution for 2026 is to cut internal bottlenecks. I want to shorten decision cycles across every team so ideas move from plan to action faster. Slow processes drain creativity, so my goal is to remove delays and let people execute with more freedom and clarity.

Thanks to: Deepak Shukla of Pearl Lemon.

56. Expand Course Offerings

After hitting my big 2025 business goal of attaining our ANCC accreditation, I want to expand our course offerings in 2026. While we have some very popular state CEU bundles, I want to take this further and put together course bundles for nurses in every state. States all have their own unique requirements, but having a package for everybody means better nursing education no matter what state you live in, and that’s what I want to see in 2026.

Thanks to: Pam Vollmer of CE Ready.

57. Show More of My Personality

Some people think writing has to be polished to a mirror shine, every sentence perfectly pressed and impeccably tidy. This year, I want to aim for something better… authenticity. I want my personality to show up on the page, a little unfiltered and very real. Because I genuinely believe readers connect more with a human voice than with perfectly deployed five-syllable words.

Thanks to: Angela Ash of Flow Agency.

58. Using the Right Tools

Having the right tools matters if you want to perform at your absolute best. This year, I plan to take a real look at my current tech stack… keep what works, rethink what doesn’t, and upgrade where it makes sense. I even built my own tool this year, which proved something important: the best solutions don’t always exist yet. In 2026, I’d love to create more of them, because in the end, we’re only limited by our own creativity.

Thanks to: Boban Ilik of Startup Yeti.

59. Finding My Flow in 2026

This year, I jumped into the deep end as an intern at a digital marketing agency, soaking up everything like a sponge from a crew of insanely talented people. Next year? I’m all about figuring out where I shine, leveling up my skills, and bringing full-on intention to everything I do. As Ron Pope says, “We are anything but lost"... and I’m ready to prove it.

Thanks to: Kendyl Rae of Flow Agency.

60. Click. Create. Unleash.

I’ve always tried to see things from angles most people miss, but this year I want to turn that up a notch. I’m embracing fearless creativity... no limits, no overthinking, just pure experimentation. Photography is passionately personal, and I plan to put more of myself into every image I capture.

Thanks to: Tim Ash of Images By Tim Ash.

61. Letting Go to Level Up

In 2026, I’m all about delegating with intention. I’ve been stepping away from certain tasks for a while so I can zero in on the projects that really propel the company forward. It’s not always easy, especially at a growing agency where delivering top-notch results is non-negotiable. But I’m learning that you can have both: keep clients happy and give yourself the space to focus on what truly moves the needle. Sometimes, that’s the ultimate win-win.

Thanks to: Viola Eva of Flow Agency.

62. Be in Your Clients’ Spotlight

To really show up for your clients, you’ve got to show up for yourself first. In 2026, I’m committing to being better to me... building the space, energy, and momentum so that my best self is always what clients see. When I invest in my own growth, I’m equipped to help them soar, too.

Thanks to: David Hatfield of Body & Soul Personal Training.

63. Create for Creation's Sake

Being a sales-focused brand, I lost sight of creativity in my fashion business. Sometimes, we chase the sale so much that we dim our light to be more visible in the shade. I see a lot of brands resort to safe silhouettes or gimmicks for the sake of the sale and lose their ethos in the process.

So next year, I resolve to be more creative in my designs and push myself beyond my comfort zone through art activations, community events and social gatherings. It's time to create something bigger.

Thanks to: Yvette Estime of Dirty Celebrity.

64. Use AI from the Start

In 2026, every project will start with AI doing the first draft built on our frameworks and SOPs.

I’m treating AI like a junior teammate. That means I’m not creating from scratch anymore. My role is shifting to editing, fact checking, and refining.

Yes, prompting takes time, but it’s way faster than onboarding a new hire. And unlike a blank page or a new hire, AI gives me something to react to right away and hone over time.

Thanks to: James Murray of Pivotal Consulting Group.

65. Fire Your Inner Auditor

My resolution is to fire my inner auditor. Overthinking has been posing as “doing my homework” for too long. This year, I’m subtracting excessive preparation and the self-doubt that fuels it. So I can show up consistently, ship faster, and actually serve the people who need what I offer.

Thanks to: Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey of Nell3D.

66. Half-Promise Mindset Gone

For 2026, I am eliminating the half-promise mindset. If something is not a full yes, it is a hard no. No more middle-ground commitments that chew up time without pushing the business forward. That includes vague partnerships, maybe-hires, or jobs that come with a long string of “ifs.” I am keeping the calendar cleaner, the pipeline sharper and the energy focused. The goal is precision. That is how you scale without wrecking your sanity.

Thanks to: Tyler Hull of Modern Exterior.

67. My Resolution is to Fire Slow

For 2026, my resolution is to fire slow. I mean, real slow. We move fast on jobs, but I used to hire on gut and get burned within weeks. The wrong hire costs way more than just pay. It kills morale, breaks tools and drags the whole crew down. I have started setting a strict 30-day trial and making them work every weather swing, just to see how they hold up. Last year, two guys quit before day 12 and saved me over $15,000 in cleanup.

Thanks to: Aaron Jakel of Bubblegum Roofing.

68. Slow Decision Cycles for 2026

My resolution is to eliminate forced velocity in favor of uncomfortably slow decision cycles where it matters. If something deserves a $10 million bet, it can marinate a bit longer than five Slack threads and a 30-minute sync. There’s no shortage of solar waste, investor capital or market demand. What we’re low on is grounded thinking in a rush-to-scale environment. I’m capping my “fast yes” decisions, which means I’ll be saying “not yet” far more.

Thanks to: Nathan Arbitman of OnePlanet Solar Recycling.

69. I'll Cut Internal Decisions

The tendency to step in, fine-tune, “just make sure” is baked into the identity of most founders, especially those hardwired with high Drive. But I’ve run the math. If I’m weighing in on 40 issues a week, and each one takes an average of 6 minutes of cognitive prep, discussion or review, that’s 4 hours of bottlenecking from the top. Strip that away, and the team moves faster, decisions sharpen, and, I get more thinking time back than any planner or productivity tool could offer.

Thanks to: Dr. Christopher Croner of SalesDrive.

70. No More Decision Drags!

In 2026, my one business resolution is to eliminate decision drag inside my company. I mean those moments where projects stall for 48 hours because someone is waiting on an internal answer. In reality, this is less about efficiency and more about protecting our momentum. Projects start strong, but then get bogged down by overthinking or delayed approvals. My goal is to keep our pipeline moving like a conveyor belt, not a stop-and-go freeway. Less red tape. Less checking in. Fewer emails.

Thanks to: Danny Niemela of ArDan Construction.

71. 2026: Zero Reactive Decisions!

For 2026, I’m committing to zero reactive decisions in the business. Everything will be forecasted, pre-planned, and pressure-tested — even the hires, tech upgrades, and growth plays. No impulse spending, no middle-of-the-night strategy pivots, no rushing just because something “feels right.” Emotions don’t scale. Math does. And frankly, unpredictability is a silent profit killer.

Thanks to: Eric Croak, CFP of Croak Capital.

72. We’ll Move Faster Without Rush

For 2026, I’m keeping my focus on cutting slow jobs from our schedule. There are a few service types that always eat up time, bring low margins, and push better-paying calls to the side. We’ve tracked them long enough to know they drag everything down. I want the crews spending time on jobs that pay strong and turn quickly. Time is the one thing we can’t buy back. We’ll move faster without rushing. That’s the goal heading into the new year.

Thanks to: Craig Focht of All Pro Door.

73. My 2026 is Resolution Is...

My single business resolution for 2026 centers on tightening operational discipline without losing the heart behind the brand. Growth has a funny way of tempting shortcuts, especially once demand picks up and schedules feel packed. So, in reality, the goal is slowing down decision timelines just enough to pressure test them. That habit already shows up in how I schedule supplier reviews and batch planning. Every major decision gets a cooling off window, even when momentum says move faster.

Thanks to: Erin Hendricks of Sammy's Milk.

74. I Am All In On 2026!

For 2026, I'm cutting the 12-hour day habit that made my business successful... and kept me stuck inside it. I plan to delete 80 percent of what I say yes to and go all-in on building repeatable, saleable systems. No more white-glove madness on $1,000 jobs. No more squeezing meetings between dinners. I want to make Ardoz run without my fingerprints on every deliverable. I am all in on building a business I would actually want to buy. Otherwise... what is the point?

Thanks to: Patrick Beltran of Ardoz Digital.

75. No Non-Essential Tech for 2026

I am cutting platform bloat and eliminating every non-essential tech vendor that adds complexity without measurable ROI. To put it mildly, SaaS fatigue is real, and tech stacks have become so bloated they are cannibalizing time, increasing risk, and confusing teams. Every system, tool, and vendor has one job: prove it adds value or it gets shut down. I would argue the next wave of efficiency comes not from more tools, but from smarter, cleaner workflows tied to business priorities.

Thanks to: Shane Lucado, Esq of InPerSuit™.

76. To Reach Maximum Potential

I will challenge my team to take responsibility and be accountable for each promise we close, using the experience I have gained closing multiple deals for investors and rental portfolio builders. Each transaction will follow the same predictable format, removing the uncertainty and stress associated with the process that often prevents buyers from making decisions.

In the end, growth must be visible to all stakeholders and maintain the vision of the company to reach its maximum potential.

Thanks to: Ryan McCallister of F5 Mortgage.

77. Driving Growth & Reach

My New Year's resolution is to enhance M3 Data Recovery’s reach through educational content, customer stories, and optimized funnels. I’ll focus on highlighting fast scanning, free previews, and our support for all storage devices. With stronger analytics and collaboration, I aim to increase qualified leads and strengthen M3’s reputation as a trusted recovery tool.

Thanks to: Jessica Shee of M3datarecovery.com.

As always, many thanks to everyone that contributed to this article!

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