As the new year approaches, most people hope for change — fewer feel prepared for it, and even fewer people make it happen. The difference? It starts with a clear personal vision.
When you define who you want to become and what matters most, your goals, time management, and priorities become clear and fall into place.
But how do you give your vision staying power throughout the year?
Let’s discuss that, with proven tips for having a guiding vision 365 days of the year in 2026!
This is your first step to having your best year ever: lead with a vision.
Productivity Tip: Lead With a Vision
High-performing leaders and teams always begin with vision before strategy. Your personal vision describes the life you’re striving to live and the person you want to be — written in present tense, inspiring, and specific to your key roles.
As Steve Shallenberger teaches: “Your vision becomes your internal compass — guiding your decisions, your habits, and your future.”
If you want help creating or refining your vision, try our Do What Matters Most AI Coach — it gives you prompts, examples, and coaching to craft a powerful personal vision. It helps get you through mental roadblocks and puts a written, powerful, written personal vision in hand:
If you have yet to develop a personal written vision, or if you need to “revamp” yours, don’t skip that AI coaching tool — take a few minutes now to dive into it — it might be the most impactful thing you do leading into 2026.
As Steve Shallenberger teaches: “Your vision becomes your internal compass — guiding your decisions, your habits, and your future.”
If you want help creating or refining your vision, try our Do What Matters Most AI Coach — it gives you prompts, examples, and coaching to craft a powerful personal vision. It helps get you through mental roadblocks and puts a written, powerful, written personal vision in hand:
If you have yet to develop a personal written vision, or if you need to “revamp” yours, don’t skip that AI coaching tool — take a few minutes now to dive into it — it might be the most impactful thing you do leading into 2026.
Case Study: From Reactive to Purpose-Driven
A leader who attended one of our BYB trainings shared that before writing her personal vision, she felt constantly reactive — drowning in tasks without a sense of direction.
When she created a simple, one-page vision covering her key roles, everything shifted. Decision-making became easier, priorities clearer, and her home life more peaceful. She said:
“For the first time, I’m leading my life instead of just managing it.”
Vision didn’t just change her goals — it changed her confidence, purpose, and daily momentum.
So, Now What? The "How To"
Take the first step toward your best year ever with these three actions:
- Write or review your personal vision. Capture the kind of person you want to become and the life you want to live. Start by listing your life roles. For each role, concisely and briefly write out who you want to be and what you’d like to accomplish.
- If you need guidance or “a coach” — use this GPT coach to define your roles, see examples, and get through mental roadblocks, and you’ll quickly have a personal, written vision in hand!
- Use the BYB Planner to keep your vision alive 365 days a year. The 2026 BYB Planner includes a full guide and templates to help you reference your vision weekly during pre-week planning and use it as a daily compass for your priorities, time management, and roles.
- Keep your vision visible and review it while pre-week planning. Read your vision each week as you plan your week — this single habit will shape the year ahead more than any resolution ever could. It will be your compass.
A clear vision leads to clear priorities. Clear priorities lead to your best year ever.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
-Proverbs 29:18
“Your vision is your compass — guiding you to a better version of yourself every day.”
-Steve Shallenberger
2026 Planners
Want to take control of your time and your life? Get a 2026 Becoming Your Best planner! It’s more than a planner, but a system to prioritize what matters most, including gaining new knowledge.
You’ll achieve 20-50% more each week, with less stress and better health! Live your best life!
Want to learn more about our training solutions?
Leadership Development: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders
Do What Matters Most: The #1 Time-Management and Productivity Solution
The Six-Step Process: Six-Steps to Solve Your Biggest Challenges
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