It’s that time of the year again and I continue to see a surprising amount of misunderstanding around annual planning and goal setting. As a female entrepreneur, if you would rather not have a repeat of last year, or you were in momentum and you want to see that continue, something’s gotta change. It’s time to drill down the 2026 planning mistakes to avoid with 3 game-changing mindset shifts that foster more income, customers and impact and I’m here for it.

Let’s be honest, you know that moment when you sit down with your planner, a hot drink, and all the intentions in the world, only to feel stuck or less confident? I know you want more clarity for 2026 because the confusion has been draining. You also want momentum, but not at the cost of your peace. It’s deeply personal and that’s why your planning process feels heavier than it should. If that feels familiar, you’re not alone. Today we’re breaking down the biggest 2026 planning mistakes to avoid and the three mindset shifts that turn your year from chaotic to confident because we’re not doing fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants this year.

The Struggle with Your 2026 Planning

Most women assume their planning mistakes are related to tactical issues. They think it’s a scheduling (consistency) issue or their lack of systems. My answer is yes, and no. You see, strategy issues are almost always symptoms, not real causes. The biggest 2026 planning mistakes to avoid are rooted in a mindset that fosters self-limiting beliefs. When you build a plan from pressure instead of clarity, comparison instead of confidence, or struggle instead of aligned growth, you end up recreating the same year with a new calendar. Does that feel familiar?

This is why so many entrepreneurs get stuck in a cycle of hustle, burnout, reset, repeat. I see it often with clients. They think they need better time management when what they actually need is a mindset shift that supports the version of themselves they’re still working on becoming. If you want a deeper dive on this, you can read my article Build Sales Confidence as a Woman Entrepreneur.

The Shift: Know the Difference Between Struggling and Growing

Here’s a mindset shift that can save your entire year: struggling and growing feel similar, but they are not the same. Struggle is costly. It drains your time, energy, creativity, and revenue. Struggle often signals misalignment in your strategy, outdated advice you’re still following, or a subtle victim mentality that whispers “this is just how business works.”

Growth feels stretchy but productive. It moves you forward. When planning 2026, you must ask: “Is this discomfort helping me grow or keeping me stuck?” One of the biggest 2026 planning mistakes to avoid is assuming all difficulty is a sign you’re on the right path. Difficulty without direction is not growth, it’s delay.

The Comparison Trap That Shrinks Your Strategy

Another silent planning mistake is building your 2026 strategy while watching what everyone else is doing. Comparison doesn’t give you clarity. It conditions your brain to minimize your value. Each comparison tells your system, “Look at what they have that I don’t.” The more you compare, the smaller your strategy becomes.

You start creating content based on what another coach posted. You price based on their numbers. You dilute your message because you fear standing out in the wrong way. This is one of the most damaging 2026 planning mistakes to avoid because it reinforces insecurity and pulls you out of your natural strengths. If you want to reconnect to your sales DNA, my article Sell Like Yourself: Calm Selling Strategies That Win will help.

Every New Year Requires a Trade

One of the most underrated truths about business planning is this: every new year asks you to release something. You cannot bring old thinking into a year of new results. One of the biggest 2026 planning mistakes to avoid is assuming that change means adding more. Often the shift you need is subtraction. Releasing outdated tactics. Leaving behind approaches that no longer feel aligned. Letting go of beliefs that keep you small.

The women who thrive in 2026 will be the ones willing to trade comfort for clarity and old strategies for aligned leadership.

The Calm, Confident Fix for 2026 Planning

Here’s how to plan 2026 with clarity instead of confusion:

• Audit your energy, not just your offers. What drains you is data. What energizes you is direction.
• Release tactics that never felt aligned. If you hate them, they won’t scale.
• Anchor into your sales DNA. Your audience wants your leadership, not a copy of someone else’s.
• Plan from regulation, not reactivity. When your nervous system leads, your business becomes grounded and steady.
• Shift first, then scale. Scaling misalignment only grows your frustration.
  

Why This Works

Because strategy without alignment creates burnout. According to the Deloitte Women @ Work Report, nearly half of women feel consistently burned out in their careers, which affects how they plan, sell, and lead. McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace Report echoes this, showing that women often step away from growth opportunities not because they lack ambition, but because chronic misalignment and exhaustion make the path unsustainable. Fast Company adds that the entrepreneurs who perform best long-term are the ones who eliminate noise and plan from clarity, not pressure. When you shift your mindset first, your 2026 strategy becomes more grounded and more effective.

Try These 2026 Planning Tips Today

Before you plan another goal, pick one belief, habit, or tactic you’re ready to release. Your next level won’t come from adding more, but from letting go of what no longer feels like you. If you want support, you can read more about my approach on my About Page or join my free community for women entrepreneurs on Skool where we go deeper into mindset, sales confidence, and aligned strategy.

Join The Sales Confidence Studio on Skool

2026 Planning Mistakes to Avoid FAQs

• What are the biggest 2026 planning mistakes to avoid? Planning from comparison, confusion, or outdated beliefs rather than clarity, alignment, and confidence.
• How do I know if I’m struggling or growing? Struggle drains you with no progress. Growth stretches you but produces movement, skill, or clarity.
• What should I release before 2026? Outdated marketing advice, misaligned tactics, fear-driven behaviors, and anything that no longer matches who you’re becoming.
• How do I stay confident while planning? Build from your natural sales DNA, regulate your nervous system, and let go of comparison before making decisions.

Written by Genevieve Skory, Sales Confidence Coach and Business Growth Strategist for Female Entrepreneurs.

© 2025 Genevieve Skory