Hi {{first_name}},
It's January. Everyone's talking about goals and intentions and what they want to accomplish in 2026.
But here's what I've been thinking about: most founders I talk to don't actually need more goals. They need to figure out what to stop doing.
Because here's what happens:
You spent last year trying things. Some worked. Some didn't. You're not totally sure why either happened. And now you're standing at the start of a new year with a pile of half-executed tactics and no clear sense of what deserves your attention next.
So before you make a plan for 2026, maybe ask yourself:
What did you try last year that actually worked?
What did you do because you thought you "should"?
What's still on your list that you know you're never going to do?
And the harder question: Do you actually know what your marketing needs, or are you still just guessing?
Here's something I see all the time:
Businesses tend to hit an inflection point where referrals have maxed out but their inbound pipeline is not strong enough to support growth goals.
They know they need systematic marketing. So they try some things.
LinkedIn. Content. Maybe some ads. Maybe a website refresh. Maybe hiring a contractor.
Some of it works. Some doesn't. But they never stop to figure out why—so they can't make strategic decisions about what to do next.
They just keep adding things. Or guessing. Or doing what worked for someone else.
And that's exhausting.
What if you started 2026 differently?
Not with more tactics. Not with a content calendar or a posting schedule or a new funnel.
But with an actual assessment of what's working, what's not, and what needs fixing—so you can build from a strategic foundation instead of random execution.
I built a two-week Marketing Clarity Diagnostic for this exact moment.
It's not new messaging or a rebrand or a bunch of tactics.
It's a roadmap: here's what to stop, start, and fix, in what order, with rationale for each.
You walk away knowing exactly where to focus. Then you can implement it yourself or get help.
I'm doing 3 of these in January at special Q1 pricing ($2,026). If you want one of those spots, you can book here.
If you're starting this year feeling stuck or unclear or like you're still just guessing—maybe it's worth figuring that out before you spend another year trying random things.
Either way, hope 2026 is a good one for you.
Katie
P.S. Want to meet IRL? Grab 30 minutes here or just reply to this email.