Simplified Planning for 2025: Start 2025 with Clarity and Ease

How to Plan for 2025 Even if You Aren't Ready...Yet!

As we near the end of the year, it’s natural to start thinking about 2025. And for many business owners (ahem, ME!), the pressure to begin planning for the new year can feel overwhelming to manage before 2024 has even ended.

Whether you're excited to jump into 2025 or not quite ready to switch gears, there’s no ‘right time’ to do your new year planning. What matters more is approaching business planning with intention—and simplicity – whenever you actually do it.

In this post, I’ll share the simplest version of planning for 2025 that I’ve used in my own business. There’s no need for a 50-page document or a color-coded spreadsheet. By focusing on a few key questions, you can set yourself up for a successful year without the stress of complex planning – whether you do the planning now, or you do it sometime after the new year has officially begun.

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Step 1: Ask Yourself, "Am I Ready to Plan Right Now?"

Before diving into planning, the first thing you need to ask yourself is: Am I ready to plan for next year right now?

It’s easy to feel like you "should" be planning for 2025 because it’s December, and everyone else seems to be making big plans. But if you're not quite there yet? IT’S MORE THAN OKAY. I’m a firm believer that you don’t need to start planning until you’re genuinely ready.

For me, I typically don’t feel ready to begin planning for the next year until the current year has wrapped up (read this as ‘February sometime”). I like to be present in the final months of the year, checking in on what’s worked, finishing up projects, and enjoying time with family and friends. If you feel the same, don’t rush into planning just because it’s December.

If you’re unsure, ask yourself: Do I feel ready to think about 2025, or do I want to focus on closing out this year or taking some time to enjoy the holiday season? If it’s the latter, that’s perfectly fine!

 Step 2: The Three Key Questions for 2025 Planning

WHEN you’re ready to plan for 2025 (or even just starting to think about it), the next step is to focus on three core questions that will guide your strategy.

1. What is Your One Big Goal for 2025?

I’m a huge believer in focusing on one primary goal for the year. Sure, there are a million things we could work on, but when you try to juggle multiple goals, it becomes harder to prioritize and make clear decisions.

So, ask yourself: What is the one thing I most want to accomplish by the end of 2025?

This goal will be the umbrella over you and your business vision. It could be something like increasing revenue by a certain percentage, launching a new product, or growing who you’re working to help and how. My own goal for 2024, for example, was to support 100 businesses. It’s a big, tangible goal that helped me focus my efforts all year long.

Once you’ve identified your ONE big goal, you’ll have a clearer sense of what actions to take and what opportunities to prioritize.

2. What Is the Core Feeling You Want to Cultivate in Your Business?

In addition to a specific goal, I always ask myself: What is the feeling I want to experience in my business next year?

For example, this year, I focused on the feeling of "contentment." The year before that, it was "joy," and before that, "ease." This feeling acts as a guiding principle that helps me make decisions throughout the year.

Maybe you want your year to feel more "balanced," "creative," or "adventurous." Whatever it is, identifying a feeling can help you stay grounded and focused on what truly matters.

And just as important, this question about feelings helps you become aware of the feelings you don’t want to invite into your business. For me, it’s things like "hustle," "panic," or "pressure." These feelings are often tied to unnecessary stress, and by being intentional about what you want to cultivate, you can to spend less time with the feelings that aren’t as helpful for your progress.

3. What Are the Big Projects You Want to Tackle?

Now that you’ve identified your goal and the feeling you want to guide you, think about the big projects you want to focus on in 2025. These are the actions that will move you toward your goal.

Ask yourself: What are the most important projects that will help me reach my goal and also line up with the feeling I want to cultivate?

For example, in 2024, one of my big projects was my “Selling For Weirdos" course, and in 2025, I’m considering “hosting live events” as my big project. These projects give me something tangible to focus on and help me break down my larger goal into actionable steps.

 Step 3: Focus on Q1 Actionable Steps

Once you’ve answered these three questions, it’s time to think about how to actually do the things, particularly at the start of the year. But here’s the key: You don’t need a detailed plan for the entire year. Instead, focus on your first quarter (Q1).

Ask yourself: What actions do I need to take in Q1 to start working toward my goal, create my desired feeling, and make progress on my big projects?

For me, I always use the first quarter to connect with new people and build relationships. I focus on networking, getting my marketing efforts aligned, and setting up the groundwork for the year ahead. By focusing on just three months, I create focus now and flexibility later because I can (and will!) adjust my plans as the year unfolds. Things will inevitably change, and having a flexible approach allows you to adapt as needed.

 Step 4: Keep It Simple

Planning for a new year doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need a 20-page strategy document to succeed. By focusing on these three key ideas—your one big goal, the core feeling you want to focus on, and the big projects you want to tackle—you can create a simple, focused plan for the year that will also be flexible and easy to adjust as you grow.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of planning for 2025, take a deep breath. Start by asking yourself these questions when you’re ready, and remember: it’s okay if you don’t have it all figured out today. Take it one step at a time.

If you're ready to take action now, and you need guidance in making 2025 your best year yet, I'm here to help. Reach out for one-on-one coaching or join the Implementation Lab small group coaching program, which is open now for enrollment to get personalized support as you plan for the new year.