#60 – 2026 Business Planning Part 2: How to Build Your Full-Year Strategy Using the Business Planner

If Q1 always feels slow, you’re planning too late. This is Part 2 of our 2-part annual planning series, where host Jessica Marx (with Brooke Dumas) walks you through exactly how to use the 2026 Business Planner to turn data into a complete, executable strategy for the year ahead.

You’ll learn:

• How to run a 2025 recap (revenue, profit, offers, drivers) before you set 2026 goals.
• How to use a SWOT analysis—and stakeholder input—to surface real opportunities and risks.
• How to evaluate your offer suite and pricing so you double down on margin.
• How to rebuild your org chart, rate A/B/C players, and plan 2026 hires.
• How to align marketing and sales (messaging, campaigns, funnel, AIDA) to today’s buyer.
• How to translate strategy into Q4 projects, budgets, and timelines your team can execute on January 1.

If you missed Part 1, listen to Episode #59 first—it sets the foundation for why Q4 planning now puts you ahead for 2026.

Mini-timeline

• 00:01–00:56 What this episode covers and how to use the planner
• 01:41–03:40 2025 business recap: the numbers and questions that matter
• 03:40–05:29 SWOT analysis and getting leadership/fractional feedback
• 05:29–07:07 Goals review: 2025 outcomes → 2026 standard vs. stretch
• 07:07–09:01 Business foundations revisited (markets, buyers, positioning)
• 09:01–10:26 Competitor analysis and capturing white space in Q1
• 10:26–11:41 Offer suite and pricing strategy for profitability
• 11:41–13:08 Org chart, A/B/C players, and 2026 hiring plan
• 14:06–16:19 Marketing recap → 9P matrix → funnel and AIDA
• 16:19–17:47 Project planners and priority matrix for Q4 resourcing

Resources

• Download the 2026 Business Planner or at millionsweremade.com
• Follow @MillionsWereMade on Instagram for frameworks + strategy tips