Hi,
I want to talk about something that happens to me every single year (and I’m guessing it’s happened to you too).
You hit mid-December and think, “You know what? Everyone’s away, it’s quiet — I’m going to use these next couple of weeks to get ahead. January’s going to be different. I’m going to start strong.”
Then January 2nd rolls around… and you’re exactly where you were on December 20th. Except now the inbox is on fire, the pressure’s back, and that “head start” you promised yourself? Total mirage.
This year, let’s not replay that story. It doesn’t have to be that way. And news flash, it’s not about working harder. It’s about working smarter for a few focused bursts before you switch off completely.
That’s what this issue is all about: The January Jumpstart — a simple, three-step sprint to help you start 2026 clear, calm, and genuinely ahead of the game.
And when you’ve earned that break? Take five quiet minutes for yourself and cue up “Christmas for One” — the song I wrote for anyone who needs a moment of peace in the middle of the madness.
Let’s start the new year ready and end this one rested.
POV: You’ve opened your laptop, but emotionally, you’re still on the sofa.
This Week’s Process: January Jumpstart
Before you disappear into holiday mode, give your 2026 engine a quick tune-up.
Three focused 90-minute sprints now will save you two frazzled weeks in January. You’ll start the year already moving — not trying to find the keys.
System Scorecard
Focus Alignment: 9/10
👉 You’ll know exactly which accounts and habits deserve attention.Risk Readiness: 8/10
👉 Churn risks flagged and prioritized. No surprises hiding under the hood.Momentum Retention: 9/10
👉 You won’t have to start in January just accelerate.
How it Works (Three 90-Minute Tune-Ups)
1️⃣ Pop the Hood: Spot the Warning Lights
Pull up your account list and scan for signs of risk — the obvious and the sneaky. Complaints that never quite resolved. Contracts expiring in Q1. The account that only talks to one person on your side. Or the buyer whose purchasing habits suddenly shifted. Flag your top three “amber lights” and note one action to stabilise each before the break.
2️⃣ Calibrate the Dashboard: Who’s Really Driving
Map your relationships like you’re tracing the wiring. Who actually controls budget, who influences quietly, and where are your single points of failure? Identify weak or fading ties and plan one meaningful reconnection before year-end.
3️⃣ Prime the Engine: Lock in One Operating Habit
Forget reinvention. Shed bad habits, and adopt new ones that will serve you better. Pick one behaviour that’ll keep your system running smoother — a morning planning ritual, clearer CRM notes, or a weekly renewal review. January momentum doesn’t come from willpower; it comes from rhythm.
Quick Checklist
✓ Have you flagged the 3 accounts most likely to wobble early in 2025?
✓ Do you know who actually holds power in each key deal?
✓ Have you planned one reconnection before the break?
✓ Did you choose one small personal operating habit to start next month?
✓ Would you feel calm if January kicked off tomorrow?
Get Started with the January Jumpstart
Run the Risk Scan (90 min). Open your account list and mark anything that smells like risk: complaints, expiring contracts, or accounts that only ever talk to one person. Choose three and take one small action for each — an email, a check-in, a renewal reminder.
Update Your Influence Map (60–90 min). Sketch your key accounts like a pit crew diagram. Who actually makes decisions? Who quietly shapes them? Where’s your weak link? Set one calendar reminder in early Jan to rebuild a connection that’s cooled off.
Upgrade Your Operating Habit (30 min). Write down one bad habit you’re dropping and one better one you’ll adopt. That’s it. No resolutions, no pressure. Maybe it’s planning your day before email, or blocking Fridays for renewal work.
You’re not trying to start January as a different person. You want to start January with one clear thing you’re going to do differently — and that actually sticks
POV: You said “new year, new me” but really meant “same me, new trainers.
Ready to Level Up Your January Game Plan?
If you want to go deeper than a quick tune-up, I break it all down in the latest episode of “What to Do Right Now So January Doesn’t Destroy You.” Think of it as your pit-lane strategy session' - the stuff that separates a fast start from a frantic scramble.
In episode, I dig into:
💡 How to read early warning signals before renewal risk turns into renewal loss.
The red flags most people ignore — like single points of contact or subtle shifts in buying behaviour — and how to catch them early.
💡 How to map relationships beyond the org chart.
Why “influence mapping” beats job titles every time, and how to spot your invisible blockers before they slow down your deals.
💡 How to build habits that survive the calendar reset.
The psychology of why “new year, new me” fails — and how to make one operational tweak that actually sticks past January.
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all streaming platforms.
POV: You told everyone you’re “laying low” over the holidays… and couldn’t be happier.
A Quick Thanks (and a Christmas Surprise)
Before we shut the laptop on 2025, I just want to say thank you for reading, sharing, and showing up here each week. Whether you’ve joined recently or been around since the early experiments, Account Minded exists because you keep coming back for more.
And because I can’t resist creating one more thing before the year’s out… I wrote a song.
It’s called “Christmas for One.”
It’s about celebrating those quiet, in-between moments — whether you’re actually spending the day solo, or just taking five minutes to breathe before the next round of noise.
It’s not sad. It’s still. It’s the kind of pause most of us never give ourselves at Christmas.
So as the year wraps up, give yourself a moment like that. No rush, no deadline, no inbox. Just a quiet room, a deep breath, and the feeling that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
Go warm up your engine for January when you’re ready, and I’ll see you in 2026!
Best,
