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I was listening to an engineer describe an upcoming road construction project, beginning with how bad the road was currently, and details of the final completed project. He made a great point that is relevant to you this week as you think about goals and outcomes for 2026.

Sometimes I have to read that twice. We can't have new roads if we don't get rid of the old ones.

If we just layer new asphalt over the old structure, then the underlying problems quickly appear and damage the new surface. So for this road in question, we had to remove all of the old road before building an entirely new road. And this gives a great chance to add a couple of extra feet of pavement for bicycles!

You may be sensing where this is going for your leadership in 2026. You can't create something new on top of bad structures from the past.

Now is the time to strip out the old if you want to level up your leadership or accomplish new goals in 2026.

The week between Christmas and New Year's has always been a chance to reset for me. Schedules are open, and mornings are quiet (especially now that both my boys are teenagers!), which is a great opportunity to reflect on the past year and prepare for the next.

This year, I'm using the "NO ROAD" philosophy to take a good look at how I can build new things in 2026.

Here are a few questions you can ask to help you in the process:

• What do I need to remove that keeps showing up?
• What do I need to improve or expand during the process?
• What temporary inconvenience, ie "no road" do I need to endure while I go from a "bad road" to a "new road?"

Here are a couple of examples of what I am doing to help me tear away the old and prepare for the new:

1. Cleaning my spaces. My dresser, desk, email box, and workbench have all collected clutter and mess. I'm cleaning them off and reorganizing so I have a fresh space in the mornings, at work, and in the garage.
2. Cleaning my mind: This week, I'll review my goals, values, and routines to ensure I'm set up for what I want to do in 2026. I'll also read The Traveler's Gift, as has come to be an annual tradition for me.
3. Set a clear vision: Finally, I'll review what I want to do and how I want to get it done in 2026. Then I'll put a timeframe around each one. (Bonus thought: I'm probably going to use The 12 Week Year as my system)

Don't get caught just putting a new surface on your underlying structure - that won't work again. Get down to dirt, to having "no road," so you can build up the best road possible for 2026.

Thanks for reading,

Phil

405 Leadership Advisors LLC

We help leaders define strategy and implement with ​confidence and clarity.