Adapt Your Business Planning to Stay Relevant & Grow

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” — Abraham Lincoln

We’ve entered that familiar season — the time when goals are set, spreadsheets open, and strategies start taking shape for the year ahead. But too often, planning is treated as a copy-paste exercise: same goals, same priorities, slightly bigger numbers.

When that happens, growth looks impressive on paper — but not always in impact. We create more results, but often just more of the same results. Meanwhile, the world, the market, and our clients are all evolving faster than the pace of our old plans.

This year, try a different approach. Treat planning not as a static checklist but as an agile and adaptive practice — one that sharpens your thinking, tests assumptions, and strengthens your ability to stay relevant and resilient through change.

Ask yourself:

• Am I setting goals that stretch us, or repeating last year’s targets with minor tweaks?

• What signals in the market or with clients suggest we need to rethink our approach? Perhaps to pivot or innovate?

• Where do I need to sharpen the axe before swinging — developing skills, building systems, or aligning people?

• Who are the players that most influence my success, and how am I intentionally engaging them?

• What should I stop doing so there’s room for the work that matters most?

Business planning isn’t about completing a form — it’s about creating a framework for growth. One that gives you clarity on direction, builds capacity for execution, and keeps curiosity alive when the plan meets real life.

This week, carve out time to reflect, question, and sharpen your axe before charging ahead.