Shark Report - 2026 Preparation Decides Winners and Losers

2026 may bring continued uncertainty, but disciplined planning can transform turbulence into opportunity. Clarity, purpose, and consistency will help your business stay grounded while competitors react to volatility. Below are six essential steps to help you enter the new year with confidence and strategic focus.

1. Re‑Anchor Who You Are

Before setting budgets or defining priorities, revisit the fundamentals:

• Why does your business exist?
• Who is your core customer?
• What unique and valuable service do you provide that competitors cannot match?

Clarity before strategy—these answers become your compass when conditions shift.

2. Pressure‑Test Your Strategy Under Stress

2026 will not reward vague intentions. Evaluate your plan using three filters:

• 3HAG Line-of-Sight: Is your three-year path still realistic under pressure?
• Brutal Facts: What forces outside your control must you confront?
• Gravitas Impact Seven Attributes: Leadership, talent, strategy, execution, customer, profit, and systems must be aligned and honestly assessed.

Strategic fitness always outperforms strategic optimism.

3. Strengthen the Team Playbook

Healthy teams outperform even in chaotic environments. Enter 2026 with:

• Trust and real conversations
• Clear roles and priorities
• Peer accountability rather than top‑down oversight
• The right people in the right seats, aligned with their Working Genius

Your team can be your greatest accelerator—or your greatest drag.

4. Upgrade Your Owner Operating System

Navigating turbulence requires personal steadiness. Build a rhythm that includes:

• A non‑negotiable resiliency routine
• A weekly review cadence tied to your 20‑Mile March
• A monthly strategic checkpoint
• A Stop Doing List to reduce drag

When you’re steady, your business is steady.

5. Simplify to Amplify

Complexity slows you down; clarity sharpens your edge. Define:

• 3–5 annual priorities
• One key metric tied to Profit/X
• One clear message for customers
• One cultural habit to strengthen in 2026

Intentional movement—never thrashing—is what wins.

6. Define Your 2026 20‑Mile March

Identify the handful of actions you will execute every week, regardless of conditions. Ask yourself:

• What must I do consistently—even when I don’t feel like it—to ensure success in 2026?

Your 20‑Mile March is the difference between reacting and leading.