How are you all doing this week? I don’t mind admitting I’m bloody exhausted! Mentally, physically, emotionally. Ready to clock off, but still a mountain of things to do. How are you all doing?

Sorry I’ve been a bit quiet in here. I’ve been away on a 1:1 retreat with a client, mapping out her strategy for 2026, and it reminded me why I love doing this work in beautiful environments. Coffee appearing at the table while we’re deep in conversation about the next stage of her business. A slow lunch where ideas actually have room to land, instead of being squeezed in between calls and emails. Cake in the afternoon, purely because we felt like it. Champagne delivered at 4pm while we looked at the bigger vision. A roaring fire in the background the whole time, creating that kind of quiet you just don’t get at home or in the office. It’s incredible how different your mind works when you step out of your usual environment. The clarity hits in a way it just doesn’t when you’re rushing. Decisions make sense. Things click. You can actually feel the excitement for the year ahead rather than forcing it. I'm off to Tenerife for a week in the new year with another lovely client to map out 2026 for their businesses and can't wait for the sunshine. I love the motivation and excitement that gets re-ignited on the back of these goal setting sessions. It's so contagious. It got me thinking about planning in general. Some people don’t go near their goals until January. Others start feeling into them around now. Some don't do it at all. What about you, do you wait for January or do you start mapping things out earlier?

I’ve been talking a lot this week about ideal clients because I find most business owners only define the surface-level stuff… and then wonder why their marketing or sales conversations feel harder than they should. People don’t buy based on logic. They buy from emotion. (Think heart not head). That’s true whether you’re selling coaching, a renovation project, architectural services, interior design, a course, or a kitchen extension.Humans are humans, the psychology doesn’t change. Most people only define the first layer: who their ideal client is: their age, role, industry, responsibilities, budget, capacity.Good start… but it won’t drive sales on its own. Then there’s the second layer: what they’re struggling with right now. The practical problems, the constraints, the frustrations they keep running into. For example: • a property investor overwhelmed with refurb decisions • a homeowner confused by quotes • a designer’s client stuck on direction • a founder drowning in admin • a coaching client battling self-doubt Different industries, same principle, this is the “pain” that gets them looking for support. The layer that really changes the game is what they actually want. Not the obvious outcome… the deeper desire behind it. A client doesn’t just want a garage conversion, she wants more space and less stress at home. A homeowner doesn’t just want interiors, she wants her house to finally feel like “her.” A business owner doesn’t just want a strategy, she wants clarity and confidence. A coaching client doesn’t just want a mindset shift, she wants to feel capable again. When you understand all three layers? Your message lands. Your offers resonate. Your sales conversations feel easier. You attract people who are already halfway sold because they feel understood. This is exactly why I’m spending a few days on this theme of ‘ideal client’. Once you understand the psychology behind why your client decides to buy, every part of your business becomes simpler, from marketing, to pricing, to delivery, to actually attracting the right people.

I came off social media 18 months ago after reading far too much research on what scrolling does to your focus, mood, and confidence. Not ideal for someone who owns a digital marketing company… but honestly? Best thing I’ve done. Now I only go on to post for myself or my clients, zero scrolling. The difference has been huge. Clearer head. Better focus. Less comparison. More creativity. I help a lot of clients reduce their social media time too, and the benefits are always the same: more time, more clarity, less noise. The first step? Take the apps off your phone. It creates friction so you’re not opening them on autopilot. In fact this step alone quite often makes people realise how their brain searches for the app when they pick up their phone. Journal prompt: “If I cut my scrolling in half, what would I get back time, energy, focus, confidence?” If you want the truth, check your iPhone → Settings → Screen Time and see how many hours your apps are actually stealing 🫣. Share the first thing that came up for you, if you’re comfortable to do so.

I had two conversations in the last 24 hours that proper made me stop and think. One was with a client yesterday, she was really wound up about this one thing in her business that’s about 90% sorted. We agreed it is not coming with her into 2026. Absolutely not. Door closed. New growth chapter loading. Then last night, one of my daughters casually drops: “I don’t want to still be doing this in five years.” (Relationship issues at 20 yrs old suck bless her). Same energy as my client earlier in the day and it got me thinking… We all have something, a habit, a task, a pattern, a role, a way of working, that we’re quietly tolerating now but absolutely don’t want trailing behind us into our future. So here’s today’s prompt: What’s one thing you’re doing now that you do not want to take with you into next year (or the next five years)… and what tiny shift could you make towards closing that loop? What needs finishing, tweaking, handing over, or letting go?