Success With Jewelry Podcast – Episode 152

Title: Planning 2026 With Clarity, Confidence, and Less Overwhelm
Hosts: Laryssa Wirstiuk & Liz Kantner
Date: December 1, 2025

Episode Overview

In this year-end episode, Laryssa and Liz help jewelry business owners prepare for 2026 with practical, actionable advice on year-end reflection, goal-setting, and building sustainable business plans. The episode is grounded in empathy, encouragement, and their own lived experiences, offering guidance on how to reduce overwhelm while increasing clarity and confidence in business planning.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Q4 Challenge & Year-End Energy

• [01:52] Balancing Holiday Rush with Planning
  Liz highlights the unique struggle jewelry brands face due to Q4’s demands and the challenge of planning for a new year amid the end-of-year rush.

  “It’s like you spend so much time, effort and energy around [Q4] that the new year is like, how do you even think about that?” – Liz [01:52]

• [03:35] January’s Slowdown and Opportunity
  Both hosts discuss how January tends to be slower, which brings both challenges and a "renewed energy" to reflect and reset for business growth.

The Importance of Reflection

• [05:00] Reviewing What Worked – The Data and the Feelings
  Laryssa stresses the need to objectively review the year, using sales figures, analytics, customer feedback, and honest personal reflection.

  “Look at real numbers. Sales, marketing, social media, analytics, growth, customer feedback. All of those things are really helpful…” – Laryssa [05:35]

• [06:22] Confronting 'Numbers Anxiety'
  Liz admits the stress that comes with reviewing one’s own numbers and encourages making the review process enjoyable:

  “Maybe, like, put it on your calendar, get your favorite coffee beverage… make it not scary…” – Liz [06:40]

• [07:08] Celebrate Consistency as a Win
  Even if growth isn’t dramatic, maintaining consistency in business is acknowledged as a significant achievement.

  “I’d say staying consistent is a real win.” – Laryssa [07:54]

Setting a Vision for 2026

• [08:51] Articulating Long-term Goals
  Liz and Laryssa urge listeners to define where they want their business to be by the end of 2026, even if the path forward is unclear.

  “Like, I know with certainty where I want my business to be at the end of 2026. I don’t know how I’m going to get there. And that’s the hard work of, like, putting a strategy together…” – Liz [08:56]

• [09:53] Journaling and Externalizing Your Vision
  Liz recommends journaling or sharing with others to clarify internal goals.

  “Sometimes when it comes out, you’re like, oh, yeah, I did think that, or I do want that, but it’s just living in my head.” – Liz [09:59]

Turning Vision into Actionable Plans

• [10:29] Write Down Specifics
  Details matter: write down target income, the types of clients or work you want, and break big numbers into manageable pieces.

  “A yearly goal…and then breaking it down by month, I find to be helpful. And then also breaking it down by like, how many pieces do you need to sell?” – Laryssa [10:57]

• [11:16] Make Goals Tangible & Less Overwhelming
  Liz notes that breaking sales goals down into their real-world components makes them feel attainable.

  “You could have a sales goal and it could feel so impossible to you. But when you break it down…” – Liz [11:19]

• [12:29] Quarterly and Monthly Milestones
  Planning at the quarter and month levels enhances focus and allows for tactical execution:
  • Example Q1: Launch a new collection
  • Q2: Grow your newsletter list
  • Q3: Apply to shows
  • Q4: Increase holiday sales by a percentage over last year

Building Systems & Habits for Consistency

• [13:47] Schedule Regular Check-Ins
  Monthly progress reviews (with a treat!) keep goals front-of-mind and reduce last-minute stress.

  “Maybe once a month on the calendar…to again have a treat and look at your numbers again, or like look at your strategy and just check in with yourself.” – Laryssa [13:51]

• [14:28] Protecting Creative and Restorative Time
  Plan time for creativity and rest as intentionally as for sales and marketing.

  “If you’re constantly working or constantly in your to-dos, it’s hard to set space to be creative.” – Laryssa [14:37]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s hard to set space to be creative…looking at your year now, maybe it’s blocking off days…to be creative or do something for yourself, because that, I think, will go a long way.” – Laryssa [14:37]
• “There might be something negative out there in the numbers, but if you were doing the work, showing up, putting in the time, I promise you there was some kind of win or improvement…” – Liz [07:54]
• “Having a plan will make all of the other things easier because you will have something that you’re working towards…” – Laryssa [05:00]
• “Do as I say, not as I do. But I am constantly working towards better planning. This year’s gonna be different.” – Laryssa [14:28] (with laughter)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Q4 Challenges & The New Year: [01:52]–[04:51]
• Annual Reflection Process: [05:00]–[08:16]
• Vision & Goal Setting for 2026: [08:51]–[12:25]
• Building Consistent Habits & Systems: [12:29]–[14:37]
• Action Item—Set Time for Your Planning: [15:20]–[15:36]

Actionable Takeaways

• Set aside intentional time in December or January for business reflection and 2026 planning.
• Review the year’s real numbers and celebrate both big and small wins—even if it’s just “staying consistent.”
• Articulate your big-picture vision and break it down into actionable quarterly and monthly targets.
• Schedule monthly check-ins and make them enjoyable to stay engaged with your goals.
• Protect and prioritize creative/restorative time as a core part of business planning.

Final Note:
The hosts conclude with encouragement for the community to share their wins and planning progress, and offer to be accountability partners for their listeners.

“Let me know if you do this too. Let us know if you reflect and do this work. And I’d love to hear a win from everyone too, if you’re up for sharing.” – Laryssa [08:51]

For further connection or to share your 2026 plans, visit successwithjewelry.com and reach out!