By CEO & President Heather Isch
Each year, January invites a fresh outlook. It is a season for do-overs and new beginnings. However, in our eagerness to move forward, we sometimes forget to take a few minutes to consider what we actually accomplished in the prior year professionally, personally, and spiritually. We are so driven to move fast and get to the next thing, and I felt that familiar push throughout December.
So, in an effort to slow down and reflect, I took what EOS calls a “Clarity Break.” I reviewed my calendar from January to December and spent time considering everything the year held. What stood out was that 2025 brought both significant highs as well as a few lows.
Among the highlights were meeting our revenue and profit goals, serving as a sponsor of Brush the Block, and being recognized as one of Michigan’s 50 Companies to Watch.
One of the more bittersweet moments was saying goodbye to a client of more than 30 years, JM Wilson. This account was the first one I worked on when I joined LKF Marketing in 1998. We had a great run, and we’re proud that our partnership resulted in the sale of JM Wilson to RT Specialty. Dave Wilson and Cathy Baldwin—we wish you the very best in your next adventure.
As we prepare and plan for the rest of 2026, it’s good to have the previous year’s accomplishments at the front of our minds.
One of the things I appreciate about using EOS to run our company is that it requires us to reflect on what we learned in the previous year, what we celebrated, and what we should be doing next.
We recently held our annual leadership planning session, where we set our course not only for the year ahead but also for the next decade. I look forward to strategy sessions with our clients. Much of this planning begins in the fourth quarter and carries into Q1, setting the foundation for what’s to come.
As you think about the year ahead, here are a few questions worth asking:
- Do you have a strategic plan for 2026?
- Do you have clear marketing tactics in place to reach your goals?
- Are you working toward something big and audacious this year?
- Do you have a content or social strategy mapped out?
- Do you have an internal marketing plan in place? People and culture drive results, and your internal communication should reflect your business goals.
We’d love to help you build a plan or bring an existing one to life. Results are our favorite things to create. Contact us today!
