1330: STEAL THIS! This is EXACTLY how I'm doing my 2026 planning in SIX LAYERS!

As the new year approaches, are you tired of setting the same old resolutions that fizzle out by February? It’s time to stop making wishes and start building a strategic roadmap. In this Solo Sunday episode, Brian pulls back the curtain on his completely evolved annual planning process — a powerful 6-layer framework he’s using to design his best year yet in 2026. Forget spreadsheets and simple goal-setting. Brian walks you through a holistic system that starts with who you need to become and ends with designing a life that fuels your business, not the other way around. This is the exact process for turning big ambitions into an actionable, quarter-by-quarter execution plan.

✨ Why This Matters for You

This isn't just another planning episode. This framework is designed to create alignment and momentum:

• It forces you to start with identity, ensuring your actions are aligned with the person you need to be to succeed.
• It connects your offers directly to your revenue goals, revealing gaps and opportunities in your business model.
• It helps you move beyond tactical chaos by defining high-level strategy before you get lost in the "how."
• It breaks down an entire year into manageable 90-day sprints, making big goals feel achievable.
• It integrates your life with your business, preventing burnout and ensuring your company serves your ideal lifestyle.

📝 Key Takeaways

Brian breaks down his annual planning into six distinct layers that build on one another:

• The Identity Layer: Who do you need to become to achieve the results you want? It all starts with embodying the identity of the person who has already succeeded.
• The Offer Layer: A strategic look at your products and services. Do they align? Do they support each other? Do they create a clear path for your customers and your revenue goals?
• The Themes Layer: What are the 3-5 guiding principles for your year? Think "leverage over labor" or "visibility over obscurity." These themes act as your compass for every decision.
• The Strategy Layer: Before tactics, you need strategy. This is where you make the big-picture decisions about your focus, market positioning, and key milestones for the year.
• The Execution Layer: Translate your strategy into a concrete plan. This is where Brian maps out his quarterly focuses, turning a 12-month vision into 90-day actionable chunks.
• The Life Design Layer: Your business must support your life. This layer ensures you intentionally plan for health, relationships, rest, and creativity, building a sustainable foundation for success.

🚀 Put It Into Action

This week, grab a notebook and do a "6-Layer Audit" for your upcoming year:

• Identity: Who is the version of you that effortlessly achieves your goals? Write down three traits they embody.
• Offers: List all your current offers. Is there one you need to cut, evolve, or create to hit your goals?
• Themes: What’s one theme that feels absolutely essential for you this year?
• Strategy: What is the single most important strategic milestone that would make this year a massive success?
• Execution: What is the #1 focus for you in the first 90 days of the year?
• Life Design: What is one non-negotiable personal habit or activity you will protect this year?

🔗 Stay Connected

• Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode.
• Want to share your plan or ask Brian a question? Send him a personal email at hello@imetbrian.com.
• Connect with Brian on Instagram @imetbrian.
• Share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who is ready to make next year their best year yet.