It’s that time of year when people are buzzing with excitement about what’s ahead. There’s this anxious optimism in the air — daydreaming about possibilities so close you can almost touch them. If you think I’m talking about the holiday with the big tree and the fat guy in a red suit climbing down chimneys at midnight, you’d be wrong. I’m not trying to be Scrooge, counting coins late on Christmas Eve. What I am saying is that there’s something just as important to us as business owners this time of year — something that deserves to be a holiday on our company calendar: Business Planning. It’s so important we should set aside a full day (or several) to reflect on what we did well this past year and what we must improve going forward. This is what separates the good from the great companies. The average agent from the successful agent. When people plan for success — and aggressively address their weaknesses — it launches them to a different level in their career. And here’s proof: Only about 33–35% of small businesses have a formal written plan… But 71% of high-growth businesses create a strategic plan every year. One of my favorite quotes comes from the British Royal Air Force in WWII — painted on their walls as a reminder: > Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. It’s blunt. It’s true. If you want next year to be great, plan for it. If you’re tired of being average, plan for it. If you want to be in the top 10%, plan for it. No one is going to do it for you. This week, our team is meeting to plan for the upcoming year — and we’ll have a retreat to finalize our calendar, events, and growth strategies. Because if you focus on this principle consistently, it will lead to big returns for you in the future. Success is never accidental. It’s planned. Be Principled, Caleb