How I’m Planning to Transform Myself and My Business in 2026

2026 is a year of intentional growth and focus. It’s about building better habits, learning new skills and refining how I work and live — creating balance between personal development and professional success.

For me, it isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing things better. I want this year to be focused, meaningful and aligned with both my personal growth and the evolution of my agency.

Here’s what I’m focusing on for personal and professional success in 2026.

Related: Cultivating A Growth Mindset: Strategies For Personal And Professional Development

1. Smarter hydration and recovery

According to CustomWater, water makes up about 75% of an adult’s body volume. I already drink plenty of water, train regularly and stay active — but in 2026, I’m focusing on hydrating smarter. I train intensely and drink several coffees a day, which dehydrates the body faster than I realized. Even though I drink a lot of water, I’ve noticed signs of dehydration — not because of the lack of fluids, but because of the lack of electrolytes.

That’s why in 2026, I’m adding more electrolytes to my routine to support energy, focus and recovery. Proper hydration isn’t just about drinking more; it’s about restoring balance, and good physical balance always translates into sharper work performance and mental clarity.

2. Learning Japanese

After already learning Russian and Spanish, I want to challenge myself with something completely different. Japanese isn’t just a language — it’s a mindset built around precision, respect and focus. Since I travel often across Asia, speaking Japanese would make my next journeys even more meaningful. The plan is to spend time in Japan before attending the SEO Conference in November 2026, combining personal exploration with professional inspiration.

According to Migaku, you don’t need to learn all 50,000 words that a native Japanese speaker knows to communicate effectively; mastering around 1,500 of the most common words allows you to understand roughly 80% of everyday Japanese. That makes fluency feel much more achievable, and I’m excited to approach it strategically, focusing on real-world conversations and cultural connections rather than perfection.

Related: The New Year Is Your New Opportunity

3. Automating agency operations with AI

In 2026, I plan to start automating many of our internal processes using AI. The goal is to make operations more efficient, minimize repetitive tasks and free up more time for strategy, creativity and deeper client work. According to an Upwork study, employees who use AI report an average productivity boost of 40%.

The long-term potential is even greater. Research from the University of Pennsylvania estimates that generative AI could increase global productivity and GDP by 1.5% by 2035 and nearly 3% by 2055, meaning AI adoption will have a lasting economic impact across industries. For agencies like mine, this represents a major opportunity to stay ahead of the curve by integrating AI not just as a tool but as a core part of how we work.

For me, automation is not about replacing people. It is about building smarter systems that enhance the work we already do and help the team perform at their highest level. By introducing AI into key parts of our workflow, such as reporting, content analysis, link prospecting and campaign tracking, we can reduce manual effort and improve precision. This will allow us to deliver faster results, make better data-driven decisions and dedicate more energy to what truly matters: strategy, creativity and relationships.

I view automation as an investment in capability and culture. The more intelligently we use technology, the more we can amplify human expertise. My goal is to create an agency that runs seamlessly, where technology takes care of the repetitive work and people focus on innovation, insight and long-term growth.

4. Expanding services and entering new verticals

In 2026, I plan to expand the agency’s services and reach new verticals. Until now, Create & Grow has focused primarily on SaaS, tech and marketing companies, but we are starting to work with clients across a wide range of industries. These include AI startups, ecommerce, education and sustainability-focused businesses.

By broadening our scope and refining our service offerings, we can bring our link building, digital PR and AI system optimization expertise to new sectors that are still untapped. The goal is to evolve our services in a way that supports long-term partnerships and delivers measurable growth, regardless of the industry.

Related: How to Find Clarity in Your Personal and Professional Life

5. Partnering for smarter service expansion

As the agency grows, I also plan to expand our service offerings by partnering with trusted specialists in areas outside our current focus. Instead of trying to do everything in-house, I want to collaborate with experts who excel in their fields.

For example, for community-driven visibility on platforms like Reddit, we’ll work with partners such as CrowdReply, who specialize in authentic engagement and discussion-based brand growth. Building a strong network of partners will allow us to deliver more complete strategies while staying focused on what we do best — link building, digital PR and SEO growth.

As 2026 unfolds, my focus is on growth that feels meaningful, not mechanical. It’s about refining habits, strengthening systems and building clarity in both life and business. Learning Japanese, optimizing Create & Grow’s processes and embracing AI are all part of a larger mindset shift rooted in balance, curiosity and efficiency.

True progress isn’t just about scaling; it’s about alignment. When personal growth and professional ambition move in the same direction, everything becomes more intentional and far more sustainable. This year is about evolving, not just expanding, and doing it with purpose.

2026 is a year of intentional growth and focus. It’s about building better habits, learning new skills and refining how I work and live — creating balance between personal development and professional success.

For me, it isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing things better. I want this year to be focused, meaningful and aligned with both my personal growth and the evolution of my agency.