Planning 2026 (Part 2): Q1 Priorities & Knowing Your Numbers
In this episode, I talk about:
How to pull clear Q1 priorities from your 2026 desires
Narrowing your focus to what you can realistically move forward in the next 30 days
Why knowing your numbers creates ease, clarity, and better decisions
Making intentional investments in support, team, and growth
I also share a bit about two ways to work with me more closely this year:
IME (Immersion Mastermind Experience), opens Quarterly- next opportunity Feb 5th-13th, 2026
In-person Immersion in La Crosse, Wisconsin this May
If you’re craving deeper support, community, and intentional space to think, plan, and move forward, those details are waiting for you in the links above.
It’s always better when you don’t have to do it alone!
Part Two: How to Plan Q1 and Anchor Your 2026 Vision
If you haven’t listened or read Part One yet, I highly recommend starting there. It walks you through how to choose and refine your core desires for 2026, whether you call them intentions, goals, or focuses.
This post is where we zoom in. Part Two is all about grounding your desires into Q1 action, creating momentum without overwhelm, and learning how to build strategy around what you want, not just what’s expected.
We’re also talking numbers. I know that might sound intimidating, but stay with me because numbers aren’t just data. When used intentionally, they’re a way to anchor your desires in reality so you can make decisions with more clarity, less second-guessing, and way less energy leakage.
Step 1: Name Your Q1 Desires
Start by revisiting your 2026 desire list (again if you haven’t read/listened to Part 1 go back!). Whether you prioritized them 1–10 or assigned them by quarter, it’s time to pull out what matters most right now.
Ask:
What are the top 2–3 desires I want to focus on in Q1?
Which feels most urgent, life-giving, or strategic to start with?
This doesn’t mean you need to complete them this quarter. It just means they’re the ones you’re going to begin taking meaningful, needle-moving action toward.
And remember: these can include both business and personal priorities. For me, Q1 tends to lean heavily on business, but yours can absolutely include health, rest, family, or anything else that matters.
Step 2: Define 3 Needle Moving Action Steps Per Desire
For each of your Q1 desires, list three specific action steps that will move the needle forward.
This is not:
“Make $20K”
“Get 30 people in a program”
This is:
“Send 10 personal invites to my program”
“Host a Live Workshop outlining my offer”
“Pitch myself to 5 aligned podcasts”
Get clear on what actual doing looks like for each desire. That gives you a working list of about 9 action steps total.
Step 3: Choose 3 Actions to Complete in the Next 30 Days
From your list of 9, identify the 3 actions you can realistically complete in the next 30 days.
If you're fast-moving or in a sprint season, you might complete them in two weeks…amazing! But don’t force it. Honor where your capacity is.
The point here is momentum with clarity, not over-functioning.
And if your chosen action feels too big? Break it down again.
“What needs to happen to make this action possible?”
Let that lead you to the next right step.
Step 4: Create a Rhythm of Reflection
Once you have your 30-day mini plan:
Check in weekly.
Ask: Where am I at with each step?
Adjust as needed without judgment.
At the end of the 30 days, revisit your Q1 desires and ask again:
What’s next?
What actions will keep me moving toward this?
It’s a rolling rhythm of movement, reflection, and recalibration. This is how progress becomes sustainable.
Step 5: Know Your Numbers & STOP Avoiding Them
I love helping clients with numbers…. goals, budgets, revenue plans. But when it came to my own? I avoided them.
Here’s the truth: avoiding your numbers creates confusion and fatigue. Looking at your numbers creates clarity and power.
I’ve learned to approach budgeting not as restriction, but as intention. I now build my budget around my desires. I make decisions by looking at both, together.
Some things that help:
I still use an accounting software, but I also have a customized spreadsheet where I plug in projected revenue, costs, and goals in a way that works for me.
I review what I actually spent last year, what felt aligned, and what needs to change.
I build event budgets, set goals for things like IME or immersion retreats, and track how my decisions are mapping to those numbers.
This gives me the data to confidently say “yes” or “not yet” to:
Investments
Team hires
Subscriptions
Events
Paying myself (!!)
Bonus: A Fractional CFO, My New Investment!
I’ve recently brought on a part-time accounting manager/fractional CFO, and it’s already making a huge impact. The accountability, someone to share & question me before I make an investment, etc.
How did I determine I could afford this? Because I actually looked at my numbers.
You don’t have to DIY this. If you're feeling overwhelmed, loop in your bookkeeper, accountant, or someone you trust. Support doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing.
This Work is Better With a Friend
I say this every time, but it matters: you do not have to do this alone.
Grab a business buddy, your life bestie, your partner. Someone who can hold space with you, reflect things back, and help you get clear. It’s exactly what I do with my IME members and at my live immersions.
You deserve to be witnessed and supported in the vision you’re building.
Want My Help?
The Immersion Mastermind Experience (IME)
This is my ongoing group experience for women who want mentorship, prioritization, and clarity in a way that honors their life and doesn’t require hustle. You get:
Monthly mastermind calls
Quarterly 1:1 vision planning with me
A private group chat
Co-working, office hours, and strategic support
Access to the Elevated Collective- subconscious work to support the strategy.
Applications open for one week each quarter, and the next window is coming up in February 2026. You can join the waitlist now by applying via the link above!
Planning your year doesn’t have to be overwhelming. When you blend clarity of desire, intentional action, and financial truth, you move from scattered to grounded. From reactive to proactive. From guessing to choosing.
You’re not behind. You’re not too late. Start where you are. Choose your next three steps. Know your numbers. And get the support you need.
You’ve got this 💙
Cat Roten
Intuitive Leader + Mentor
January 30th, 2026
P.S. If you loved this and want more content like it, be sure to subscribe to my email list so you’re first to know when new blogs, podcast episodes, & events go live. I’ve got big things brewing, and this kind of embodied clarity is just the beginning.