Episode 314: How to Grow Your Business in 2026 Without Starting Over
Happy 2026!
Okay, so if you're tired of feeling like you need to rebuild everything from scratch at the start of each year, this episode is for you. Seriously.
If you want to know how to grow your business in 2026, here's what we're going to do differently. Instead of tearing everything down and starting fresh, we're going to build on what's already working.
Watch the full episode
My Word of the Year for 2026
Alright, so I'm going to share my word of the year with you. And I'll be honest—when I landed on this, I was like, "Sarah, this might sound boring to people."
But you guys, I'm so lit up about this one.
My word for 2026 is embody.
Here's what that means to me. After five years of deep personal and professional growth, I've learned so much about myself. For instance, I learned how much I struggle to receive. I'm really great at giving, but receiving? Not always easy for me.
I also learned a lot about my fears. Specifically, what other people perceive about me. And I broke through—I'd say 99% of those fears. The ones I know about, anyway.
So this year? All of that learning moves from my head into my work.
Everything I create—every program, every coaching session, every piece of content—will embody my beliefs, my spirituality, my ambition, and my growth. You're going to see the real versions of me show up in ways you haven't before.
And honestly? I think you guys are going to feel it.
Why 2025 Felt So Heavy (And What That Means for You)
Let's talk about last year for a second.
If 2025 felt like you were constantly letting go of things that weren't working—old strategies, draining relationships, business approaches that fell flat—you're not alone. Everyone I worked with felt this way.
For me? I released the "I've got it all handled" persona. No more pretending I can do everything at once. Now I'm focused on one thing at a time, and I'm not apologizing for it.
The last three to four years have felt murky for so many entrepreneurs. Like running through mud. Or pushing water uphill. You've been trying to figure out what you're really here to do and why everything feels so heavy.
That changes now.
How to Grow Your Business in 2026: Build Momentum, Not From Scratch
So here's the thing. This entire year is about capitalizing on your own momentum—not creating it from scratch.
This is the year to:
- Take action on what you've been planning
- Play and experiment in your business
- Work from a flow state more often
- Double or triple your revenue (yes, really)
- Challenge what you think is possible
Flow state—those moments when time disappears because you're fully engaged—becomes your operating system this year.
Now, if you don't know what a flow state is, let me paint a picture for you. Maybe you were writing something, and you looked up, and it had been two and a half hours. Or you were drawing, or in an art class, or out dancing, or having a great conversation with friends.
Time just disappeared. You were outside of time. That's flow state.
You can access it through meditation, exercise, meaningful conversation, or even a simple 30-second morning practice.
The Surgical Removal Strategy: What's Not Working in Your Business
Okay, so here's what you need to do as this year begins. You need to surgically remove what's no longer working.
Not everything. Not all at once. Surgically.
"This isn't magical thinking time. This is surgical precision time."
Let me break down what counts as "not working":
Relationships That Drain You
First up: relationships that drain more than they fill.
You know the friend I'm talking about. The one who just popped into your head right now. You go to lunch or have coffee, and you come home, and you're like, "Oh my god, I need a nap."
That person, right
Now listen, there's nothing wrong with them. They're probably lovely. But in a momentum year, you can't afford these energy leaks. It's not their fault. It's not your fault. It's a chemistry thing.
So, how can you minimize the time you spend with them? That's the question to ask.
Business Elements That Aren't Performing
Next: business elements that aren't working. Email campaigns that go nowhere. Funnels that leak. Offers that fall flat.
Open them up. Rework them.
Here's something important: the old scripts won't work in 2026. I've spoken to so many spiritual leaders and visionaries about this. Plus, I trust my own instincts a hell of a lot.
What worked in the past won't work this year, because we're in a momentum year. We're not in a build-from-scratch year.
Results You're Creating (Or Not Creating)
Finally, let's talk about results. Because everything is a result.
Your bank account balance? That's a result.
Your current health—whether it's your cholesterol levels, the weight on the scale, or how you feel when you wake up in the morning? Result.
Your romantic relationship? Result. Your friendships? Results. The state of your home, your mental health, and your team? All results.
If any result isn't what you want, it's time to address what's creating it.
The Add-In Approach (This Is Where It Gets Good)
Now, let me give you a different way to think about this.
Think about how most people approach health changes. "I'm cutting out flour. I'm cutting out sugar. I'm cutting out carbs."
That's one valid way to do it. But here's another approach.
Instead of only removing things, you can recognize what doesn't work well for your body. Then focus on what you can add.
For example, I throw flax seeds on everything. You can't even taste them, but they're a health booster. They help curb your appetite and make you feel full. It's gorgeous. So good for you.
I also throw pumpkin seeds on everything. Why? Because they're fun and crunchy, a little bit salty, and there's so much protein in there. So much potassium.
But here's the thing: you're not adding pumpkin seeds to white bread. That would be weird, right? You're adding them to your salad or to whole-grain avocado toast.
Do you see what I'm saying? The foundation is already there because you've taken out what doesn't work. Then you start to add from there.
That's building on momentum.
This is exactly how to grow your business in 2026—by building on a solid foundation instead of constantly starting over.
This applies everywhere in how to grow your business in 2026:
- What aspects of your relationship to money need additions after removing what doesn't work?
- What parts of your primary relationship can you surgically remove, then replace with something nourishing?
- What elements of your email campaigns need strategic removal and thoughtful additions?
This is how you build on what you've already learned.
How to Grow Your Business in 2026: Start With What's Already Working
Before you charge forward, you need to take stock.
What worked really well in the last four months of 2025? Like, what was easy for you? What caused results? What made it fun?
You really want to know what those things were.
Those are your momentum builders. You take those things, and you amplify them. You keep moving forward from that foundation.
But here's the catch: you can't capitalize on momentum if you haven't identified what's already working.
Yeah?
You Can Create What You Actually Want (But Let's Be Realistic About It)
Okay, I know this sounds like coach talk. Stay with me.
When I say you can have anything you want, I mean you can create the life you're actually seeking. Not necessarily the exact circumstances you've imagined, but the feeling you're hunting for.
So if you tell me you want to hit half a million dollars this year, I'll say, "Awesome. Of course you can."
And then you're going to say, "Sarah, I have no idea how to do that."
And I'll say, "Great. Let's work backwards. Let's figure it out."
Every single thing you need to do, you can figure out. But first, you have to actually get clear with yourself that you want it. You have to get honest with yourself about what it's going to take.
"The magic happens when you get on the court and do the work after you say you want something."
I mean, how many people say around this time of year, "I want to lose weight"?
Great. What are you doing about that?
"Well, I'm starting on Monday."
It's Tuesday.
Right? You know what I mean?
This honest, clear-eyed approach is exactly how to grow your business in 2026—by doing the actual work, not just talking about it.
Avoid the All-or-Nothing Trap in Your Business
Let me give you an example. One of my clients recently did her year-end planning with me. She was talking about money, and she was like, "Oh my gosh, I just didn't do it this year."
I was like, "What does that mean, you didn't do it? What didn't you do?"
There was a specific fund she wanted to put money into. She had a savings goal.
So I asked, "Well, how much money did you put in there?"
She put in 75% of what she'd wanted to put in there.
I'm like, "So how did you fail again? You had no savings. We set this goal last year. And you've moved 75% of the way towards it. And that's a failure? You didn't do it?"
Like, what are we talking about here?
"This all-or-nothing, black and white thinking is actually what causes us to freeze and bail."
So instead of that, ask yourself: "Did I improve today at all?"
I bet you did. I bet you did.
Did you choose the salad today? Did you skip the fries? Did you get the dressing on the side? Did you walk further than you would have?
That's all the stuff, you guys.
But then we're like, "But I didn't lose five pounds in 20 minutes."
That's correct. And then we want to hang on to that as the reason that we can now be off the hook, right?
That's just the way the human mind works. So I'm not saying that to call anybody out. But you guys, we have to know how our brains work.
Why Nervous System Regulation Matters for Business Growth
Here's something I really firmly believe:
"You will only ever earn or expand at the speed of safety."
Money and expansion are the same thing. When you get an influx of money, you feel expansive, right?
But we also know sometimes when there's an influx of money, you expand so much you freak out. We've seen people do this—lottery winners, celebrities. There's so much coming in that they can't handle it because they're not expanding with it.
They have to get rid of it until the amount of expansion matches who they are as a person.
We have evidence for this. It's pretty clear.
How to Keep Your Nervous System Regulated
So what we want to do this year is keep your nervous system on track [link "nervous system on track" to: https://sarahwalton.com/money-mindset-nervous-system-income/]. You've got to stay regulated.
If you've never heard that term before—regulated—it's a lot like what it sounds like. You're on regular. You're not freaking out, and you're not depressed. You're in that middle zone where your nervous system knows it's safe.
From that place, you make wise decisions. From that place, you have the ability to expand.
Not overnight, but gently. Step by step by step by step.
Ways to stay regulated:
- Meditate regularly
- Put your feet on the ground
- Take deep breaths when you feel panic rising
- Journal for five minutes (five minutes won't kill anybody)
- Show yourself you're okay
When your nervous system knows it's safe, you can receive the expansion that's available to you.
That will make all the difference.
Understanding this connection between nervous system regulation and earning capacity is key to how to grow your business in 2026.
Feel the Energy Around You
Notice what's happening around you. Notice how you're feeling right now at the beginning of this year.
We're a communal species. We feel each other.
So when other people's nervous systems aren't regulated, you're going to feel nervous. You're going to feel panicked. You're going to feel uneasy.
One of the most powerful things you can do for yourself this year is to keep your nervous system regulated. That way, you can capitalize on the momentum that's available.
Listen to Episode 314 or Watch the Video Interview
Want the full breakdown on building momentum in 2026? Click here to listen to Episode 314 or click here to watch the full episode of the Game On Girlfriend® podcast.
What's Coming This Year (I'm So Excited About This)
Oh my gosh, you guys. If you want to learn how to grow your business in 2026, the podcast episodes we have lined up are exquisite.
Inside my team, inside our offers, inside the Abundance Academy—we’re creating something different this year. Something that embodies everything we've learned about women's relationship to money and ambition.
The Abundance Academy retreat is on January 9th.
If you feel like you need to be there—if you need to be in this retreat with us, where we'll be capitalizing on momentum, creating solid plans, and looking at what's got you lit up and excited—apply now.
You'll work with me as your coach for a year. You'll be with us for a year. You get to come to the retreat for free. You get to hang out with these exquisite women who are up to something this year.
They're capitalizing on this momentum. They know what they've let go of. They're ready to go.
And we're ready to invite you in to be with us as well.
This is going to be a life-changing year, and I'd love to be your coach as you go through it.
Ready to Build Real Momentum in Your Business?
The Abundance Academy is now accepting applications for 2026. You'll join us for a transformative retreat on January 9th (included in your membership) and receive a full year of coaching support as you build on what's working.
Apply to the Abundance Academy here.
Listen, happy new year. I love you to bits. I am so grateful that you're here. I am so impressed with you for everything you're doing in your own life, for the other people in your life, and for your clients and customers.
The courage that you have every day to listen to podcasts like this, to get up and make that next offer, to do what you know you are here to do—I am here cheering you on.
I believe in you 100%.
And this is your year.
Want to Go Deeper? Listen to These Episodes:
If you loved this episode, here are three more Game On Girlfriend® podcast episodes that will help you build on this momentum:
- Episode 313: But What About the Money? Why Your Nervous System Determines Your Income - Dive deeper into how nervous system regulation directly impacts your earning capacity.
- Episode 35: What's Causing The Results You Have Right Now? - Learn how to examine the beliefs and actions creating your current results so you know exactly what to surgically remove.
- Episode 311: Soul Setting Over Goal Setting: A Year-End Reflection for Women Entrepreneurs - The perfect year-end reflection companion to help you move into 2026 with intention.
ABOUT SARAH WALTON:
Sarah Walton is a business coach, podcast host, and mentor who helps women entrepreneurs build businesses they love. She's the creator of the Abundance Academy, Effortless Sales, and the Game On Girlfriend® podcast. Sarah's mission is to put more money in the hands of more women while teaching authentic, heart-centered business strategies.
If you're ready to spend 2026 building on momentum instead of starting from scratch, the Abundance Academy is accepting applications now. Join Sarah and a community of driven women entrepreneurs for a full year of coaching.
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