PB 03/09: Planning a 2026 Career Move? Start Now
It’s still too early to think about Christmas. But it’s the perfect time to start working on your next career move.
Let’s do a quick bit of time travel and jump forward one year.
It’s September 2026. You’re back from summer. Same job. Same level. Same manager. Same kind of work. Compensation nudged by inflation. Work–life balance unchanged.
How does that feel?
If the answer is “awesome!” then brilliant. Keep reading if you like, but this may not be for you.
If it stirs a bit of dread, despair, or regret, then it’s time to get planning, and in the next five minutes I’ll give you four principles and three questions to create your three-month plan.
It’s never too early to start
Whether you’re pushing for promotion, moving team, or changing company, everything takes longer than you’d like it to. Especially if you’re more senior.
If you don’t want to be in exactly the same spot this time next year, the safest time to start is now. Actually, it was yesterday - but now will do just fine.
Start now and the worst case is that things happen faster than expected. Leave it late and… well, we’ll be here again next year.
But where am I even going?
All successful planning has a consistent pattern: get clear on the objective; list what it will take; then do the work.
If you know you want a promotion next year, you can map the path. Easy. If you’re hell bent on getting a job at Amazon - then
But, what if you’re not so clear about what you want?
You’re not feeling great where you are, but deciding on your “next step” feels like wrestling with water.
You might have a five-year vision, but translating that into a concrete next move can feel overwhelming. The temptation is to do nothing and hope it sorts itself out.
If anything - this is even more of a reason to start now. Especially if you’ve been in one place for a while, you need some discovery: what the market’s doing, where you fit, what realistic next moves look like, and what gaps to close.
The 4 principles
It’s not enough to have a plan. It needs to be the right plan and you need to give yourself the best chance of being successful. So..
1. Commit weekly hours
This isn’t a list you write once and forget. Block recurring time and treat it like a part-time job.
2. Optimise and Position
You need a plan that balances “optimising” - ie: getting more from what you already have,(run sharper 1:1s; ring-fence two evenings a week) with “positioning” ie: getting into better shape for where you want to be (build AI fluency; work on a highly visible project; expand your network).
3. If in doubt, experiment
Don’t just charge off and be busy for the sake of it. Test the water. See what works. Adapt accordingly. Don’t pre-commit to a dozen meetups. Try two. If they help, do more. If not, try something else.
4. Talk to humans
Learning via LinkedIn, books, podcasts and ChatGPT has its place. But the breakthrough usually comes from real connections and conversations. Calls are good. Coffee is even better.
The 3 questions
Create a plan for the next three months by answering these three - they’re based around the three pillars of my Vital 9 framework: Achievements. Catalysts and Rewards. Keep it specific and weekly.
1) What can I achieve in the next three months that strengthens my CV?
The best CVs are rooted in real Achievements - and these fall into three categories.
Meaningful impact deliver a measurable result (almost always make money, save money, or move a key metric).
Example: volunteer to own a metric that’s drifting; propose a 4-week experiment with a clear success threshold.
Domain expertise: signal depth in an in-demand area (AI is the obvious one).
Example: ship a small internal AI use-case; present learnings; add before/after evidence.
Skills growth: add visible range to your product toolkit (discovery, analytics, stakeholder management). Focus on areas where you’ve had feedback in the past.
Example: co-facilitate three customer interviews; instrument one new funnel properly; run a stakeholder-mapping workshop.
If you do nothing else, line up two concrete achievements you can finish (and measure) in the next quarter.
2) Who - or what - can help me?
This is the Catalysts piece of Vital 9: the people and conditions that help you do great work.
- Inside your company: who can mentor you? What do you need (specifically) from your manager?
- In your network: who will give you a straight read on your market position? Who hires in the roles you want?
- New people: which two events or intros would expose you to different opportunities?
- Your environment: where can you claw back time or energy? (e.g., finish by 5 p.m. twice a week; protect one deep-work block.)
Yes, books, podcasts and AI tools can help. Just don’t get lost in them. Remember, real momentum comes from conversations and connections.
And yes, this is where a coach can be useful: neutral, experienced, and focused on keeping you moving.
And now the final question..
3) What can I do in the next three months that will most improve my long-term finances?
This is the Rewards pillar. Career moves aren’t only about money, but money matters. You will make better career decisions if your financial house is in order, and you’re clear about how much you need to prioritise increased earnings as part of your next move.
Think in two layers:
Market Value: what would raise your value 6–12 months from now: scope, impact, credibility, scarce skills?
Financial Progress: what can you clean up outside salary: spend, save, invest so you can make better trade-offs?
Example: You might decide you need to prioritise earnings for the next 2 - 3 years, trading some work-life balance for scope or upside. Or you might discover that a few smart personal-finance fixes buy you the freedom to choose better.
You should think of one one-time action; and one habit to change.
Bringing it all together
Three months effort isn’t going to transform your career. But it can get you out of a rut, and give your 2026 a kick start.
Small, consistent actions compound: having that career conversation with your manager; thinking about your work through the prism of what will make you more marketable; shipping a measurable result; updating your LinkedIn; blocking two hours a week to develop a skill or reconnecting with old colleagues. All help.
Try bringing it together as your plan
Mini-worksheet (optional)
- Weekly time block: ___ minutes on _[day]_ + ___ minutes on _[day]
Two achievements by end of December.
1.
2.
Three catalysts to activate (names / events / changes):
1. ___
2 ___
3 ___
Two finances move (one-time) + habit (recurring):
One-time: ___ (e.g., consolidate pensions, speak with an advisor)
Habit: ___ (e.g., monthly spending review on last Sunday)
I can help..
If you want help developing your plan - or bringing it to life. I can help. It’s what I do. Just reply to this…and let’s talk!