why I’m rebuilding my AI software tool from scratch

A few weeks ago, I was wrapping up a coaching call with a 1-on-1 client.

He’d been mapping out some ambitious plans for the new year…

And so towards the end, he asked me whether I'd done the same thing and set a bunch of new goals for 2026.

My response?

I told him my focus at this time of year is actually more backwards-looking.

Meaning:

I'm focused on extracting lessons and insights from the PAST year...

To ensure I don't repeat the same mistakes again in the year to come.

What's more:

I've learned to try to ease into January instead of going pedal to the metal from Day 1.

Because I've found that strategy doesn't really work for me.

Call it a post-holiday hangover…

But I struggle to shift back into high gear at the beginning of the year.

So when I expect to be able to redline it right away, but CAN’T…

Well, it leaves me feeling frustrated and demotivated.

Like somehow I'm already behind before the year even gets going.

Which is a terrible way to start anything…

Let alone an entire year.

Turns out self-flagellation is not an effective motivation strategy lol

Point is:

You've got to adapt your work strategy to your own internal rhythms.

Especially at the beginning of the year.

If you’re anything like me…

Then you might benefit from deliberately setting the bar lower…

So you can easily exceed it.

Sometimes doing this is better for creating momentum than setting the bar really high and failing to reach it.

It's the difference between building confidence through small wins...

Versus crushing your motivation with unrealistic expectations.

So if your 2026 is off to a slower start than you might like…

And you're feeling behind because you haven't hit the ground running yet...

Or guilty because you haven't crossed off every single one of your to-dos…

Give yourself permission to ease into it.

There's no prize for whoever burns out fastest.

Some food for thought as we ease into the new year :)

Jim Hamilton

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