The Energy I’m Taking Into 2026
We don’t always know what we’re doing but we’re doing our best.
If I had to sum up the energy I’m bringing into 2026 in one sentence, it would be this:
We don’t always know exactly what we’re doing… but we’re doing our best and that counts.
Not the polished, highlight-reel version of business.
Not the perfectly mapped five-year plan.
Just real life, real effort, and the willingness to try.
2026 feels less about “having it all figured out” and more about being brave enough to test, jump, learn, and keep going, even when things don’t work the first (or fifth) time.
And honestly? I think that’s exactly where growth lives.
Motherhood, Business, and Learning as I Go
I’m heading into 2026 as a mom to two little humans, running a business that now has two distinct sides — physical products and digital files — and trying to be present for both my family and my goals.
Some days that balance feels magical.
Other days it feels chaotic, loud, stressful, and unfinished.
This past year reminded me that you can love your business and admit that it stretches you thin sometimes. That you can be grateful and tired. That both things can exist at once.
I’m learning that growth doesn’t require burning yourself out to prove how badly you want it. It requires showing up consistently, adjusting when something isn’t working, and letting yourself evolve.
Taking Jumps (Even When You’re Not Ready)
One of my “jump before you’re ready” moments this past year was investing in a desktop UV printer.
The original plan? Use it to open up an entirely new line of ornaments before Christmas.
Did I have designs ready?
No.
Had I watched hours of tutorials or mapped out a full product line?
Also no.
But I knew I wanted more creative freedom. I knew I wanted to expand what I could make. And I trusted myself to figure it out as I went because that’s how almost everything in my business has started. Here’s the honest part, the UV printer was supposed to arrive before Christmas… and it didn’t.
It still hasn’t arrived.
And you know what? That’s okay. Old me might have spiraled. Stressed. Felt like I missed my chance or “messed up” the timing. But this year taught me something important, not everything has to be rushed, and not every delay is a failure. The printer is still on the way. The ideas will come. The learning will happen when it’s meant to.
This investment wasn’t about instant results or a perfectly executed plan. It was about giving myself permission to try something new, to learn, to test, and to expand, even without full clarity.
That’s the energy I want to carry into 2026:
Trying new tools without needing mastery first
Testing new product ideas without pressure for perfection
Letting curiosity lead instead of fear
Some ideas will flop. Some designs won’t stick. Some launches won’t happen on the timeline I imagined and that’s okay.
Because every attempt teaches me something.
Every test builds confidence.
And every jump forward creates momentum, even when the landing isn’t exactly where I thought it would be.
I’m not here for perfect timing.
I’m here for learning, growth, and trying one step at a time.
When Shipping, Tariffs, and Reality Shift Your Strategy
If you’re a Canadian product business owner, you probably felt the weight of shipping challenges and tariffs in 2025. Between rising costs and the unpredictability of Canada Post, that side of business felt heavier than it needed to be.
Instead of forcing what wasn’t working, I started shifting my focus:
Leaning more into local retail stores
Growing my digital file offerings
Reducing stress around shipping logistics
This doesn’t mean I’m abandoning online physical products, it just means I’m letting the business evolve in a way that makes sense right now.
I don’t know exactly what my expanded product line will look like yet.
And I’m okay with that.
Expanding Digitally (and With Community)
Digital products have become a space of creativity, flexibility, and connection for me, especially through Cuttle.
My goal for 2026?
Add 50 new files to the platform
Continue designing beginner-friendly, practical SVGs
Collaborate alongside incredible designers and friends
One of the most rewarding parts of digital work isn’t just the scalability, it’s the community. Watching other creators grow, supporting each other, and building something together feels really special.
If you’re a laser business owner who loves having a growing, curated SVG library at your fingertips, this is absolutely a space worth exploring.
Community Makes It Lighter
One thing I’m endlessly grateful for — and something I don’t take lightly — is the community I’ve found in the laser world.
Running a business can feel isolating, especially when you’re doing it from home, juggling kids, orders, ideas, and a million tabs open in your brain. Having people who get it has made such a difference for me.
These are the friendships that:
Check in during the hard weeks
Celebrate the small wins that don’t always look impressive from the outside
Help brainstorm when something feels stuck
Remind you that you’re not behind, you’re exactly where you are suppose to be
Some of these connections started as comments on posts or quick DMs and grew into real friendships. Women who understand both business and life. People you can talk strategy with one minute and vent about mom guilt, burnout, or decision fatigue the next.
There were moments this past year where community truly lifted me, when things felt heavy, when plans didn’t work out, or when I needed reassurance that I wasn’t making the “wrong” move. Sometimes the most valuable thing wasn’t advice at all, but simply being heard.
That’s why spaces like Spark & Scale Society matter. Not because they promise quick wins or overnight success but because they offer connection. Workshops, casual virtual coffee chats, honest conversations, and a reminder that you don’t have to figure everything out alone.
It’s not about being “ahead.”
It’s not about doing more.
It’s about having people beside you while you build through the good seasons, the messy ones, and everything in between.
And honestly? That makes the journey feel a whole lot lighter.
The Power of a Year-at-a-Glance Plan
This year, I created a year-at-a-glance calendar, one single sheet that shows every day of the year.
And it changes everything.
I added:
Birthdays (and when parties will realistically happen)
Holidays and long weekends
Vacations and family plans
Weddings and events
Seeing it all at once helped me realize something important:
My life comes first and the business needs to fit around it, not the other way around.
Now I can plan file collections and launches around real life instead of constantly feeling behind or rushed.
That’s energy I’m protecting in 2026.
Creating a More Sustainable Work Schedule
Let’s talk honestly for a moment.
Parts of 2025 were draining.
There were months where I:
Worked until 3 a.m. and then got up at 6:30 a.m. with the kids
Set unrealistic, self-imposed deadlines
Thought pushing harder was the only option
It wasn’t sustainable. And I had to change.
I no longer work those hours but I’m still refining what a healthy, sustainable work rhythm looks like for me.
In 2026, my focus is:
Clear work hours
Better boundaries
Fully shutting off “business brain” when it’s family time (which will truly be a struggle but I’m focused on trying)
The goal isn’t perfection, it’s progress.
Goals, Bingo Cards, and Room for Joy
Instead of rigid goal-setting, I’m using a bingo card approach again this year.
Some squares are business-focused:
Add another retail location
Write 4 more blogs or guides
Attend my first in-person laser business event
Others are purely life-focused:
Go camping three times
Finish our bathroom renovation (yes… again… it did not get finished last year as hoped 😅)
Take the kids on a plane to the ocean
Not everything needs to be crossed off to be a success. The goal is momentum, not pressure. This feels lighter than a checklist, more fun, and a lot less pressure.
Heading Into 2026 With Trust
I don’t know exactly what 2026 will hold.
But I know this:
I’m allowed to try
I’m allowed to change direction
I’m allowed to build a business that supports my life
If you’re a laser business owner — or dreaming of becoming one — and you feel like you’re figuring it out as you go… you’re not behind.
You’re building.
And that’s more than enough.
Here’s to growth, grace, and doing our best, together. 💛
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