Every December, travel advisors do what they always do. We look back at the whirlwind of the past 12 months, shake our heads at how fast it all went and promise ourselves that next year will be different. Next year we will finally have the confidence, clarity, consistency and courage to build the business we know we are capable of running.
But here is the truth. None of that changes unless you change. Not because a date flips or a calendar resets, but because you make intentional decisions about who you are becoming as a business owner.
So, consider this my wish list for you as a travel advisor stepping into 2026. It is equal parts love letter and pep talk, a sendoff into the new year that invites you to release the weight you have been carrying and step boldly into the version of you your business has been waiting for.
Let’s start with what needs to be left behind.
Leave Behind the Negative Voices
Every advisor has them. The internal committee that loves to gather whenever you are about to make a bold move. The voices that whisper things like, “Who are you to charge that? What if no one signs up? What will people think?” or my personal favorite, “This probably will not work anyway.”
These voices have one job. To keep you exactly where you are. Comfortable. Predictable. Safe. But safe is rarely where success lives. In 2025, those voices may have slowed you down, held you back or kept you playing smaller than your talent deserves. In 2026, I want you to thank them for their concern and promptly show them the door.
You cannot build a standout business if you are constantly absorbing opinions, assumptions or imaginary criticism from people who are not paying your bills. Your future clients need a confident guide, not a hesitant one. So let this be the year you choose whose voice gets a seat at the table. Hint, it should be yours.
Leave Behind Imposter Syndrome
Imposter syndrome shows up in sneaky ways. Maybe you avoided offering a new travel style because you felt unqualified. Maybe you hesitated to show up on video because someone else looked more polished. Maybe you downplayed your expertise because you worried someone would question it.
Here is what I need you to hear. You are not an imposter. You are a work in progress, just like every successful business owner on the planet. Experience is earned by showing up, not by waiting until you feel ready. Confidence is built through action, not overthinking. In 2026, I want you to leave behind the belief that everyone else knows what they are doing and you are the only one fumbling through it. You are not. Nobody has this perfectly figured out. Some people are just louder about their wins.
Let this next year be the year you stop shrinking to fit into someone else's idea of what a successful advisor looks like. You already belong here.
Leave Behind the Could Have, Should Have, Would Haves
Maybe you meant to raise your fees this year. Maybe you planned to get consistent with marketing. Maybe you had a big idea that never made it out of the Notes app. You are not alone. Every advisor has a list of things that did not happen. But guilt is not a business plan. Dwelling on past choices will not move you forward. You cannot redo 2025, but you can absolutely rewrite how 2026 unfolds.
Your “could haves” become realities only when you remove the pressure of perfection and replace it with momentum. Your “should haves” become accomplishments when you give yourself permission to take imperfect action. Your “would haves” become wins when you treat every new quarter, month or Monday as a fresh start. Let the past be data, not emotional baggage. You need to learn from it, but do not drag it with you.
Now let’s talk about what I want you to carry into 2026.
Embrace Authenticity
Your clients do not need the version of you that sounds like every other advisor they have seen online. They need the real you. The advisor with a point of view. The advisor who shows up with honesty, clarity and conviction. The advisor who can guide without performing and sell without pretending.
Authenticity is not about oversharing or being casual. It is about alignment. It is about speaking in a voice that sounds like you. It is about building a brand rooted in trust instead of trends. It is about being willing to be seen for who you are and not who you think you should be. Advisors who thrive in 2026 will be the ones who stop hiding behind templates and start showing up with intention.
Step Into Your Best Version Of Yourself
The best version of you is not the one who works more hours, adds more offerings or hustles harder. The best version of you is the one who leads your business with clarity, grounded decisions and a deep belief in your own capacity. This version of you sets boundaries, understands your numbers and sells with confidence because you know the value you bring. This version of you creates opportunities instead of waiting for them. This version of you makes decisions as if success is inevitable, because you have finally stopped negotiating with your doubt.
If nothing else, let 2026 be the year you choose to stop abandoning yourself in the process of building your business. Your success depends on your self-belief more than any marketing strategy ever will.
Anchor Into Intention, Not Pressure
Here is the gift of a new year. It gives you a moment to pause, breathe and ask yourself what you want your business to look like moving forward. Not what you think you should do. Not what other advisors are doing, after all how do you even know that’s what they’re “doing?” What do YOU want? What matters to YOU? What feels aligned, sustainable, profitable and energizing for your business?
My wish for you is that you map out 2026 with intention rather than urgency, you allow yourself to take up space. Above all, that you build a business that feels like yours, not a performance of someone else's version of success.
Travel advisors are some of the most resilient and creative entrepreneurs I know. You have navigated industry shifts, client chaos and global uncertainty, yet you continue to show up because you believe in what you do. As you step into 2026, leave behind the noise that held you back and walk forward with renewed confidence. You are capable, you are qualified and you are ready! The travel industry needs more advisors who know who they are. My wish is that you decide now to be one of them.
Glenda Beagle
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