4 Things I got Wrong in 2026 | Ep. 111

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain a bit and sharing four assumptions I made coming into 2026 that either weren’t correct or should have been on my radar earlier.This year has already forced a lot of growth for me, and I’m realizing that some of the biggest lessons aren’t about what’s working, they’re about what I missed.  I walk through everything from the identity shift required when your team scales quickly, to how changes in AI and search are impacting lead flow, to some personal decisions around travel and energy that didn’t play out the way I expected.We also get into a tactical miss around marketing cadence, specifically how stepping away from audience building too early created friction when it came time to promote something new.If you’re in a season of growth or things feel a little messy right now, this episode will help you think more clearly about what might be happening underneath the surface and how to adjust.And if you’re looking to grow alongside other operators who are thinking this way, I want you in the room at the DogCo Business Summit. 👉 https://dogcosummit.com⏱️ Timestamps0:00 – Why I’m reflecting this early into the year1:30 – The “messy middle” of growth2:00 – Mistake #1: Not making the identity shift to CEO4:20 – Leading vs collaborating inside a growing team6:00 – Mistake #2: Misreading changes in SEO and AI discovery8:00 – Why lead flow has shifted in 20269:30 – Mistake #3: Overloading the first half of the year with travel12:00 – The cost of poor energy and calendar planning13:30 – Mistake #4: Neglecting audience building early in the year15:30 – Give vs ask, and why marketing felt off🧠 Key Takeaways• Rapid growth requires an identity shift as a leader• You can’t scale a team while operating like an individual contributor• How businesses get discovered online is changing quickly• SEO alone is no longer a reliable lead source• Asking better questions early leads to better decisions• Poor calendar planning creates unnecessary stress and risk• Energy management is just as important as strategy• Audience building must happen before you need it• Giving value consistently builds trust and conversion• Marketing without value feels forced and less effective🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business SummitIf you’re serious about growing your pet care business and want to be around others navigating similar challenges, I want you in the room at the DogCo Business Summit.📍 October 2nd–4th📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina👉 https://dogcosummit.com–M