Lay the Bricks in 2026 | The Entrepreneurial Journey

John Giegerich returns to the show with a clear message for entrepreneurs and leadership teams: if you wait until January to plan the year ahead, you are already behind. As a Partner at CEO Coaching International and a former senior leader in capital markets and banking, John has spent decades helping CEOs turn vision into results. In this episode, John and Dave break down how elite leadership teams prepare for the year ahead. From building the plan before the calendar flips to launching teams at full speed on day one, John shares the frameworks, discipline, and mindset required to win the year before it even starts. They dive into the power of focus, why most companies fail by chasing too many priorities, and how narrowing the year to three true objectives changes everything. John walks through his proven planning process, including executive pre-work, strategy and execution sessions, 13-week execution marches, and the accountability systems that keep teams aligned when pressure hits. They also discuss: • Why annual planning must happen in October or November, not January • How to avoid losing the first quarter before it begins • The difference between purpose, passion, and real execution • Why discipline beats motivation every time • How resilience and focus determine long-term success This episode is a practical playbook for CEOs seeking clarity, alignment, and momentum heading into next year. No theory. No fluff. Just proven leadership discipline from someone who has seen what works and what fails. If you want your team prepared, focused, and executing from day one, this is a conversation you need to hear.