The Path Maker Program: Building Mental Fitness for 2026 Success

By Ariya Dong

As we move toward 2026, many business leaders and professionals are preparing their annual goals. Often, they begin with the best of intentions and rely on the same tools they used last year. If you are happy with the results you have been getting, then using the same approach makes sense. But if you are not satisfied with the progress you made over the last year, it might be time to mix things up.

To achieve sustainable growth in 2026, leaders need a system that aligns mindset, leadership, and execution. At Your Path Coaching & Consulting, we call this the Path Maker Program. This model connects Mental Fitness, Leadership Proficiency, and Goal Architecture into one cohesive framework for high performance.

Mental Fitness: The Foundation of Resilient Growth

Every leader encounters moments of stress, doubt, or self-criticism while pursuing ambitious goals. These internal barriers, known as Saboteurs in the Positive Intelligence (PQ) framework, quietly undermine progress.

While many goal-setting systems emphasize external actions, true performance begins within. Mental fitness builds the neural pathways that help you shift from self-sabotage to self-command. Focusing on mindfulness can enhance your focus, creativity, and emotional resilience, which are the capacities that sustain execution when challenges arise.

In 2025, many clients who began embracing mindfulness strategies reported that their productivity improved not because they worked harder but because they learned to intercept negative thought patterns and recover more quickly from setbacks. This kind of internal agility is what sets the stage for lasting success in 2026.

Leadership Proficiency: The Power6 Leader Advantage

The second pillar of the Path Maker Program is Leadership Proficiency, built on the Power6 Leader framework.

Under the Power6 leader framework, leadership begins with two simple principles:

• Build a culture of teamwork

• Protect team momentum.

At the team level, that means creating structures that maintain clarity, accountability, and consistent progress. When applied personally, it means identifying and neutralizing the internal forces that stall motivation.

The 2026 Goal-Setting Workbook integrates these Power6 Leader practices directly into its structure. It helps you align your leadership behaviors with your daily performance. Each 90-day cycle invites reflection on what drives or drains momentum so you can adjust quickly and keep moving forward.

Goal Architecture: Turning Strategy into Momentum

Even the best mindset and leadership habits need direction. That is where Goal Architecture comes in.

The workbook combines proven systems such as OKRs, SMART goals, and holistic goal design to provide structure without rigidity. Instead of an annual checklist, it introduces the 90-Day Planning and Execution Cycles. This helps you view the year as four focused sprints which promote adaptability, clarity, and measurable progress.

This cyclical approach mirrors how high-performing organizations operate. Plan, act, review, and recalibrate. Each quarter becomes a learning cycle that keeps your strategy aligned with evolving priorities and external changes.

The Integration Point: From Framework to Performance System

Each pillar individually strengthens a core area of performance. Together, they form an integrated architecture that links inner resilience to effective execution.

• Mental Fitness secures your internal foundation.

• Power6 Leadership enforces accountability and structure.

• Goal Architecture directs your energy toward strategic outcomes.

This alignment transforms goal setting from a once-a-year exercise into a continuous performance system that supports sustained growth and personal well-being.

Looking Ahead to 2026

In 2026, success will not belong to those who merely plan. It will belong to those who can adapt, stay grounded, and sustain momentum through uncertainty.

If you are preparing your 2026 goals, do not just list targets. Build your system. Strengthen your mindset. Protect your momentum.

That is the essence of the Path Maker Program and the foundation of the 2026 Goal-Setting Workbook.

We are now offering the Finding Fulfillment Virtual Workshop and the Path Makers Goal Setting Workshop for $50. This resource is a great do-it-yourself option for those who currently do not have time, money, or desire to participate in individual coaching. Click the button below to learn more.

Build Your 2026 Path to Fulfillment

How Great Leaders Think: Simple Steps to Build Trust and a Strong Team Culture

By Dorian Cunion and Suzzanne Currier

Being a great leader doesn't just happen; it takes planning and effort. Top business leaders know that for their organization to be successful, they have to build a strong organizational culture and invest in developing talent. 

Members of the local Virginia chapter of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), recently had the opportunity to attend an Executive Leadership Series lunch at Regent University, where ICF Virginia was also a sponsor.

Great Leaders Inspire Other Leaders

“The Executive Leadership Series exists to inspire business leaders and build community,” explained Regent University Chancellor Gordon Robertson. “Through these distinctive events, we seek to provide a gathering place where Hampton Roads’ most respected leaders gain world-class insights from leading experts, combined with exclusive networking opportunities.” 

ICF Virginia is a sponsor of the Executive Leadership Series because it is “an investment in leadership development for Hampton Roads, to empower networking, as well as to create more awareness of the value of coaching to grow leaders, which our membership provides.” Says Suzanne Currier, PCC president of ICF Virginia.

During lunch, a leadership panel of top Hampton Roads business leaders shared insights and lessons on leading a successful organization. The panel included Robert Aston Jr. (CEO, TowneBank), Michael Creedon, Jr. (CEO, Dollar Tree), Dennis Matheis (CEO, Sentara), Edith White (CEO. Hampton Roads Community Action Program), and Gordon Robertson (CEO, Christian Broadcast Network). Hon. Robert MacDonald facilitated the panel.

We've broken down what we learned at this event into actionable tactics leaders can implement immediately to drive higher levels of employee engagement, trust, and business growth.

1. Trust and Being Real Are Key

Great team performance is built on strong trust. If people don't trust the leadership, plans fall apart and teamwork stops.

• It Starts with Trust (Robert Aston Jr.): The most important job of a leader is to build trust. This means you must be reliable, reachable, and responsible (Edith White). 

• Being Real (Authentic) is Crucial (Michael Creedon): Leaders must first know their values and then always act based on those values. When you are authentic, people know what to expect, and trust is easy to build. 

2. Lead by Serving Your Team

Exceptional leadership means changing your mindset: stop just managing tasks and start serving the people who do the work.

• You Work for Your Employees (Dennis Matheis): A leader’s job is to remove problems and provide tools so the team can do their jobs well. As a leader, you are there to support the people who work for the customer.

• Invest in Careers, Not Just Jobs (Michael Creedon): True leadership helps team members achieve their life goals (Robert Aston Jr.). This strong commitment builds loyalty and helps retain great people, thereby directly improving team culture.

3. Plan the Future and Learn from Mistakes

One of a leader's jobs is to envision the company's future. This takes focused time and a thoughtful approach to risk.

• Vision Needs Planning Time (Gordon Robertson): A leader’s time should be spent thinking about the future, not managing today’s problems. You must make time just for strategic thought and planning.

• Make it Okay to Fail (Gordon Robertson): Leaders must create a place where it is safe to fail and mistakes are treated as opportunities to learn. This means leadership needs to take risks and learn quickly (Dennis Matheis).

4. Invest in Growth and Fun Surprises

To create a loyal, high-performing team, you need to invest in your people’s growth and well-being every day.

• The Power of the Unexpected (Robert Aston Jr.): What special things are you doing for your team that they don't expect? These thoughtful gestures build deep loyalty.

• Provide Practical Help and Chances to Grow (Edith White): Leadership is teaching. It is the job of current leaders to provide both practical advice and formal leadership training to people just starting.

Coaching: A Path to Your Leadership Style

Having a winning culture starts with a clear, authentic way of leading. These local Virginia leaders provided practical guidance to help leaders evolve, learn, and grow. If you are an executive or emerging leader who is looking to craft your own leadership style, consider working with an ICF coach. The ICF credentialed coaches pledge to abide by a code of ethics, have undergone extensive training and mentorship, and are here to help you tap into your potential. Learn more by visiting our website.

Stop Overwhelm. Start Impact. The Proven Strategy to Hit Aggressive 2026 Goals with Fulfillment

Are you a leader who is already working hard, yet still feels overwhelmed? Overcommitment is a common challenge for high-performing individuals. You set goals, achieve wins, but you still feel incomplete. The problem is not your character or your effort. The problem lies in how you approach work, set goals, and manage your thoughts. If you are seeking greater fulfillment, you must begin by reassessing your relationship with work and your relationship with yourself.

At Your Path Coaching and Consulting, we understand that finding fulfillment doesn't require self-sacrifice. It requires a fundamental shift in how you set goals and priorities.

The Hidden Drain: Why Hard Work Isn't Enough

As a high achiever, you likely already have habits around goal setting. But if you fail to address the "why" and "how" of your daily work, you create a "fulfillment gap." This gap leaves you with professional success but drains your capacity, leaving you feeling stressed.

Our holistic approach can help to close some gaps. We encourage clients to move beyond setting short-term goals to thinking long-term and ensuring that the steps you take now, are towards the future you aspire to make.

The 3 Shifts Strategic Leaders Make for High-Impact 2026 Goals

The clients we work with who report the highest levels of fulfillment master these three habits.

1. Silence Your Internal Saboteurs: Do you recognize the internal "critics" that constantly generate stress and block your potential? It is essential to learn how to listen to this critic, gain insight, but not to allow it to prevent you from achieving your goals.

2. Craft a Dual-Focused Strategy: Aggressive goals demand capacity, but you can’t generate capacity by focusing only on work. To achieve your professional goals, you must have a plan for relaxing and recharging when you are not at work.

3. Master Delegated Leadership: Hitting huge goals means maximizing leverage. Leaders who embody the principles of the Power6 Leaders Program report greater ease in working with others, delegating tasks, and navigating the challenges and opportunities of leadership.

   
   

ACT NOW: Find Fulfillment and Hit Your 2026 Targets

Stop letting overwhelm dictate your results. Make 2026 the year you achieve extraordinary impact and personal satisfaction.

Purchase our 90-minute workshop on "Finding Fulfillment at Work in 2026." 

Get Clarity, Skip Overwhelm. The price is only $50, and it comes with a Finding Fulfillment workbook. Follow this link to get your copy.

https://yourpath.myflodesk.com/ini75ft1yi

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P.S. Ready for 1:1 guidance? Schedule a free consultation today to discuss how our Executive Coaching or Business Consulting services can help you achieve your 2026 goals.

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