Some years feel like a blur of good intentions and half-finished folders on our desktop.
This year was a little different. We watched small business owners get sharper, leaner, and way more intentional with their time.
A lot of you told us the same thing:
“I finally stopped guessing. I started following a plan.”
So, we figured this was the perfect moment to look back at what helped the PPN community move forward and how to build it as we head into the new year.
The Workflows That Made the Biggest Difference
This year had a clear theme: less overwhelming, more clarity.
Three things stood out.
1. Visual systems that saved hours
Practical AI Visual Essentials (PAVE) became the workhorse for anyone tired of wrestling with graphics.
Quick prompts. Clean layouts. Done without overthinking.
2. Content shortcuts that removed friction
The Profit Planner packs, Practical Canva Tutorials (PCT), and Thrive All-Access Plus (TAP) resources became go-to tools for anyone who needed “done today” steps instead of another theory lesson.
3. Simple automation wins
ClickMagick tracking, Process Street checklists, and a few no-brainer AI habits gave people back time they didn’t realize they were losing.
Not flashy. Not complicated. Just practical moves that build momentum.
What Didn’t Work (and Why That’s Useful)
- Over-customizing graphics
When a five-minute template turns into a 45-minute design experiment, we work against ourselves.
- Chasing too many content ideas at once
The folks who got the best results picked one core theme per month and ran with it.
- Building before validating
Some of you created gorgeous funnels then realized the audience wanted something slightly different. Quick feedback beats perfect layouts. These are small missteps, but they point toward a bigger takeaway: The clearer the system, the easier the growth.
The Wins Worth Carrying into the New Year
- Protect your planning time
Ten minutes every morning with your planner beats two hours at the end of the month trying to figure out what happened.
- Use templates as templates
Not as open invitations to redesign every corner.
- Pick a monthly focus theme
One goal. One message. One path. Everything else becomes optional. These tiny habits held the biggest ROI for PPN members this year.
Your Plan for the Next 30 Days
Week 1: Review what worked. Look at your content, offer, and time patterns. Notice what created progress even the small stuff.
Week 2: Cut the friction. Anything that feels clunky, slow, or confusing gets replaced with a template, checklist, or automation.
Week 3: Refresh your visuals. Update your top 3 graphics assets so they match where your brand is heading.
Week 4: Set your January theme. This becomes your anchor for content, offers, and planning.
It’s a clean slate. Let’s make it useful.
Ready to Start Strong?
If you want a head start, the Practical Inspirational Graphics Bundle is the easiest place to begin.
It gives you the Canva templates and beginner-friendly tutorials that help you produce better visuals fast, without reinventing the wheel every time.
When you’re ready, take a look. Your future self will be grateful.