Taking a Gap Year as an Entrepreneur: My Year of Letting Go in 2026

I'm not sure what 2026 holds... and that's okay

^ If you’d rather listen to me read this post to you, click “play” above! :)

I told a friend this morning that after I wrapped my last keynote speech of 2025 on Sunday in Austin, Texas, I feel a little like I’ve just graduated from an incredible college experience without a job. It’s a feeling many entrepreneurs face after they’ve had a big year or released a book — wondering what comes next when there’s no clear path forward.

2025 was a year of super high-highs. So much exposure and new experiences in my business. A lot of attention and kind words around my first book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy. My podcast, On Your Terms®️, growing like crazy. Getting invited onto the biggest stages and podcasts in our industry.

I felt like doors had finally started opening that I’d been knocking on for so long without an answer. I started feeling like people were seeing my value beyond just “being a lawyer” and having lots of helpful legal tips to share. More importantly, I think *I* started seeing my value more that way, too.

2025 ✨

But the calendar for 2026 looks entirely different for 2025.

In fact, I don’t have much on it. And I’m not sure how I feel about it.

Honestly, I don’t have any big vision for 2026. There’s no book release. None of my friends are flying in from around the world to celebrate it. I don’t get to record another audiobook (my real 2025 highlight!). There’s no fancy new product coming after the book. Without these big events on the cal, I’m learning what it means to take a break without the constant (self-induced) pressure to produce.

It also feels sort of like when you come back from an incredible vacation and realize you don’t have another one on the calendar. I feel like I have nothing to look forward to except the unknown.

As of now, the plan is to have a “repeat” normal business year. I know how to create another 7-figure year, but it’s sort of like “maintenance mode.” (If you want to steal my planning method, I have a free annual planning guide here).

Another 7-figure year might seem like the dream to you. But for me, it’s no longer just about hitting high figures. I feel called to do more, but I don’t know what ‘more’ is.

The Pressure of ‘What’s Next’ After a Successful Year

It doesn’t help that after the year I’ve had, everyone keeps asking me, “what’s next? What’s next?”

I feel ashamed I don’t have an answer for them. It feels like I should. Like I’ve done something wrong to not. Clearly I’m supposed to have a next step — everyone else seems to think so, at least. “Maybe I’ve failed to capitalize on the momentum. Maybe I messed something up along the way,” I think. This lack of clarity, of a clear next step, is some fault of my own. Someone else would have handled this differently — made something out of all of this.

As this year unfolded, I said “yes” to nearly everything that came my way. Even if I wasn’t sure if it was totally “on brand” or had my “target audience,” I went anyway. I was open to whatever came from it. Secretly, though, I also hoped it would bring me the clarity I so desperately sought for what’s next after success. I honestly thought that after my book came out, I’d know exactly what I wanted to do next. Instead, it provided me with so many opportunities that I was left just as confused and unsure as before it came out.

The truth is, I don’t know what I want to do next— a common experience for entrepreneurs recovering from burnout.

That’s probably why I don’t have a plan.

I spent so much of this year forcing myself to come up with a plan, but not getting in touch with what I actually want. The solution to my uncertainty, I thought, will come to me if I just try harder to force it to the surface. The harder I squeezed, the cloudier my brain felt. And the further away any clarity I did have drifted.

I don’t know what else is out there or even what I want to do. I have my moments where I think there’s nothing else I can do. And then I get frustrated when I see someone else go out and claim something, which seems to indicate that there are still things I want.

I’m not sure if email marketing and online business growth is the sole legacy I want to leave. I have my moments where I think I have so much more to offer, and others where I think I literally have nothing to offer.

After grieving so hard, for so long, I am tired. Even if there are things I could do, directions I could go in, I don’t know if I want to. This exhaustion is part of why I’m treating 2026 as my entrepreneur gap year—a time to rest without the weight of what’s next.

When both of my parents died back-to-back, I didn’t take a beat. I got my book deal the day my mom died. I dove into writing a 90,000+ word manuscript nearly a month later. I’ve only recently started feeling ‘better’ — so maybe I just need time to heal and rest, without the pressure of “what’s next” hanging over me. The downside to being an entrepreneur recovering from business burnout is that there’s no entrepreneur rest plan (if you still need an income).

Why I’m Declaring 2026 My Year of Letting Go

So now I’m just declaring it:

I don’t know what’s next for me and that’s okay.

I’m making 2026 my business gap year— my year of letting go.

I’m not taking off completely or going anything — don’t worry ;) I’m just stepping off the carousel of high-achievement and go-go-going.

I picture myself in a float tank, bobbing at the surface peacefully and at rest. I’m open to what’s before me, but I’m not looking for it because my eyes are closed. I’m blocking out the noise and the hustle, I’m not participating in the rat race.

My mindset coach, Jennifer Diaz, suggested I think of it as a business gap year. “Take a year to play and see what happens,” she said. I think that’s exactly what I need to do.

When I think of a “gap year” for me, it’s more about being conscious of what I’m doing, taking in, and surrounding myself with. Instead of just continuing to say “yes” to everything and hustle for the sake of hustling, I’m being more intentional next year about what comes into my world.

I don’t want to go into 2026 thinking it’s a business gap year so that I can come up with my next step. I think the point is just to wander and wonder. I’m such a big fan of leading with curiosity and openness in my business, why not try applying that to my life a little bit more?

I can keep my business running like usual — it’s a well oiled machine 👏 — while I, at least personally, float around. I have that luxury.

But it’s truly only a luxury if I take advantage of it.

What a Gap Year Looks Like for Entrepreneurs

So what does a gap year for business owners look like logistically? Here’s my plan:

📞 Fewer calls/meetings:

If I fill my calendar with lots of appointments, pick-your-brains and meetings, all I do is continue to gather more ideas and tire my brain out (so I can’t think of anything new).

✨ Surrounding myself with inspiring people:

I joined a super-small, high-caliber mastermind full of incredible people (who just so happen to be entrepreneurs). I’m putting myself in the room with people who are doing things on a big scale, and in a very different way than I’ve done things.

💪 A non-business goal:

I’m going to pick a big non-business goal to focus on this year, most likely another HYROX race or triathlon (← where I’m leaning). I learn so much about myself when I get out of my head and move my body.

🎨 Creativity:

I’ve been on a creativity journey for the past few months (let me know if you want to hear more!), so I’ll continue taking art classes, learning how to draw, free writing, journaling, and playing more.

💰 Business as usual:

I have a small-but-mighty team and we run a tight ship. We know what to do to generate a lot of revenue, and we’re super profitable while doing it. That means, doing what we do best to keep things going, but not adding on extra launches or products if we don’t want to.

I’m curious to hear if any of this resonates with you and how you might be feeling around 2026. There’s so much pressure to have it all figured out and to have a perfectly plotted out plan.

Leave a comment (in app!) or hit “reply” to let me know what’s in store for you.

Talk soon!

xo,

Sam

PS. I’m sharing a 4-part ‘How to Build Your Email List’ series on my podcast, On Your Terms®️ this month. Listen to Part 1 here and Part 2 here.