Planning for Your Best Year Ever in 2026
The ‘Atomic’ Approach
–A Six Part Series–
Part Two
by
Bob Marshall
December 2, 2025
The Central Theme Behind What We Do
At TBMG, International, we live by a simple philosophy: the classics of recruitment success never change. They may evolve with the times, but the core principles remain. If you share that belief, you’ll fit right in.
We follow the Golden Circle:
We treat this business as a Process, not a Series of Events
Why we do what we do:
We believe timeless recruitment principles drive consistent results. Those who embrace these principles achieve more, and we encourage you to do the same.
How we do what we do:
We repeat and reinforce these classic principles regularly until they become second nature for the recruiters we coach.
What we do:
We provide expert, affordable coaching, training, and proven recruitment tools—and we make sure our recruiters know how to use them consistently.
We believe in the Partnership Approach:
We focus on the Knowledge Deficiencies
You focus on the Execution Deficiencies
Part Two – Planning & The Five Central Principles of Goal Setting
Begin at the Beginning
Every new venture deserves a clean start. And that means leaving last year’s baggage where it belongs — behind you. You don’t build momentum by dragging old mistakes into a new plan.
Think of it like dining at a great restaurant. Between courses, the waiter brings out a small sorbet to cleanse your palate — a reset, a way to fully appreciate what’s coming next. That’s the mindset you want as you plan your goals for 2026. Clear. Neutral. Uncluttered.
No guilt.
No replaying last year’s “should haves.”
No dragging forward habits that didn’t serve you.
You’ve heard the old line: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” True. But here’s the good news — sanity is simply choosing to do something different.
One way I reset my own thinking each year is by revisiting a short book packed with timeless wisdom: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. His four principles — speak with integrity, don’t take things personally, avoid assumptions, and always do your best — form a perfect foundation for planning. They clear mental clutter so you can move into the new year with intention instead of inertia.
The Five Central Principles of Goal Setting
These principles haven’t changed in decades because they work — and the top billers I’ve trained who follow them consistently always outperform those who don’t.
1. Put your goals in writing.
If it’s not written down, it’s not a goal. It’s a wish.
2. Visualize your goals vividly.
Pictures on your desk. A note on your mirror. A reminder on your phone. Make it real.
3. Desire them ardently.
You must want the outcome deeply enough to push through the grind.
4. Commit to the journey.
A goal without commitment is just an idea taking up space.
5. Have an accountability partner.
Someone who expects progress from you — weekly, not “whenever.”
If these five elements are in place, your chances of hitting your goals go up dramatically. And here’s the part people forget: goal setting can be fun. It’s not a chore — it’s your design process for the kind of year you want to experience.
A Short Illustrative Story
A few years ago, I worked with a recruiter named Laura. Smart, experienced, great instincts — but she kept plateauing. Every January, she set the same goal: “Bill $300K.” And every December, she landed right around $180K.
When we dug in, the problem wasn’t effort. It was the approach. Her goals lived in her head, not on paper. No visualization. No accountability partner. Plenty of desire, but no structure.
So we did a reset — her version of the “sorbet course.”
We wrote down her goals.
Printed a simple one-page plan for her desk.
Added two visuals: a number chart and a photo of the vacation she wanted to take.
And most important, she checked in with me every Friday with a short progress report.
In twelve months, she billed $342K — more than she had earned in the previous two years combined.
We didn’t change who she was.
We changed her system.
And that’s the entire point of goal setting done correctly.
Next week: Part Three – The Framework – Yearly Planning Worksheet; Quarterly Goal Sheet; & Daily 100 Point Sheet
Bob Marshall began his recruiting career over 45 years ago at MR in Reno, NV. In 1986 he established The Bob Marshall Group, International, where he has trained recruiters throughout the United States and also in the United Kingdom, Malta and Cyprus. With a dedication to executive recruiting, he continues to offer his proven training systems to individuals, firms, and private corporations both domestic and in select international territories. To learn more about his activities and descriptions of his products and services, contact him directly @770-898-5550/470-456-0386(m); bob@themarshallplan.org; or visit his website @ www.TheMarshallPlan.org.