Coach's Corner Weekly- Jan 21
Jan 21, 2026
Coach’s Corner Weekly
Curated by Coach Ralph— a weekly balance of insights, wisdom, and strategy.
Welcome to the very first edition of Coach’s Corner Weekly—your go-to source for finance industry insights, career wisdom, and thought starters to keep you ahead of the curve.
Whether you’re climbing the ladder or recalibrating your path, this space is built for high-performers who think strategically about where they’re headed.
Let’s dive in!
Weekly Insight 💡
January is often the hardest month of the year. The holiday festivities are long gone, the winter doldrums set in and we are faced with confronting those pesky goals and aspirations again. We can, however, turn the quiet, indoor time into an advantage by using it to conquer that often overlooked need to take stock, read, reflect, and grow. It’s a good time to ask ourselves how we feel we’re doing in the key areas of our lives, our mental and physical health, relationships, and career journeys. Journaling is a terrific way to plot and revisit our long-term goals, make the needed adjustments and explore new ideas and wants. Maybe now’s the perfect time to take that cooking class, learn to play an instrument, or sign up for a new course to advance your learning and career trajectory. The dark, quiet winter mornings are ideal brainstorm ideas with a warm cup of coffee or tea. Ideas without execution leaves you running in place, so be sure to jot down an action plan for your follow-up steps. Even better, calendarize your plans by scheduling time for yourself in the coming months to move the ball forward on your 2026 goals.
Career Move of the Week💼
Try this: Never eat alone. Make a list of people in your workplace to network with. Grab that Starbucks or salad with different co-workers across broad business lines. Make it a series of fun informational get-togethers to learn how people have arrived in the seats they have today. Take personal interest in their lives to build relationships and friendships, but be strategic. Ask for advice and ideas on where they see opportunities at the firm and across the industry. I guarantee you these will pay dividends for life!
Example:
❌How’s it going; how was your weekend?
✅What do you do for fun outside of work? Tell me how you decided to go into marketing? What were you doing in your previous job? How are things going on your side of the business?
Market Mindset 📈
Trend Watch: 2026 looks promising for the economy, for the markets, and the job market. The policy uncertainty and caution of 2025 is now mostly behind us as higher equity markets, tax cuts, deregulation, and lower borrowing rates serve as tailwinds for the economy and the markets. After slower hiring last year, it’s likely companies will need to staff up to meet greater demand.
Why it Matters: Business confidence supports hiring and networking as companies seek to meet their 2026 business targets. AI can only take us so far. We need humans to decipher, implement and communicate the data finding and process outcomes.
Consider This: Now’s the time to network. The first few months of the year are the most ripe for job turnover as people jump ship after receiving their year-end bonuses and reviews. Get in front of people even if there isn’t a current open position. You’ll be top of mind when something suddenly opens up!
Coach’s Call 📱
Need clarity? I’m offering a few complimentary 20-minute strategy sessions this month.
🗓️ Book a Clarity Call with Coach Ralph »
Until next week—
Onward,
Coach Ralph
NewVista Career Coaching