By: Dr Gbola Adesina
As 2025 draws to a close, it is time to pause and reflect to evaluate our successes and failures, the goals we set, those we achieved, and those we did not. This moment of reflection is not about regret; it is about learning, planning, and budgeting for a better future.
_“There is no secret to success; there is a system to success.” – Colin Powell_
_“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker_
_“One faces the future with one’s past.” – Pearl S. Buck_
Entrepreneurs must approach the New Year with a clear and simple objective: to do better than the previous year in every endeavour they undertake. However, there can be no brand-new year without a brand-new you.
Success rarely happens by accident. It is built deliberately by building on existing achievements, setting realistic stretch goals, and staying disciplined and focused. The most difficult part of success at any level is not starting, but remaining consistent.
The foundation for sustainable success begins with a well-defined plan covering your career, business, family, finances, health, and personal growth. Without a plan, progress becomes scattered, directionless, and often stagnant.
_“You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight.” – Jim Rohn_
Change is a choice. Success is the result. When you adopt a proven system for achieving your goals, you stop living by other people’s expectations and start pursuing your own vision with clarity and confidence.
*The Digital Imperative for SMEs in 2026*
The application of digital technologies such as Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), analytics, Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR) is fundamentally reshaping how organisations solve problems, deliver value, and remain resilient.
Businesses that delay digitising their operations over the next three years risk losing relevance and competing for only a shrinking share of market opportunities.
To remain competitive in the digital economy, every business, regardless of size or industry, must rethink its operating model, processes, and customer engagement strategy.
SMEs that aspire to grow and scale must leverage technologies such as:
(a) Cloud-based solutions
(b) ERP as a Service
(c) Data-driven decision systems
These tools deliver agility, adaptability, faster time-to-market, scalability, and cost efficiency. Leading businesses are already leveraging cloud-enabled ERP platforms that are configurable, continuously updated, quick to deploy, accessible anywhere, and built to scale.
Manual processes must give way to digital workflows. Technology is no longer optional, it is the great equalizer, enabling SMEs to compete with large enterprises, innovate faster, and win sustainably.
Digital transformation empowers SMEs to connect, collaborate, transact, and adapt more effectively unlocking resilience and new growth opportunities.
*The SME of 2026*
The SME of 2026 is:
(a) Digitally enabled
(b) Data-driven
(c) Customer-centric
(d) Highly automated
(e) Experiment-learn-iterate focused
SME operates within a technology-driven ecosystem that amplifies its presence, productivity, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability.
_“The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” – William Pollard_
Doing the same things repeatedly while expecting different results is unrealistic. You cannot run tomorrow’s business with yesterday’s methods and expect to remain relevant.
*The Way Forward*
To succeed in 2026, SMEs must:
(a) Redefine their business models
(b) Digitize their business strategies
(c) Be creative, imaginative, and innovative
(d) Seek coaching, support, accountability, and self-awareness
(e) Trim inefficiencies and non-value-adding costs
(f) Speak with an expert—now
*Final Thought*
There has never been a better time than now to regroup, realign, and refocus on your goals for 2026.
The future belongs to prepared, intentional, and digitally empowered entrepreneurs.
Compliments of the Season!
Dr. Adesina writes via smeshub@gmail.com
