Don’t work harder in 2026. Build this instead.

Over the last week, I attended two webinars.
Both said the same thing:
Grinding won’t win in 2026.
Assets will.
As Daniel Priestley puts it:
With the right assets and an elegant business model, seven figures becomes convenient.
Here’s what clicked for me.
Every time I Google myself or ask ChatGPT who I am, I get: • clear positioning
• what I do
• my history
• my work
• my credibility
That’s not luck.
That’s one asset working 24/7.
What the right assets do for you
I saw Timothy Armoo’s LinkedIn post about his book launch today.
I didn’t hesitate.
I trusted him instantly.
I’ve never met Timothy.
That’s the power of assets: They build trust at scale. They increase influence. They help you outsell competitors without forcing it.
So what assets should you build for 2026?
1. IP (Intellectual Property)
This is information ChatGPT can’t recreate: • your lived experience
• your frameworks
• your point of view
• your lessons and scars
It doesn’t have to be grand.
It has to be useful, unique, and relatable.
2. Media assets (short + long form)
People usually need to see you 11 times before they trust you.
And that clock resets.
Short-form gets attention: • LinkedIn posts
• LinkedIn newsletters
• Instagram posts
• Reels
Long-form builds trust: • podcasts
• YouTube
• books
• webinars
You don’t need everything.
You need the right mix for your stage.
3. (Optional) Code
This is step three, not step one.
If you execute IP + media well, you’re already at seven figures.
Code (often AI SaaS) takes you to eight or nine.
But only after the foundation is built.
Final truth
You can’t skip steps. No IP = noise. No media = invisibility.
As Daniel Priestley says: finish the bridge.