Is AI really on its way to replacing human coaches?
As a career coach, it’s a question I find myself pondering more and more, especially with so many anxiety-inducing headlines about AI taking jobs.
I decided to experiment and asked ChatGPT a simple (but big) question:
“How can I make 2026 the best year ever?”
I wanted to see what it would come up with, whether its advice was helpful for me personally, and whether it resonated with what I work on with my career coaching clients.
Below is AI’s response (lightly edited for readability), followed by my honest verdict.
Step 1: Decide What “Best Year Ever” Actually Means
Most people skip this, apparently.
Instead of vague goals, AI suggested defining evidence.
Questions like:
- At the end of 2026, what would make me say “that worked”?
- What would be different in my day-to-day life?
Rather than writing 30 goals, the advice was to focus on three outcomes, such as:
- “I feel fit and energetic without thinking about it.”
- “I have a life outside work that excites me.”
- “I’m calmer and more confident than I was in 2025.”
My thoughts: This really resonated with me. In coaching, lack of clarity is one of the biggest reasons people feel stuck, especially at the start. Sometimes it’s hard to work out what we actually want, so I often recommend taking time to reflect on this and coming back to the question later if you feel blocked. One thing I’m going to focus on this coming year is increasing my energy levels (as much as I can with two young kids).
Step 2: Pick Three Themes for the Year
AI called these your North Stars. Instead of rigid goals, it suggested choosing a few guiding themes to help with decision-making when motivation dips.
Examples included:
- Health & Energy
- Creative Courage
- Deep Relationships
- Financial Freedom
- Adventure & Play
- Inner Calm
My thoughts: I like the idea of focusing on a small number of themes, although I’d recommend being flexible. Some people may only want to focus on one or two areas, whereas others may prefer three or four. As for me, I’m planning to focus on Health & Energy, and Creative Courage.
Step 3: Design the “Unsexy Systems”
The idea here was simple: goals fail, systems win.
Examples included:
Health
- A consistent sleep window
- One non-negotiable movement habit
- Default food rules (not diets)
Career / Money
- One skill to deepen all year
- A weekly “future hour” for learning or planning
- Automated saving or investing
Life / Joy
- A standing weekly social ritual
- One monthly “novelty day”
- One solo ritual (walks, journaling, no-phone café time)
My thoughts: I think having systems in place is really important, and one of my favourite coaches, Steve Chandler, talks about this a lot. I don’t think having goals is a bad thing, as long as you create systems to support them. I’m planning to come up with a system in 2026 to help with my phone usage. I’d like to have a few more phone-free blocks of time during the day.
Step 4: Plan the Year in Seasons (Not 12 Equal Months)
Rather than treating the year as one long stretch, AI suggested thinking in quarters, each with a different focus:
- Q1: Foundation (health reset, decluttering, skill-building)
- Q2: Expansion (saying yes more, travel, meeting new people)
- Q3: Adventure (a big challenge or trip, memories over productivity)
- Q4: Consolidation (money review, relationships, reflection)
My thoughts: This reminded me of a trend that popped up a few months ago around a Monthly Curriculum. I love the idea of leaning into the seasons and acknowledging energy shifts throughout the year. How useful this feels probably comes down to personal preference. If you have a particular priority for the year, such as changing roles, it can make sense to focus more of your energy there to begin with, and then broaden your focus as the year unfolds.
Step 5: Do One Thing That Scares You (On Purpose)
The best years usually include intentional discomfort.
AI suggested things like:
- A hard conversation
- A creative risk
- A public commitment
- A solo trip
- Actively changing how you see yourself
The key question was:
What would future-me be proud I didn’t avoid?
My thoughts: Yes to this. I love the idea of nudging your comfort zone and think it’s so important to keep doing this throughout your life and career. It doesn’t always have to be big things, but trying new experiences really matters to me and helps me keep growing. I’m making a commitment this year to try one new food every week. I can be a bit of a fussy eater, so I’ll definitely find this tricky.
Step 6: Build a Highlight Reel While You’re Living It
The suggestion was to keep a simple “2026 Wins” note:
- Add moments weekly
- Save photos, quotes or voice notes
- Capture things that feel meaningful at the time
My thoughts: I really like the idea of writing down successes and things we’re grateful for. When recording wins throughout the year, I also think it’s important to note how you felt and to acknowledge any learning from the failures too. Nothing is all sunshine and rainbows, and challenges are part of the picture.
Step 7: Cut One Thing Ruthlessly
The fastest upgrade isn’t always adding, it’s removing.
AI suggested choosing just one thing to cut:
- Doomscrolling
- Overworking
- Saying yes out of guilt
- A draining relationship
- A habit that dulls you
What you stop doing can matter as much as what you start.
My thoughts: I’m all for cutting out things that aren’t working for you. Sometimes it’s easier said than done, and unhelpful habits often need replacing with ones that serve you better. Mindlessly scrolling on social media is something I want to do less of, I just need to come up with a system to help with this!
So… what do I think?
I was impressed!
The structure is thoughtful, practical and grounded in things I know make a real difference: writing things down, creating systems, and taking small steps.
Am I worried AI is going to take my job?
Not yet. AI can be a brilliant thinking partner. It can help you organise ideas, prompt reflection, and break big questions into manageable steps.
But it can’t do everything. It can’t hold you accountable when motivation dips, give truly personal feedback, or challenge you with real empathy.
One of my favourite things about being a coach is the human connection and the relationships I build. A big thing I’ve learned this year is that my clients get the best results when we have good chemistry and connect well on that initial intro call.
I invite you to have a go at writing down your own plans to make 2026 a great year, one that includes growth and challenge, while allowing space for the inevitable ups and downs along the way.
If you’d like more support, the next intake of my Career Boost Programme launches later this month. To find out more or to request a free 20-minute consultation, get in touch.
Happy New Year!
Curious to find out more? You can read more about how I work with people here.