What Worked, What Didn’t, and What to Leave Behind: A Candid Practice Debrief for 2025 with Susan Guthrie on the Practice Playbook Podcast #549

If you want a clearer, steadier, and more grounded start to 2026, this episode offers the essential year-end reflection every legal and dispute resolution professional should be doing. As the year winds down, Susan Guthrie, nationally recognized mediator, legal entrepreneur, and bestselling author,  guides you through a candid, deeply clarifying debrief of your practice.

Instead of waiting for the calendar to turn and hoping things feel different in January, Susan shows you how to understand the patterns, decisions, and dynamics that shaped your year. You’ll look closely at what worked, what drained you, and what you’re finally ready to let go of, so you can step into the new year with focus, intention, and renewed purpose.

This episode mirrors the same process Susan uses with her private coaching clients every December, and it includes access to a powerful companion worksheet to help you translate today’s insights into a written plan for the year ahead.

Whether you want to strengthen your systems, expand your visibility, refine your services, or simply create more ease in your business, this honest debrief will help you step into 2026 with clarity and confidence.

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In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Your wins are your data! Identify the strategies and behaviors that moved your practice forward this year
• How to uncover the projects, habits, and commitments that drained your time or energy
• Why follow-up remains one of the most powerful (and underused) growth tools in any practice
• How to evaluate opportunities that aligned with your vision and those that didn’t
• Key questions for assessing visibility, client experience, efficiency, and sustainability
• How to identify what to refine, what to adjust, and what to release completely
• The emotional and practical power of letting go
• How to turn lessons learned into strategic choices for the year ahead

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Download the Year-End Debrief Companion Worksheet

Make this reflection process easy and intentional with a guided worksheet created specifically for this episode. This companion resource walks you through each step of your year-end debrief so you can capture your insights clearly and turn them into meaningful action for 2026.

Download the worksheet here: https://susaneguthrie.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/ai-placeholder-5

 

Inside, you’ll find thoughtful prompts and supportive questions that help you identify your wins, acknowledge what didn’t work, and decide what you’re ready to release. It’s a simple, structured way to gather everything you uncovered in this episode and shape it into a confident plan for the year ahead.

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Who This Episode Is For

• Mediators
• Family law and collaborative professionals
• Attorneys, arbitrators, and legal neutrals
• Coaches and consultants in conflict resolution
• Solo and small firm practice owners
• Entrepreneurs seeking more clarity, sustainability, and purpose
• Anyone preparing their strategic foundation for 2026

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Resources Mentioned

• Jill Sherer Murray’s TEDx Talk: “The Unstoppable Power of Letting Go”
• Year-End Debrief Companion Worksheet – Free download can be found here https://susaneguthrie.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/ai-placeholder-5

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This Episode is Sponsored by Fourth Party

FourthParty bridges the gap between great mediators and great businesses by offering technology and guidance that make running a mediation practice feel effortless. Say goodbye to the pain of scheduling, payments, and communications.  

FourthParty is offering listeners 20% off their first 6 months with the codes SUSAN20. Head over to FourthParty.app and schedule a conversation with the team. https://fourthparty.app

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Meet Our Creator and Host: Susan E. Guthrie

Susan E. Guthrie is one of the most respected voices in mediation and conflict resolution today. A nationally recognized family law attorney and mediator for 35 years, she is now a top professional coach and consultant helping dispute resolution and legal professionals build thriving, modern practices.

Susan recently appeared on The Oprah Daily Podcast, expanding her reach to an even broader audience and highlighting her role as a trusted expert in divorce, communication, and modern conflict resolution. She is also the creator and host of The Divorce & Beyond Podcast, ranked in the top 1% worldwide, with millions of listeners and a global following.

As Immediate Past Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, Susan continues to shape the future of the profession while training and mentoring practitioners around the world.

Connect with Susan E. Guthrie

Website: https://susaneguthrie.com
Books: https://susaneguthrie.com/susans-books
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susaneguthrie
Instagram: @susaneguthrie and @practiceplaybookpodcast