In this week’s pep talk, I am sharing a behind-the-scenes look at what we’re actually prioritizing right now—why a slower start isn’t a setback, and how refining your focus, energy, and systems can lead to more aligned, sustainable growth. This episode is an invitation to stop forcing momentum and start building a business that works with your life, not against it.

In today’s episode, I share:

• 01:48 – Why a slow, messy start to the year can be exactly what you need
• 03:36 – What a “becoming year” really looks like when you stop setting rigid goals
• 05:36 – Why energy and health became the first non-negotiable investment
• 07:07 – The power of choosing one fun, life-giving focus instead of a long resolution list
• 09:13 – Why podcasting remains the anchor platform and center of the business
• 10:45 – How SEO and evergreen content support growth without constant visibility
• 12:06 – Building a human-first sales system rooted in relationships and follow-up
• 13:26 – Why community and micro-partnerships are replacing hustle-driven marketing
• 15:09 – How AI is being used as support, not a replacement, for creativity and voice
• 17:47 – Why hiring specialists (not doing everything yourself) protects your time and energy
• 19:29 – Letting branding, creativity, and travel be part of a sustainable business rhythm
• 22:15 – Three grounding questions to help you choose your anchor, background systems, and what to stop forcing

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:

👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek

🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com

📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes

🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat

🔗 FREE RESOURCES:

https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme

If you’ve ever wondered whether speaking could actually turn into income—or questioned if your story is “big enough” to share—this episode will change the way you see your voice and your potential.

In this conversation, I sit down with bestselling author and keynote speaker Jess Ekstrom to talk about how entrepreneurs can use speaking and thought leadership to build confidence, visibility, and sustainable income. We discuss what it really looks like to grow a business while balancing family and travel, how to confidently charge for your expertise, and why speaking has become one of the most powerful authority-building tools in Jess’s business.

Jess also shares the mindset shift that helps entrepreneurs move past self-doubt, step into leadership, and turn their voice into an income stream—without burnout or chasing constant visibility.

If you’re an entrepreneur curious about speaking, personal branding, or building authority in a way that aligns with your life and values, this episode will help you see that you already have what it takes to get started.

Today you’ll hear:

• 03:35 – What a life-first business looks like for Jess in this season of motherhood
• 06:10 – How becoming a parent pushed her to finally charge her value as a speaker
• 07:10 – The “Gig Scorecard” she uses to decide which speaking opportunities are truly worth it
• 10:48 – Her process for uncovering the through-line in your story (even if you don’t think you have one)
• 12:56 – The vulnerable moment she started sharing on stage that changed the way audiences connected with her
• 14:48 – Why speaking becomes a launchpad for book deals, media opportunities, and new revenue
• 16:20 – The first step she recommends if you want to start speaking this year
• 19:00 – Her mantra before big events and the mindset shift from spotlight to lighthouse
• 26:11 – The advice she’d give her younger self about evolving, pivoting, and worrying less about what people think

CONNECT WITH JESS:

Website: www.jessekstrom.com

Instagram: @jess_ekstrom

January Speak on Stage Bootcamp: https://micdropworkshop.spiffy.co/a/bootcamp/5805

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:

👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek

🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com

📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes

🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat

🔗 FREE RESOURCES:

https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme

In this episode, I’m sharing why entrepreneurs don’t need a rigid New Year plan for growth—and how a more sustainable approach to planning can create clarity, momentum, and focus without burnout.

We’ll talk about why January doesn’t need to be rushed, how stepping away from internet-driven pressure leads to better decision-making, and what it looks like to set a few clear, grounded non-negotiables instead of an overpacked plan.

If you’re an entrepreneur who wants to plan the new year with intention, protect your energy, and build long-term growth without forcing productivity, this episode will help you slow down, recalibrate, and lead your business in a way that actually works.

In today’s episode, I share:

• 03:48 – Why 2026 feels like a “becoming year” and what the Year of the Horse symbolizes for leadership, clarity, and movement
• 07:18 – How treating January as a recalibration month (not a sprint) changed everything
• 08:48 – Why focusing on non-negotiables matters more than setting big goals or resolutions
• 09:28 – Why the podcast remains the portal and the most aligned anchor in the business
• 10:38 – The power of one simple weekly email and how the Better Together newsletter fits into a sustainable rhythm
• 11:48 – Why committing to one in-person networking event a month creates real momentum and connection
• 12:48 – How the CEO Week schedule provides structure without rigidity (and why No-Meeting Fridays are sacred)
• 14:08 – A simple framework to define your own theme, non-negotiables, and quarterly rhythm
• 16:18 – Permission to stop forcing clarity, trust your boundaries, and let your habits reveal what’s next

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:

👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek

🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com

📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes

🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat

🔗 FREE RESOURCES:

https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme