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The start of a new year often comes with pressure: new goals, new systems, new ideas, and a long list of things people think they should be doing. But more often than not, that approach creates chaos instead of clarity.

In this episode, we talk about how to kick off a new year in your business without overcomplicating it. We break down why adding more isn’t usually the answer, why pausing to assess matters more than rushing forward, and how clarity, simplicity, and focus create real momentum.

We also discuss education, leadership, systems, and why so many businesses stay stuck repeating the same problems year after year. From writing things down instead of keeping them in your head, to choosing one problem to solve instead of ten, this episode is about building a stronger foundation before you try to build anything new.

If you’re entering the year feeling motivated but overwhelmed, this conversation will help you slow down, refocus, and move forward with intention, one step at a time.

Key Takeaways

• The new year doesn’t require more ideas — it requires clarity.
• Education, leadership, and systems should serve the people they impact.
• Simplicity is harder than complexity — and far more effective.
• Keeping things “in your head” guarantees confusion for your team.
• Written systems reduce repeated questions and owner burnout.
• Solving one problem well is better than touching ten problems poorly.
• Real change takes time, testing, and patience.
• Promises to your team only matter if they’re delivered.
• Busy work creates noise; focused work creates progress.
• You don’t need a full reset — you need a clear next step.

Time Stamps

00:00 — Welcome + first episode of 2026
 01:00 — New year pressure and doing too much too fast
 02:00 — Jen’s opening take: education should serve others, not ego
 04:00 — Todd’s opening take: simplicity beats overwhelm in education
 06:00 — Why “dazzling” people doesn’t equal teaching
 08:00 — Foundations matter more than advanced techniques
 09:30 — Adding more vs assessing what already exists
 11:00 — Getting ideas out of your head and onto paper
 12:30 — Mission statements, SOPs, and clarity for teams
 14:30 — Why teams get confused when systems aren’t written
 16:30 — Staff asking peers instead of owners (and why it happens)
 18:00 — Choosing one problem to solve first
 19:30 — Why slow progress is still progress
 21:00 — How long real change actually takes
 23:00 — What Hello Hair focused on last year
 25:00 — Promises vs delivery and owner accountability
 27:00 — Reordering priorities as the year unfolds
 29:00 — Noise, trends, and low-impact decisions
 31:00 — Why busy doesn’t mean productive
 33:00 — What actually grows a business
 34:30 — One system, one number, one relationship
 36:00 — Final thoughts: simplify, focus, and move intentionally

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