My Word of the Year for 2026 is No

Send us Fan MailIn this New Year’s episode, Kendra Corman gets candid about why she’s heading into 2026 tired, excited… and fiercely committed to one word: no. After a 2025 defined by “forge” (building, growing, expanding), a family crisis and an overload of opportunities forced her to re-evaluate sustainability, boundaries, and what it really takes to preserve creative focus.Kendra shares the behind-the-scenes story of her year—what went right, what went sideways, and why the systems and people you build now are what save you later. What 2025 Taught Kendra About Growth and OverloadKendra went into 2025 with momentum, capacity, and big goals—and hit them hard.A strong first quarter with focused, energized work timeA goal of 25 speaking gigs that turned into 35+ eventsMovement on major business projects, including a second edition of her bookA huge personal “yes”: becoming a full-time assistant professor at Rochester Christian UniversityThe Moment Everything ChangedA serious fall and ICU stay for Kendra’s mom pulled her into months of caretaking and travel.What stood out most wasn’t just the disruption—it was the proof that what she’d built actually held up:Her assistant (Carol) triaged inboxes, managed tasks, and kept clients supportedSystems like Asana and strong relationships prevented a total business collapseThe experience reinforced how vital support structures are—even for solopreneursKendra realized: capacity isn’t just about time. It’s about what you’ve built to hold you when life happens.When “Forge” Turned into “Fracture”Even with major wins, Kendra stretched too far.Weeks with multiple speaking events, including one with four in a single weekDrift from a 4–5 day workweek back to 7 daysFeeling like she was working constantly but not moving forwardBook revisions stalled, and recovery time evaporatedThe truth she landed on: success without boundaries becomes burnout in disguise.Why “No” Is Her Word of the Year (Again)Kendra revisits a tool that once helped her escape burnout in 2022: saying no first.So in 2026, “no” is back as the guardrail.Her challenge to listeners:Block vacations nowProtect pre- and post-travel buffersPut the important stuff on the calendar before it gets crowded outKey TakeawaysSystems and support are what keep your business stable when life interrupts.Saying yes is exciting—but on Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube. From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain. Watch here