Our Word For The Year and What We’re Doubling Down On In 2026

A lot has shifted for many of us this year, and there were times when it asked more of us than we expected.  This episode comes from that place.Leon and I sit down to reflect honestly on the year that was, not the highlight reel, but the real decisions, the tolerated chaos, the systems that lagged behind our growth, and the moments where pushing harder clearly wasn’t the answer.We talk about why choosing a word for the year only works when it becomes a true decision-making lens, a filter for what stays, what changes, and what gets let go.You’ll hear how sustainability shaped every major decision we made this year, what it forced us to clean up, and why the process of reflection led us very clearly to our word for 2026.If you’re closing out the year feeling proud and tired… successful and stretched… this conversation will help you reflect with clarity, release what no longer fits, and move into the next chapter with far more intention.WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:03:01 – Why this year felt compressed and expansive at the same time05:44 – The danger of choosing a word that feels good but isn’t operational9:52 – Where sustainability was leaking, and how we were tolerating chaos13:20 – The costs in our business that were quietly eroding profit17:05 – Why “free tools” often cost more than paid ones21:28 – How real downtime creates better CEO decisions23:46 – When collaboration becomes misaligned, and how to set boundaries26:08 – Re-keying offers so clients get faster results30:40 – Our exact process for choosing a word that actually shapes the year35:48 – The word we’ve chosen for 202638:07 – The three strategies we’re doubling down on next year45:23 – The market always tells the truth46:51 – The real reason money matters in businessGot questions or want more business growth content? Follow us over at @thesamriley and @leonflittonReady to build a business that funds your life and doesn't run your life? Apply to join Scale With Soul here