Creative Shop Talk Podcast Episode 289 | Become the CEO Your Life May Need in 2026
With Retail Coach Wendy Batten
Listen on: Apple Podcasts |Spotify | Radio Republic | YouTube | PlayerFM | Stitcher | iHeartRadio
In This Episode:
Season Five wraps with a heartfelt, honest conversation you don’t want to miss. In this final episode of the year, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing the real-life alignment shifts, boundaries, and mindset resets that shaped my 2025 – and how you can step confidently and intentionally into 2026.
If you’ve ever felt out of sync with your business, overwhelmed by hustle culture, or unsure whether your decisions still match the life you want today… this episode will feel like a deep breath. Wendy talks openly about anxiety, intuition, “right-fit” clients, protecting your energy, and designing a business that actually supports your life – not the other way around.
Grab a cozy drink, settle in, and get ready to reflect, recalibrate, and realign for the year ahead.
Insights to Guide Your 2026 Planning:
- Why your business can only grow as sustainably as you can
- The difference between chasing clients vs. attracting aligned ones
- Intuition whispers before it screams
- Why a full calendar isn’t the goal – spaciousness is
- The power of boundaries as leadership
- How to identify fuels vs. drains in your business
- The importance of checking whether your business still aligns with who you are today
Your Next Steps:
- Revisit your 2025 experiences: What felt aligned? What felt heavy?
- Review your client base: Who energizes you? Who doesn’t?
- Set or reinforce boundaries that support your CEO role
- Explore deeper support if you’re ready – whether that’s joining the Level Up Mastermind, or finding coaching or community.
- Need help with your 2026 planning? Grab my Best Year Ever standalone masterclass. It’s available for free for Inner Circle members and for purchase from non-members. Members and non-members alike will meet with me live on Zoom on January 13th at 2pm ET. A replay will be available for those who cannot make it live.
Related podcasts we think you’d like:
Episode 136: Coffee Break Chats with Wendy: Annual Planning That Fills Your Life Buckets
Episode 186: Choose Joy: Reframe Your Mindset and End Your Retail Year Happy
Episode 197: A Monthly Debrief: A Simple Activity All Retail Shop Owners Should Be Doing
About Your Host, Wendy Batten:
In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy Batten, retail business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle. With over 30 years of experience running successful businesses, I now help independent shop owners grow profitably and sustainably—with more confidence and joy.
I’ve had my own business columns in featured magazines, such as What Women Create and other top publications, worked with some of the top industry brands as retail care manager, and I’ve supported hundreds of retailers through coaching, speaking, my programs, and this podcast.
For more support from Wendy:
Retailer’s Inner Circle – Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community
Free resources for shop owners
Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG
All of Wendy’s current programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.
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