For a long time, I thought “culture” was something big businesses talked about because they had HR departments and glossy induction manuals.

Small businesses? We were too busy actually doing the work to worry about things like mission statements and value alignment.

But after 15+ years of running teams, I learned this the hard way: if you don’t intentionally create your culture, it creates itself and you may not like the result you get.

I hope the last couple of weeks gave you some version of what you needed, be that rest, family time, quiet moments, or even just a break from the daily juggle.
And if it didn’t feel perfectly restorative? Same. January doesn’t magically reset everything… but it does give us a moment to ease back in with intention.
So I want to start 2026 with a conversation that’s been at the centre of my work lately — Community Capital — and specifically how it helps you attract and keep the right people beside you.
Because here’s the truth I’ve learned from running a dance studio, working with leaders, and watching small business owners and franchisees up close: Talent and loyalty don’t come from job ads. They come from purpose, belonging, and shared values.
Why people stay
When we treat team members like workers, they act like workers.
But when we treat them like part of something meaningful — a mission, a vision, a values-centred business — they show up differently. They stay longer. They care more. They go the extra mile.
I’ve seen it over and over again:
Staff who happily volunteer for community events that matter to them — not because they’re told to, but because it feels aligned.

Employees who feel genuinely proud to belong when you support the causes, charities, and local groups they love.

A sense of loyalty that lasts far beyond the tough days, the lean months, or the inevitable bumps in the road.

This is Community Capital in action and it’s one of the smartest investments you can make.
What “investing in people + community” can look like
It doesn’t need to be big or polished. It just needs to be intentional.
Try things like:
Asking your team what causes or community groups they care about
Offering time, not just money — volunteer days, fundraisers, team participation
Embedding your values into your daily operations, not just your mission statement
When you do this, people don’t just show up to work. They show up to belong.
This week’s challenge
Before the year gets busy, block 15 minutes and ask your team: “What community cause or local group would you love us to support with time, resources, or skills?”
Then make one small commitment:
Sponsor a local initiative
Volunteer as a group
Donate time, goods, or energy
Watch what happens when people feel part of something bigger than “just another job.”
Because when your people believe in you, they become lifetime supporters and that’s the kind of capital no ad could buy.

Too many business owners treat staffing like a transaction: post job ad → hire → manage. 

But what if you flipped that script? 

What if you built a culture so magnetic, so values-driven, that the “right people” came to you  and stayed?

I’ve seen how powerful this can be. Over the years, both in my own studios and in observing other small businesses and franchises, investing in community and values has proven itself to be one of the most reliable ways to build a loyal, committed team.

There’s a committee that lives in my head. They meet regularly, never send minutes, and have way too much to say about how I’m running my business.

Let’s talk about strength. Not the kind you show off in the gym (though good on you if that’s your thing).

I’m talking about the strength it takes to lead a team, run a business, and still have enough energy left to be a half-decent human being at the end of the day.

Because here’s what I’ve learned the hard way: you can have the plan, the strategy, the colour-coded calendar… But if you don’t have the energy to deliver any of it, it all falls flat.

You know that feeling when you look up and realise… there are only 10 productive weeks left in the year?

And somehow, every week between now and Christmas already feels spoken for?

Right. Let’s do something about it so you finish the year strong. 

Here’s a quick Quarter Four Reflection you can do in 10 minutes (yes, even on a Monday).

If you’ve been feeling a little hot and bothered lately — physically, emotionally, or just from trying to hold it all together — join the club!

In my coaching conversations this year, I’ve spoken to so many incredible women who are quietly navigating perimenopause and menopause… while still leading teams, running businesses, managing households, and trying to keep everyone (and everything) afloat.

For years, my “ideal week” looked brilliant on paper.

Colour-coded calendar blocks. Back-to-back productivity. Every hour accounted for.

If you’d looked at it, you’d think, wow, she’s got it all together. 😉

But in reality that version of my ideal week wasn’t actually ideal at all. It was a badge of honour for how much I could cram in. It martyred how hard I was working and was built to impress (god knows who 🤷‍♀️), not to serve me.

When people talk about your business, what do you hope they say?
Not just about your product or service… but about you? What kind of leader do you want to be remembered as?
These aren’t easy questions, but they’re powerful ones. Because whether you realise it or not, you’re building a personal brand every single day through your actions, your presence, your values.
And that brand? It’s not just about looking polished online.
It’s about what people feel when they interact with you.
How you make them feel seen.
What you choose to stand for.
How you show up when it matters.
Earlier this year, I shaved my head for the World’s Greatest Shave.
It had nothing to do with the dance classes I teach or the business coaching I offer. But it had everything to do with what I want to be known for: connection, community, generosity, giving back.
We raised an incredible $25,000 and the thing that moved me most? It wasn’t just the donations. It was the people who came out of the woodwork to support. Old clients. Dance families from a decade ago. Podcast listeners from overseas.
They weren’t showing up for my services. They were showing up because of what I stand for.
So let me ask you again…
What do you want to be known for?
Whatever the answer, don’t keep it to yourself. Let your community see it. Feel it. Rally around it.
Because people don’t just remember what you do. They remember how you do it and why it matters.

When I first started growing my team, I thought leadership meant setting the vision.

You know, laying out the big goals, getting everyone excited, and then letting them run with it. 

In my head, it was all about direction and inspiration. And once that was in place? Off we go!