Every January, leaders set goals.
Revenue targets. Growth plans. New initiatives.
Often paired with a quiet thought in the background:
“We need to push harder this year.”
“We need to push harder this year.”
That instinct is exactly why I created the Essential Guide to Boosting Revenue Without Adding More Leads — because in many businesses, more volume isn’t the answer. Better systems are.
And that question of system starts earlier than most people expect.
It starts with the system those goals have to run through.
Your nervous system.
If last year felt busy, reactive, exhausting, or like you were always “on,” this matters more than another productivity hack.
The Real Question for the New Year
It’s not: “What do I want to achieve this year?”
It’s: “What operating mode am I starting the year in?”
Because your nervous system determines:
- how you make decisions
- how well you focus
- how you lead under pressure
- whether you’re proactive or reactive
- how long you can sustain high performance
And most high performers are starting the year in emergency mode without realizing it.
The two modes that run your performance
Your nervous system has two primary settings:
1. Survival mode
This is the “get things done” mode:
- urgency
- fast decisions
- problem solving
- constant alertness
It’s useful. It’s also meant to be temporary.
2. Recovery mode
This is the “build capacity” mode:
- strategic thinking
- creativity
- learning
- digestion
- immune repair
- emotional regulation
This is where:
- better ideas form
- teams connect
- resilience is built
- long-term improvement actually happens
High performers need access to both. Most people only use one.
Why starting the year in survival mode backfires
When survival mode stays on too long, performance doesn’t improve — it degrades.
At work, it looks like:
- constant firefighting
- shallow focus
- reactive leadership
- decisions that solve today’s problem but create tomorrow’s
You’re productive, but not effective. Busy, but not improving.
From a systems perspective:
You’re running the business in incident response instead of continuous improvement. No strategy survives that for long.
What “nervous system regulation” actually means (no hype)
Ignore the buzzwords.
Regulation simply means:
Your body knows when it’s safe to turn emergency mode off.
Your body knows when it’s safe to turn emergency mode off.
That’s it. Not calm all the time. Not stress-free. Not soft.
Just the ability to downshift when the threat is gone — so recovery and higher-order thinking can happen.
Five simple ways to start the year regulated and strong
These are fast, boring, and effective — which is exactly why they work.
1. Breathe with longer exhales (2 minutes)
Longer exhales tell your nervous system you’re safe.
Use this:
- before meetings
- before meals
- before making decisions
2. Create real transitions
No more carrying everything all the time.
Examples:
- Sit in your car for one minute before going inside
- Close your laptop and pause before switching tasks
- Change clothes at the end of the workday
Transitions signal closure — and closure reduces stress.
3. Move before you think
A short walk or stretch resets stress faster than analysis. Your brain listens to your body first.
4. Eat at least one meal without multitasking
Digestion, energy regulation, and recovery only happen outside survival mode. This directly impacts focus and stamina.
5. Recover briefly, multiple times a day
Recovery isn’t time off. It’s switching modes. Two minutes, several times a day, beats one vacation a year.
Why this matters for leaders especially
Teams mirror the nervous system of their leaders.
If everything feels urgent:
- people stop thinking strategically
- mistakes increase
- learning slows
- culture becomes reactive
Calm leadership isn’t about personality. It’s about creating capacity — in yourself and others.
The real way to start the year strong
This year doesn’t need more pressure.
It needs a better operating system.
It needs a better operating system.
Nervous system regulation isn’t self-care.
It’s performance infrastructure.
It’s performance infrastructure.
No business scales in permanent crisis mode.
No human does either.
No human does either.
If you want better decisions, clearer thinking, and sustainable results this year — start by teaching your system when it’s safe to stand down.
That’s how real momentum is built.
Curated Picks
🎧 Listen: Avoiding the “Fractional CEO” Life (and the Burnout That Comes With It)
A timely listen for the start of the year. This episode is a grounded reminder that doing everything isn’t the same as leading well—and that clarity around role, focus, and ownership matters more than sheer effort as the year ramps up.
Try: The 20-Minute New Year Reset
Set a timer and answer just three prompts:
- What do I want more of this year?
- What am I done tolerating?
- What would make 2026 feel like a win by December?
Simple, grounding, and surprisingly clarifying.
Strategy Spotlight
Quick Win: Map One Workflow Before Automating
Before you automate with AI, pick one repetitive task your team struggles with and document the steps.
Why it works:
- Reveals inefficiencies
- Makes handoffs clear
- Sets up AI to actually add value
Start small. Get clarity. Then scale.
Want to Work With Us?
The January cohort of The Ops Edge Academy is officially underway—and spots are gone.
The next opportunity will be limited, and priority access will go to the waitlist first.
If you don’t want to be watching from the sidelines again, join the waitlist now.
In your service,
Hilary Corna
