In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor unpacks why January so often feels harder than it should for entrepreneurs and leadership teams, and why losing momentum early in the year is far more common than most people admit.

Debra challenges the idea that momentum is about speed, explaining instead that it is built through direction and consistency. She explores the five key reasons January momentum collapses, including unrealistic expectations, goals built on optimism rather than truth, avoiding last year’s unresolved issues, mismatched team energy, and the habit of trying to do everything yourself.

Drawing on real client stories and lived experience, Debra reframes January as a warm up month rather than a sprint. She encourages leaders to start with honest conversations, prioritise fewer meaningful actions, reset team rhythms, and address family business tensions that often surface over the holidays.

This episode is a grounded reminder that momentum is not created through hype or hustle. It comes from clarity, honesty, and giving yourself permission to rebuild at a sustainable pace. If January has already felt heavy or disappointing, this conversation will help you reset without guilt and move forward with confidence.

CONNECT WITH DEBRA:        
___________________________________________        
►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner

►Connect with Debra: debra@businessaction.com.au

►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/
►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/

Episode 255 Chapters:  

00:00 – Introduction

00:34 – January’s Emotional and Productivity Challenges

02:56 – Biological and Emotional Factors Affecting January Productivity

04:05 – Common Pitfalls and Real Examples of January Madness

08:59 – Rebuilding Momentum with Real Solutions

11:11 – Practical Tips for Maintaining Momentum

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Justine Parsons, founder of Your VA and The Lever, to explore the pivotal shift from managing a business to truly leading one. Justine shares her 27-year journey of building a virtual assistant business from the ground up, growing a team of more than 50 people, and eventually realising that success should not mean constant reactivity, exhaustion, or being needed for every decision. Together, Debra and Justine unpack the moment many founders face where the business works, but the role they are playing no longer does. The conversation dives into the emotional and practical challenges of stepping out of day to day management, trusting others to lead, and redefining what success looks like beyond revenue and growth. Justine reflects the importance of external support, mentorship, and frameworks like EOS in helping her create clarity, build a strong leadership team, and put the right people in the right seats. This episode is a powerful reminder that businesses are meant to serve their owners, not consume them. If you are feeling stuck in the weeds, questioning your role, or sensing it is time to move from managing to leading, this conversation will help you see what is possible on the other side. CONNECT WITH DEBRA:         ___________________________________________         ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra@businessaction.com.au ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ ___________________________________________ JUSTINE'S DETAILS: ►Justine Parsons – LinkedIn: https://nz.linkedin.com/in/justineparsons ►The Lever – Website: https://thelever.co.nz/ Episode 254 Chapters:   00:00 – Introduction 00:35 – Transitioning from Manager to Leader 03:24 – Challenges and Solutions with EOS 05:32 – Personal Success and Business Balance 08:43 – The Role of Leadership and Management 18:45 – Building a Strong Leadership Team 47:38 – The Journey to Becoming a Leader 48:03 – The Impact of EOS on Business Growth 48:32 – The Role of External Support in Business Success 50:54 – The Importance of Trust and Accountability 51:08 – The Journey to Personal and Business Freedom

In this week’s episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor challenges the annual ritual of New Year’s resolutions and explains why most of them quietly collapse by February.

Debra unpacks the three big illusions that keep entrepreneurs stuck. The belief in a magical fresh start, the short-lived energy of January, and the assumption that wanting change is the same as committing to it. She shares a loving truth many leaders need to hear. You are not lazy or undisciplined, you are overloaded and unsupported by structure.

Rather than chasing motivation, Debra offers a simpler, more sustainable approach. Choosing just two non-negotiable anchors for the year, one personal and one business, and building a consistent weekly rhythm that makes progress unavoidable. She explores how creating friction for old habits, setting firm boundaries, and planning energy into the calendar are essential for real change.

The episode also highlights a crucial but often ignored factor in personal follow-through. Your team. Debra explains why individual willpower is not enough, and how tenacious, accountable teams make long-term change possible.

If you are tired of setting goals you do not keep and ready to build a year that actually sticks, this episode will help you replace resolutions with systems and start the year with clarity, compassion, and traction.

CONNECT WITH DEBRA:        
___________________________________________        
►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner

►Connect with Debra: ⁠debra@businessaction.com.au ⁠

►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/
►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/

Episode 253 Chapters:  

00:00 – Introduction

00:33 – New Year’s Resolutions and Structural Failures

01:54 – Three January Illusions

02:51 – Loving Truths and Overloading

04:49 – The Three-Week Slump

06:40 – Setting Goals and Building Systems

07:13 – Creating Friction and Setting Boundaries

09:04 – Treating Yourself with Compassion

10:19 – The Role of Tenacious Teams