As a seasoned business and leadership coach, Kari Lotzien takes listeners behind the curtain of 2025 to reveal the real patterns shaping small business and where the biggest opportunities (and caution flags) lie in 2026. Drawing from private coaching sessions, the Anchored Leadership Academy, and her trusted membership community, Kari brings together powerful insights from across industries.

If you're a small business owner looking for clarity, connection, and direction as you plan for the year ahead, this is the episode you cannot afford to miss.

Key Topics Discussed:

2025 in Review:

• The 3 phases of AI adoption Kari observed in business (curiosity → chaos → cautious strategy)
• How AI created both a surge in innovation and a “trust recession”
• The slow, strategic buyer: why trust-building took longer and how to adapt

What’s Coming in 2026:

• The 4-part strategy Kari believes small businesses must embrace to thrive:

1. Get Real – authenticity over polish
2. Get Clean – simplify your offerings and processes
3. Amplify Human Connection – bring back personal touch in a digital world
4. Collaborate – leverage aligned partnerships without growing your team

AI + Human Synergy:

• Why 2026 isn’t about “AI vs. people,” but how well you balance automation with deep personal service
• Real examples of how AI can support both life and business (from meal planning to creative brainstorming)

Small Business Advantage:

• How staying small and nimble allows for deeper trust and customization
• Practical insights from Kari’s work with real leaders inside her Anchored programs
  

It's clear that small business success in 2026 won’t be about doing more, it will be about doing what matters, better. By embracing simplicity, leading with authenticity, leveraging AI thoughtfully, and building trusted partnerships, entrepreneurs have the opportunity to thrive in a rapidly shifting landscape. This is your moment to step into leadership, refine your strategy, and reconnect with the human side of business. The future belongs to those who are willing to evolve and do it with heart.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.

Work with Kari:

• Anchored Leadership Academy
• Private Business and Leadership Coaching

Contact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:

• Website: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Facebook: BeTheAnchorLtd
• Instagram: BeTheAnchor.ca
• Linked In: Kari Lotzien

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