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Recession fears. Economic uncertainty. Tariffs. Interest rates. It's been a stressful year for small business owners, and you might be worried about what 2026 will bring.

But here's what I learned this week at a Small Business Week event with the Chief Economist from BDC: 2026 won't be as bad as you think.

Yes, we'll see slower growth. But growth nonetheless - not recession. And as a small business owner, you have way more control over your success than you realize.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the economic outlook for 2026 (both Canada and the US), what it actually means for small businesses, and most importantly - what you can do right now to ensure your business thrives regardless of what the economy does.

What we cover:

• The real economic outlook for 2026 (hint: it's not doom and gloom)
• Why consumer spending will continue and what that means for service-based businesses
• The areas you can actually control in your business: productivity, costs, customer experience, and sales
• Why AI might be your secret weapon for 2026
• The hard truth about sales: why YOU need to be doing it (and when you can finally delegate)
• The Million Dollar Baby lesson every business owner needs to hear

The Bottom Line:
You can't blame the economy for slow sales when you're doing nothing to bring clients in. People are still spending, but they're being more cautious. Your job is to show them why you're worth it.

Stop waiting. Start planning. Make 2026 your best year yet.

Ready to Plan Your Best 2026?

I'm hosting two complimentary Strategic Planning Events in November and December to help you create a clear, actionable plan for 2026. Spaces are limited.

Email me at maggie@stairwaytoleadership.com to secure your spot.

Want personalized help growing your business? Book a complimentary consultation at https://www.stairwaytoleadership.com/

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Entrepreneurs never lack ideas. The challenge? Actually implementing them.

If you're busy running your business day-to-day and struggling to turn your brilliant ideas into action, today's Maggie's Moment is for you.

I'm sharing three simple questions that will help you prioritize which ideas to implement first - and the one critical step that ensures they actually happen.

Stop collecting ideas. Start implementing the right ones.

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You've been listening to my podcast, hearing my voice, learning from my frameworks - but do you actually know who I am?

Recently, I was running an event with local entrepreneurs, and someone mentioned they'd heard about the Diamond Effect Podcast. It hit me: my podcast is being talked about in rooms I'm not in, which means more of you are listening... but you might not really know Maggie.

I'm naturally introverted. I love to teach and share value, but I don't often talk about myself. So today, I'm changing that.

This is a more relaxed, fun episode where I'm sharing 10 fun facts about me and 10 core beliefs and values that drive everything I do - personally and in my business.

What you'll discover in this episode:

10 Fun Facts - From the three languages I speak (with accents in all of them!) to my secret love of basketball, why I can seem intimidating at first, and the special significance of the number 23.

10 Core Beliefs and Values - The principles that guide everything I do, from respect and kindness to leadership, unlimited potential, love, and giving back. These aren't just nice ideas - they're the foundation of how I coach and how I live.

My Journey to Coaching - How I went from 13+ years in corporate leadership (sales, operations, service excellence, people leadership, and more) to burning out, leaving it all behind, and building a business helping service-based entrepreneurs scale sustainably.

Why This Episode Matters:

If you've been listening to the podcast but don't really know the woman behind the microphone, this episode is for you. Understanding my values and beliefs will help you understand why I coach the way I do - and whether we're the right fit to work together.

This is probably the most vulnerable episode I've ever recorded. I don't usually talk about myself like this. But I think it's time you got to know me beyond the business frameworks and strategies.

Why Episode 223?

The number 23 has special significance for me (you'll have to listen to find out why!), so this felt like the perfect episode to finally introduce myself properly.

I hope you enjoy this more personal side of the podcast. Let me know what you thought - email me at maggie@stairwaytoleadership.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Legacy Makers TV episode featuring my background, corporate burnout, and how I started my business story. You can watch it here https://insidesuccess.tv/programs/legacymakerstvcommaggie-perotin?category_id=237591

Want to work together? Book a complimentary consultation at https://www.stairwaytoleadership.com/

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Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

For me, this day marks the start of the holiday season - a time to pause, reflect, and feel grateful for what we have.

But here's the thing: we can't wait for holidays to practice gratitude, kindness, and appreciation. Those need to be part of our everyday lives, not saved for special occasions.

In this quick episode, I'm sharing why I practice gratitude daily in my journal, express love to the people I care about regularly (not just on holidays), and look for ways to delight my clients and audience throughout the year.

Your challenge: Write down three things you're grateful for today and share them with me. YOu can message me on IG https://www.instagram.com/maggie.perotin.s2l/ or LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-perotin-business-and-leadership-coach/

Maybe this becomes the start of a daily gratitude practice for you.

And if you've been thinking about working with me, stay tuned - something special is coming (only this week for my e-mail list and social media followers s- so make sure you're one of them :)).

Let's make gratitude a daily practice, not just a holiday tradition.

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What does it really take to scale a service business to nearly seven figures without burning out or missing your kids' adolescence?

In this episode, I'm sitting down with my client Glory Lichon, an Air Force veteran turned entrepreneur who grew GlowBright Therapy from a solo practice to serving over 2,000 families across three states with a team of 30 - all while being present when her kids come home from school every day.

Glory's back on the podcast (her first appearance was a couple of years ago

(EP # 70 - From overwhelmed therapist to confident CEO) to share how much she's grown since then and what it actually took to get there.

What we cover:

On Leadership Transformation:

• Why Glory was terrified to become a leader (and the mindset shift that changed everything)
• How military leadership experiences created limiting beliefs she had to overcome
• The quote that transformed how she sees leadership: "Leadership is about the growth and development of others"
• Why stepping into the CEO role was the key to serving more families

On Aligned Leadership:

• What "aligned leadership" really means
• How to make decisions when you're getting conflicting advice from every direction
• Why your team should be your partners, not people you micromanage
• The importance of revisiting your vision and values during hard times

On Sustainable Growth:

• How Glory created time freedom with 30 team members (without working 24/7)
• The power of theme days, time blocking, and energy awareness
• Why her non-negotiables (meditation and gratitude) come before checking email
• The truth about "hustle culture" and why slowing down isn't failure
• How she's building her second business (Elevate Beyond Boundaries) focused on empowering women entrepreneurs

Key Takeaways:

• Business growth isn't linear - and that's okay
• You don't have to sacrifice your family to scale your business
• Self-awareness around mindset blocks is the first step to moving through them
• Leadership isn't about being bossy - it's about empowering others to join your mission
• Slowing down and grounding yourself actually helps you speed up and be more effective

Glory's Journey at a Glance:

• Started GlowBright Therapy in 2019 as a solo speech language pathologist
• Now serves 2,000+ families across three states
• Grew from $95K to nearly $1M in revenue
• Built a team of 30 (therapists + admin team)
• Created time freedom to be present with her kids throughout their adolescence
• Launched Elevate Beyond Boundaries to empower other women entrepreneurs through speaking and leadership development

This conversation is for every woman who's been told she has to choose between business success and being present for what matters most. Glory is living proof that you can have both.

Connect with Glory:

• Instagram/Facebook: @gloryllichon
• Website: Https://elevatebeyondboundaries.com

Ready to scale your business sustainably without the burnout? Book a complimentary consultation with Maggie here - https://www.stairwaytoleadership.com/

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"I need to think about it." "I need to talk to my partner." "I'm not sure I can afford it."

Sound familiar?

Here's the truth: these aren't the real objections - they're just the easiest things that come to mind when someone doesn't have enough information to make a decision yet.

In this quick episode, I'm sharing the three powerful words that will help you dig deeper, uncover the real concerns, and actually help your potential clients make the right decision.

Spoiler: It's simpler than you think, and it works every time.

Stop accepting surface objections. Start closing more sales.

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If your plate is full, your team needs you on site all the time, and clients still want to work with YOU specifically - you're not scaling, you're stuck.

In this episode, I'm sharing exactly when and how to start documenting the processes that will take your business from chaotic growth to sustainable scaling.

This episode is for you if:

• You're working alone but your plate is already full with clients
• You have a small team but you're still involved in everything
• Clients keep asking for you specifically (which feels good but limits growth)
• You're thinking about hiring but don't know where to start with training

What we cover:

• Why mission, vision, and values aren't just "nice to have" when you're scaling
• The real story of how lack of processes cost a corporate team their reputation (and how proper systems saved a quarter million dollars)
• Why "it's all in my head" stops working the moment you want to grow
• How to turn your unique way of doing things into intellectual property
• The one mistake that creates overwhelm: trying to document everything at once
• My simple strategy for documenting processes without it becoming a massive project

Key takeaway:
Culture eats strategy for breakfast. You can have the best growth strategy in the world, but without documented processes and strong culture, your scaling will create chaos instead of success.

The businesses that scale sustainably don't wait until they're drowning to create systems - they document as they grow, one process at a time.

Related episodes mentioned:

• Episode 153: Must Have Systems for Sustainable Business Scaling (June 14, 2024)
• Episode 183: Essential Systems for Scaling a Service Business (January 10, 2025)

Ready to scale your business without the chaos and overwhelm? Book a complimentary consultation at Https://stairwaytoleadership.com

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Feeling the economic slowdown? Stop waiting for things to get better and start taking action today.

In this quick episode, I'm sharing the one thing you can do right now that could land you a client this week - and it's probably sitting right in your CRM.

Spoiler alert: Your next client might already know you, they just haven't heard from you in a while.

Stop doom-scrolling. Start following up :).