tena talks

what I’m not taking into 2026. [168]

I have always loved the idea of decluttering. I’m not a full minimalist, but I want to be. I love the calm of less. I love the clarity it brings. And I’ve learned (the hard way) that when my space is heavy, my brain usually is too. This episode started because I decluttered 2025 in 2025—and now I’m doing the same thing with 2026. Not in a dramatic, rip-the-house-apart way. Just intentionally asking: What doesn’t need to come with me? Especially after closing tena.cious and the salon, I realized how much stuff I was holding onto that belonged to old seasons. Boxes, papers, things I hadn’t touched—but also hadn’t released. ------------------------------------------------------- What I Talk About in This Episode * My long-standing obsession with decluttering and my wannabe minimalism * Why clutter piled up after closing businesses—and what that taught me * Watching Hoarders and realizing clutter is almost never about the stuff * What I’ve learned (and borrowed) from Marie Kondo and Minimal Mom, including: * If you can replace it for $20 or less, let it go * The container rule (your space decides, not your emotions) * Why 5 minutes actually matters more than an all-day purge * The difference between organizing clutter and actually reducing it -------------------------------------------------------A Few Stats Worth Sitting With * 80% of Americans feel overwhelmed by home clutter * A cluttered space can reduce creativity by up to 20% * 50% of people say clutter makes it hard to find what they need * Unread emails and digital files create mental clutter that increases stress and lowers performance (Cleveland Clinic) * The average American household has over 300,000 items, and most people say it’s too much -------------------------------------------------------Resources I Mentioned * 2026 Declutter Sheet This is what I’m using to track what I’m intentionally not bringing into the year ahead: 👉 https://www.canva.com/design/DAG8MK0aTbU/yUKhyC7pvNGw_6xhCQYzfw/edit?utm_content=DAG8MK0aTbU&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton * Permission Slip Instagram Channel This is where I’m sharing updates, reflections, and a 2026 declutter challenge: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZkRMwMdSB6vt8o/?igsh=d3l0bXZ4Y2FqNXV1 -------------------------------------------------------Final Thought Before you decide what you want more of in 2026, it might be worth deciding what you’re done carrying. Less stuff. Less noise. More room to think. If this episode resonated, come join the conversation inside the Permission Slip channel. I’ll be there—decluttering one decision at a time.

different season, different rules [167]

In this episode, I share a moment from my son Leighton’s Junior Gold hockey season that stopped me in my tracks. For the first time, I noticed teams shaking hands before the game instead of after. At first, it felt a little ridiculous. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. These are 15- and 16-year-old boys. They’ve been trash-talked for 90 minutes. Emotions are high. Bodies are tired. So the adults changed the rule—not because tradition was wrong, but because the season was different. That moment sent my business brain spinning. I talk about the changes I’ve made that felt the same way: * Hiring my first graphic designer when design was part of my identity * Closing tena.cious, even though it “worked” and made sense to everyone else * Letting go of hustle-heavy seasons that once fit, but no longer did There was a time when more content, more offers, and more hustle made sense. Now, consistency beats intensity. Connection beats reach. Depth beats scale. Same woman. New rules. We also talk about the quiet thoughts so many women carry: * “I built this business on grit, but I don’t have grit like that anymore.” * “If I slow down, people will think I couldn’t handle it.” * “This still makes money, but I dread delivering it.” * “I don’t want to quit… but I don’t want to do this forever.” And why those thoughts don’t mean you’re failing—they mean something has shifted. I also share stories from women I deeply respect—like Sara Capecchi of Capecchi & Company and Kim Peterson, founder of KPT Collaborative and KPT Mortgage—who made intentional changes not because something failed, but because they could feel the season shifting and chose to lead ahead of it. You can learn more about their work here: 🔗 Sara Capecchi – https://www.capecchiandcompany.com/ [https://www.capecchiandcompany.com/] 🔗 Kim Peterson – https://kptcollaborative.com/ [https://kptcollaborative.com/] +  https://www.kptmortgage.com/ [https://www.kptmortgage.com/] If this episode feels like it’s poking at something for you, here’s what I want you to know: You’re not inconsistent. You’re not flaky. And you’re not failing. You’re in a new season. This is the work I do inside FLOW—helping women adjust the rules before burnout, resentment, or exhaustion makes the decision for them. If you’re curious, you can learn more here: 👉 www.tenapettis.com/flow [http://www.tenapettis.com/flow] No rush. No pressure. Just an invitation. What are you still doing in your business simply because it used to work—even though your season of life and definition of success have changed? Sometimes the tradition isn’t wrong. It’s just outdated for the season you’re in. Tena Pettis www.tenapettis.com [http://www.tenapettis.com] www.intagram.com/tenapettis [http://www.intagram.com/tenapettis]

when nostalgia is the marketing plan. [166]

Okay, let’s just get this out of the way. I don’t like McDonald’s. But I do love marketing. I can sniff out a good marketing strategy from a mile away. So when the Grinch fries started trending, I knew something was up. And when I realized they also dropped an adult Happy Meal with socks and DIY fry salt, I thought, oh, they are not playing. They are going straight for the 80’s kid in all of us. Here is the truth. They are not selling fries. They are selling the feeling of being 8 again. In this episode, I walk you through the entire promo from the socks (yes, four pairs, and yes, I would need to collect them all) to the shaking the salt in the bag moment that people cannot stop filming for the gram. McDonald’s basically built an experience around french fries. And it worked. And if your brain has not already started spinning with ideas for your own business, it will. Because nostalgia is one of the most powerful marketing tools we have and almost no one is using it intentionally. In this conversation, we dive into: * Why we are always selling a feeling, not a product * How nostalgia makes people feel more like themselves and why that matters * The NKOTB moment in my book and why my editor instantly knew I was her people * The purple Grimace playground chair and how identity lives in moments * The conference DJ who nailed her audience with one song * The dōTERRA Breathe oil that smells exactly like Vicks VapoRub and why it always hits * Why pop culture references make you instantly relatable * How nostalgia can turn your marketing from noise into a dopamine hit Then we take it further and talk about how you can add nostalgia into your brand this week. Nothing complicated. Nothing gimmicky. Just fun, smart, deeply human ideas you can put to work immediately. We talk about: 1. Adding nostalgia to your offer through the name, the gift, or the experience 2. Using throwback language and why it builds connection 3. Creating something collectible like stickers, badges, or punch cards 4. Sharing childhood stories so your audience feels seen and connected If you have been feeling stuck, boring, overwhelmed, or like your content is blending in, nostalgia might be the cheat code you have been looking for. And honestly, this might be one of my favorite episodes so far. Let’s Connect If memories came flooding in while you listened, I want to hear them. Send me a message on Instagram @tenapettis and tell me what came up. Your Happy Meal toy, your TGIF lineup, your scent-trigger memory, all of it. Sharing this episode with a friend is the best way to support the show and it truly means a lot. Grab the Book If nostalgia is your jam and you’re looking for your next biz read, you may just want to grab up my book over on Amazon: Remind Them of No One https://a.co/d/f5ccqkm [https://a.co/d/f5ccqkm] Tena Pettis www.tenapettis.com [http://www.tenapettis.com] www.intagram.com/tenapettis [http://www.intagram.com/tenapettis]

remind them of no one: the book + the backstory [165]

After 20+ years of carrying the dream of writing a book, I finally did it. But here’s the thing: Remind Them of No One is not what you might expect. In this episode, I’m sharing why I wrote it, what it’s really not about, and three lessons from the writing process that apply to any big dream you’re chasing. Whether you’re thinking about starting a business, launching a new project, or finally saying yes to the thing you’ve been sitting on—this episode is for you. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Why I finally sat down to write the book (after decades of waiting). The moment my editor caught a big miss (yes, I forgot one of my kids 😳). Why resistance is actually a good sign when you’re chasing a dream. How clarity shows up once you start moving—never before. A cheat code you can apply right now to take one imperfect step forward. Links + Resources: Grab Remind Them of No One on Amazon (available August 20). https://a.co/d/23D1Sht Come celebrate at the launch party on September 11 — RSVP here. https://tenapettis.myflodesk.com/booklaunch

going to the chapel, and we're, gonna start a business. with Sarah Ball [164]

In this episode of Tena Talks, we introduce Sarah Ball, a dynamic entrepreneur, owner of Snø Hill Chapel in Ellsworth, WI and co-founder of the ORIGIN Marriage Ministry (with me!). Sarah shares her inspiring journey, from her background as an ER nurse and health coach to her passion for event planning, community building and simply loving people well. She reveals how her dream of owning a little white chapel became a reality with Snø Hill Chapel, a historic Norwegian church transformed into a vibrant event center. Sarah and Tena discuss their shared passion for supporting marriages through ORIGIN Marriage Ministry, which hosts regular date nights to foster connection and intimacy among couples. They also touch on the serendipitous way they met through their mutual therapist, highlighting the power of unexpected friendships. This episode is the first in a series featuring Sarah, where she will delve deeper into her vision for Snø Hill Chapel and our shared mission with ORIGIN . Tune in for an uplifting conversation about turning dreams into reality and the importance of community and friendship.  Sarah (Englund) Ball • www.instagram.com/sball1180 [http://www.instagram.com/sball1180] Snø Hill Chapel • www.snohillchapel.com [http://www.snohillchapel.com/] + www.instagram.com/snohillchapel [http://www.instagram.com/snohillchapel] Tena Pettis • www.tenapettis.com [http://www.tenapettis.com/] + www.instagram.com/tenapettis [http://www.instagram.com/tenapettis]  Origin Marriage Ministry • www.instagram.com/originmarriage [http://www.instagram.com/originmarriage]