Hi, my name is tena and I talk... a lot. So I figured I may as well put these vocal chords to good use. This isn't my first podcast but it just might be my last. See, my passions are probably not unlike yours - they are plentiful and kind of all over the place. I can hardly be defined by one area of expertise when it comes to biz and I love things like weiner dogs, a good game night and books - all the books. So honestly it just made sense to brand me. This brings us to this show - tena talks. I think you may just get a kick out of it.
Host Tena Pettis explores how a personal invitation revitalized a hiking group, revealing why overlooking simple human connection can hinder business growth.
10 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT
you likely need to make room. [169]
Tena Pettis, a business strategist, explores how digital clutter hinders women in business and reveals how decluttering unlocks their innate ideas and instincts.
1 Jan 2026
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.
Inside a recent episode
maybe pivoting isn't the answer. [170]
Published 17 Aug 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Exactly. The guy who started this hike didn't suddenly uncover a brilliant attendance strategy. He went back to something incredibly basic that had helped build the group in the first place. He just invited people because he was excited about it. And then because that behavior was so simple, it would have been really easy to overlook it while searching for a more complicated solution. So think about something in your business that feels quieter than it used to. Don't pick something you know you don't want anymore because if you know that, like, let's skip that one, right? I'm talking about something that you still believe in, something that still works, something you would generally love to see more people experience. […]
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