In this episode of Dream Business Dream Life, we explore a subtle but powerful shift that can dramatically change how you feel online, in your business, and in your life...not commenting on everything you have an opinion on.

In a world filled with constant opinions, hot takes, and online conversations, it’s easy to confuse participation with leadership. But what if choosing not to respond is actually a form of self-leadership, maturity, and energetic protection?

This episode is a gentle invitation to pause, reflect, and become more intentional with where, and how, you spend your energy.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why having an opinion doesn’t always mean it needs to be shared
• The emotional and energetic cost of constant online engagement
• How commenting everywhere can quietly drain your nervous system
• The difference between participation and true thought leadership
• Why grounded, successful business owners tend to be more selective online
• A simple question to ask before entering any online conversation
• How protecting your energy supports a calmer, more sustainable business

Thought leadership isn’t about volume.
It’s not about visibility for visibility’s sake, and it’s not about having a public opinion on everything. Real leadership is quiet, intentional, and grounded.

Sometimes the strongest thing you can do, for yourself and for others, is to stay quiet.

A Question to Take With You

Before commenting, responding, or engaging online, ask yourself:

If something is truly meant to be said, it won’t feel rushed.
If it’s meant to be shared publicly, it will still be relevant later.

Why This Matters for Your Business

A dream business requires:

• Clear energy
• Creative energy
• Emotional capacity

When your energy is constantly spent on reaction, there’s less left for what truly matters: your life, your work, and the business you’re building.

Want to connect? Find me here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamemmahine

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-hine

Website: https://www.emmahine.co.uk

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaHineStrategy

In this episode of Dream Business Dream Life, Emma is joined by Natalie McKenzie, also known as The Brain Lady and Cognitive Strategist, to explore how brain health directly impacts business performance, decision-making, burnout, and long-term wellbeing.

From sleep deprivation and hustle culture to digital overload, AI, and poor nutrition, Natalie explains how everyday business habits quietly affect how your brain functions, often years before we notice the consequences. This conversation challenges the idea that pushing harder leads to better results and instead makes the case for protecting your brain as a core business strategy.

If you’ve ever experienced brain fog, exhaustion, overwhelm, poor focus, or burnout, this episode will change how you think about productivity, success, and sustainability in business.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why your brain controls every business decision you make
• How poor sleep can reduce decision-making by up to 40%
• The early warning signs of cognitive overload and burnout
• Why hustle culture is damaging long-term brain health
• How AI and digital overload affect critical thinking
• Why most people skip the basics and jump straight to supplements
• The surprising link between brain health and future dementia risk
• How understanding your cognitive strengths can improve business efficiency
• Why doing hard things is actually good for your brain
• Natalie’s surprisingly simple brain-friendly habits (including eggs 🥚)

🧠 Key Topics Covered:

• Brain health for entrepreneurs
• Burnout prevention for business owners
• Cognitive performance and decision fatigue
• Sleep, nutrition, hydration & productivity
• AI, technology & brain function
• Sustainable success without hustle culture

Who is Natalie?

Natalie Mackenzie is a cognitive & brain health expert for business owners, with a background in Psychology, Neuropsychology and business strategy. She works with founders, leaders and entrepreneurs to optimise their cognitive performance , overcome decision fatigue and avoid burnout-through blending cognitive science and practical business frameworks, to also look after brain health for later life. Natalie is sought after media expert, regularly sharing her expertise on cognition in publications such as The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Independent and many others.

www.thecognitivestrategist.com https://www.instagram.com/thecognitivestrategist/

Want to connect? Find me here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamemmahine

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-hine

Website: https://www.emmahine.co.uk

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaHineStrategy

As we close out 2025, this episode of Dream Business Dream Life is an invitation to pause, not to judge, rush, or criticise the year that’s passed, but to honour it.

In this reflective, grounding conversation, I walk you through how to review your year honestly, why reflection matters more than another strategy, and how to set intentions for 2026 that actually feel doable and aligned.

I also share my own journey...from building a seven-figure business that looked successful on the outside but cost me deeply on the inside and why I now believe that success without alignment isn’t success at all.

This episode isn’t about chasing bigger goals. It’s about creating a business that supports the life you actually want to live.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why reviewing your year matters more than setting new goals
• How to reflect on what actually worked in your business (not what “should” have worked)
• Identifying what drained you, what you’ve outgrown, and what no longer fits
• Growth beyond money: leadership, boundaries, trust, and energy
• How your business felt to live inside...not just how it looked
• Why intention is the missing link between growth and fulfilment
• How to choose a single, powerful intention for 2026
• Letting your intentions lead your goals (not the other way around)
• Creating sustainable growth without burnout, pressure, or proving

A powerful reminder as you move into 2026:

• 2025 doesn’t need fixing...it needs honouring
• 2026 doesn’t need forcing...it needs intention
• Your business should support your life, not consume it

Take this episode slowly. Journal with it. Let it meet you where you are.

And remember you don’t need to have all the answers yet. Clarity comes when you give yourself permission to pause.

Want to connect? Find me here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamemmahine

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-hine

Website: https://www.emmahine.co.uk

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaHineStrategy