THE STIRRING
Tending the Flame of Sustainable Leadership
A 40-day leadership practice for entrepreneurs who want to build for the long run.
February 1 - March 12
A quieter way to begin the year
February is a threshold.
The light is returning, but nothing is fully formed yet.
Energy is uneven. Ideas are stirring.
And the pressure to “lock it all in” can feel louder than your own knowing.
The Stirring is an invitation to begin differently.
Not by pushing for momentum.
Not by forcing clarity.
But by tending what’s already alive — so it can grow without burning out.
What this is (and what it isn’t)
The Stirring is a 40-day container designed for entrepreneurs who know that sustainable businesses are built from sustainable leadership.
It is:
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Grounded and spacious
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Practical without being extractive
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Deep without being performative
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Designed to fit real life and real businesses
It is not:
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A productivity challenge
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A mindset bootcamp
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A “fix yourself to fix your business” experience
This is about orientation, not optimization.
Who this is for
This experience is for you if:
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You feel something new wanting to emerge this year — but you refuse to force it
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You’re done with growth that costs you your energy, health, or integrity
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You want your business decisions to come from clarity, not urgency
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You’re building a legacy, not just chasing the next milestone
You don’t need to be behind.
You don’t need to be clear.
You just need to be willing to tend what matters.
The practice
Over 40 days, you’ll be guided through a simple, repeatable rhythm that supports both your inner leadership and your business decisions.
Each week centers around themes such as:
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Grounding and capacity
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Releasing what no longer fits
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Resourcing your energy and attention
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Clarifying long-term direction
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Leading with integrity and restraint
The focus is not on doing more —
but on leading more honestly.
What to expect
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Short daily practices (5–15 minutes)
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Weekly anchors to integrate insight into real decisions
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Reflection prompts that build self-trust and clarity
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A gentle, supportive container — not constant noise
There is room to miss days.
Room to return.
Room for life.
Consistency is not the goal.
Relationship with yourself as a leader is.
Why February?
This experience begins on February 1st, a natural moment of early light and quiet readiness.
It’s a time traditionally associated with tending the hearth — protecting the flame until the season is ready for growth.
We borrow this wisdom not as ritual, but as strategy:
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Prepare before you expand
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Strengthen roots before you reach
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Care for what sustains you before you ask more of it
This is how longevity is built.
Details
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Dates: February 1 – March 12
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Length: 40 days
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Format: Guided daily practices + weekly leadership themes
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Pace: Gentle, flexible, human
You can fully participate alongside your work and life.
Why I Created The Stirring
I created The Stirring because I kept seeing the same pattern — in my clients, my peers, and myself.
Smart, capable entrepreneurs doing meaningful work…
quietly exhausted.
Second-guessing themselves.
Pushing for clarity when what they really needed was steadiness.
So much of the business world teaches us to override our own rhythms — to treat ourselves like machines that just need better systems or stronger willpower.
But businesses don’t burn out on their own.
People do.
And when leaders are depleted, even the most values-driven visions start to fracture.
I wanted to create something different.
A space where entrepreneurs could:
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Reconnect with their inner authority
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Practice leading without urgency
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Build capacity before expansion
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Remember that sustainability is not a constraint — it’s a strategy
February felt like the right beginning.
A moment in the year when nothing is fully visible yet, but everything is quietly preparing to grow. When tending the flame matters more than chasing momentum.
The Stirring was born from that place.
It’s a practice of listening before leaping.
Of choosing care over force.
Of building businesses — and lives — that are designed to last.
An invitation
This is not about becoming someone new.
It’s about remembering how to lead —
from steadiness instead of strain,
from clarity instead of noise,
from care instead of consumption.
If your body softened while reading this,
if something in you whispered yes, this,
that’s enough.
You’re warmly invited to join The Stirring.
This is part of a bigger philosophy.
At Kristi Smith Coaching, we don’t treat business like a machine to optimize.
We treat it like an ecosystem — living, relational, and shaped by the leader tending it.
The Stirring is one way we practice that philosophy together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to show up every day for 40 days?
No. This is not about perfect consistency.
The practices are intentionally short and flexible, and you’re always welcome to return if you miss a day. The work isn’t about keeping up — it’s about building an honest relationship with how you lead.
How much time does this take each day?
Most days require 5–15 minutes.
Some days you may want to linger longer; others you may simply check in and move on. The practice is designed to support your life and business — not compete with them.
Is this spiritual or religious?
No. While the experience is inspired by seasonal wisdom and natural rhythms, it’s grounded in leadership, sustainability, and practical application. There’s no belief system to adopt — only practices that help you lead with more clarity and care.
Is this focused on business strategy?
This is not a tactical business course.
Instead, it focuses on the quality of leadership that shapes every strategy you make — capacity, discernment, boundaries, and long-term thinking. Many participants find that decisions become clearer and easier as a result.
What kind of entrepreneurs is this best for?
This experience is best suited for:
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Solopreneurs, founders, and creative business owners
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Leaders building values-driven or impact-oriented businesses
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People who want growth that’s ethical, sustainable, and human
You don’t need to be at a specific revenue level — just willing to slow down enough to listen.
What if I’m already feeling overwhelmed or behind?
You’re not behind — and this was designed with that in mind.
The Stirring is often most supportive for people who are tired, uncertain, or quietly craving a different way forward. You don’t need more pressure. You need a steadier ground to stand on.
Will there be live calls or community interaction?
This experience is intentionally low-noise.
Any optional gatherings or reflections are designed to deepen integration — not create obligation. You can engage at the level that feels supportive for you.
Is this a good first way to work with Kristi?
Yes. The Stirring is a beautiful entry point into this ecosystem.
It introduces the core philosophy behind my work — sustainability, integrity, and long-term leadership — without requiring a big commitment or intensity.
What happens after the 40 days?
You’ll leave with:
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A clearer sense of how you want to lead
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Practices you can return to throughout the year
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Language for your boundaries and decisions
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A steadier internal compass
Many people choose to continue into deeper coaching or longer-term containers — but there’s no pressure to do so. This experience stands on its own.
You don’t need to decide everything right now.
You don’t need a perfect plan.
You don’t need more discipline or motivation.
What you may need is a place to pause long enough to hear yourself again.
The Stirring isn’t asking you to become someone new.
It’s offering you a steady container to tend what’s already alive — your clarity, your energy, your leadership.
If you’ve been feeling the quiet pull to do things differently this year…
If you’re craving sustainability more than speed…
If you want your business to grow with you, not at your expense…
This is your invitation.
You’re welcome to join us on February 1st.
Come as you are.
There’s nothing to catch up on.