Own the Year: How to Lead a Powerful 2026 Planning Session Power Hour Recap
On March 18, 2026, the Women In the Floorcovering Industry (WIFI) community came together for a practical and thought-provoking Power Hour: Own the Year: How to Lead a Powerful 2026 Planning Session. Led by Michelle Nix, Director of Education at the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), the session blended tactical planning strategies with a deeper reflection on how we spend our time both at work and at home. Watch the recording here!
From the start, Nix grounded the conversation in a familiar challenge: work-life balance. When attendees were asked to rate themselves on a scale from one to ten, responses varied widely, revealing a shared tension between competing priorities, constant connectivity, and the difficulty of “turning off.”
Why Balance Feels So Hard
As the discussion unfolded, Nix highlighted common patterns that make balance difficult to achieve. Many participants pointed to overcommitment, the inability to say no, and the pressure to do everything perfectly. Others shared struggles with “mom guilt,” constant notifications, and the feeling of being mentally split between work and home.
Nix reframed these challenges not as failures, but as signals; indicators that priorities may be misaligned or boundaries unclear.
The “Big Rocks” Framework
One of the most impactful moments of the session came through a simple but powerful visual: the “big rocks” analogy. Nix asked attendees to imagine their life as a jar. The “big rocks” represent what matters most; family, health, faith, and key responsibilities. The “pebbles” are everyday tasks, while the “sand” represents distractions and noise. When the jar is filled with sand first, there is no room left for what truly matters. But when big rocks are placed first, everything else can fit around them.
The takeaway was clear: priorities must be intentional. Nix emphasized that, “What gets scheduled gets protected.”
Setting Boundaries That Support Priorities
To protect those “big rocks,” Nix emphasized the importance of boundaries, particularly around time, tasks, and emotional energy. Time boundaries might look like protecting evenings for family. Task boundaries require learning to say no to additional responsibilities when capacity is already full. Emotional boundaries involve supporting others without absorbing their stress. These boundaries, she explained, are not limitations. They are tools for preserving focus and energy.
Why Team Calendars Break Down
Shifting into the workplace, Nix addressed a key concern: aligned team calendars. “Great teams do not end up with aligned calendars, they build them on purpose,” Nix shared. Without intentional planning, teams experience double-booked priorities, last-minute emergencies, missed goals, and burnout. Misalignment doesn’t just create inconvenience, it directly impacts execution.
A Framework for Intentional Planning
To address this, Nix introduced a five-step framework for building a clear, shared team calendar:
1. Anchor the immovable dates
Start with non-negotiables—deadlines, holidays, conferences, and key events.
2. Add major initiatives
Layer in projects, launches, and strategic priorities.
3. Identify capacity conflicts
Assess workload, overlapping deadlines, and busy seasons.
4. Sequence and adjust
Rebalance timelines, shift priorities, and create space for execution.
5. Assign ownership and accountability
Clarify who owns each initiative, what the deadline is, and what support is needed.
The goal is not just planning, it’s clarity. And as Nix noted, “ownership creates execution.”
Running a One-Hour Planning Session
Nix also provided a practical structure for leading an effective one-hour team meeting. The format included:
Setting expectations and outcomes (5 minutes)
Reviewing and adjusting dates (10 minutes)
Adding initiatives (10–15 minutes)
Addressing conflicts (10 minutes)
Finalizing adjustments (10 minutes)
Assigning ownership (10 minutes)
This structured approach ensures that meetings move from discussion to decision, eliminating wasted time and increasing alignment. To support continued application beyond the session, Nix also provided attendees with two practical worksheets. These tools were created to help participants apply the concepts in both their professional and personal lives.
Download the worksheet here
Download the faith-based worksheet here
The session ultimately delivered more than a planning framework, it offered a shift in perspective. By aligning calendars with priorities and protecting what matters most, attendees walked away equipped to lead their teams, and their lives, with greater clarity and purpose!
About WIFI (and what’s next)
WIFI continues to attract, educate, and empower women across the flooring industry through programming like Power Hours, mentoring, and scholarships. To learn more about upcoming events and opportunities, visit www.womeninflooring.org.
Join us at one of our upcoming events and connect with women across the industry:
Winning the Floor in Today’s Market: Retail Roundtables
March 29 | 4:30 PM CDT | Alliance Flooring Convention | San Antonio | Register here
Women’s Speed Networking Lunch
March 31 | 11:30 AM PDT | Coverings | Las Vegas | Register here
WIFI Book Club Kick-Off: Think Again by Adam Grant
April 2 | 12:00 PM EDT | Virtual | Register Here
Confidence in Action: Owning Your Superpower
April 22 | 9:15 AM EDT | NWFA Expo | Orlando | Register Here
Save the Date: WIFI Power Networking
May 7 | 12:0 0PM EDT | Virtual
These programs are made possible by the Friends of WIFI community. Join us in supporting free education, mentorship, and leadership opportunities for women across the flooring industry.