It’s a rainy, mid-60s day here in Atlanta as I sit down to write this week’s letter. The kind of day where you want a blanket and a second cup of coffee (Chemex pour over with organic cream, please!).
Before we dive in, I want to say thank you.
In recent weeks, several of you have written to tell me that “this is the only newsletter I read“, and “I always read it all the way through“. That means a lot. Aside from the recurring blurb about keeping you in the loop with upcoming Champagne Club™ events, there’s nothing to really sell you here.
What I’m aiming for is a sharper editorial. Something worth your time, intelligent and elevated, written with the assumption that you already know A LOT, yet still invites you to consider that there is more to this whole success thing and that it can be done very, very differently.
Last week, I was invited into The Wealthy Consultant’s highest-level mastermind, Chamber, as a guest consultant. Founded by my friend Taylor Welch and co-led by Mike Walker, it’s a closed-door group of ultra-successful founders. They asked me to share from the body of intellectual property I’ve developed working with multi-million-dollar brands and brains, and as a former Creative Director, I immediately knew I wanted to create something tailored exclusively for their room. Plus, I was replacing Taylor that week (no pressure, lol) while he was traveling.
What I built for them was called:
Momentum: The Science of Speed
Here were some of their feedback and takeaways:
“The leader is the nervous system of the organization, and the organization is the collective nervous system of the company.”
“Nailed it and super relevant when connected to leadership in the business setting.”
How fast we move, the way we move, and who is doing the moving matters.
It can either energize or drain us.
It can move us closer to or take us away from our vision.
It can allow us to speed up (in a good way, in this instance) or slow down (to unnecessarily drag our metaphorical feet).
One of the core frameworks I introduced was the Momentum Formula. This is a simple but potent way to see what’s really fueling (or stalling) your progress through the lens of my expertise: the nervous system.
The Formula:
Safety × Self-Concept × Gratitude = Momentum
- Safety: reducing nervous system “drag points” so you can access your executive function (ability to move)
- Self-Concept: the identity behind the action, which determines your direction (who’s moving)
- Gratitude: a physiological accelerator that strengthens regulation (how you move)
When any of these factors is low, momentum slows and feels sticky and heavy, even if you are “working hard.” When they are all high, you can cover more ground in a quarter than most leaders do in a year without adding more workload.
Which is why this work is not about pushing harder.
It is about reducing internal resistance.
Drag points inside your system create friction. That friction slows your movement, no matter how skilled or smart you are. Remove it, and you don’t just work faster, you work freer.
V = D / T
If speed is distance over time, then momentum in leadership is about how far you move (mentally, somatically,
Mike summed it up perfectly after our session:
“Too many people chase the latest marketing strategy and remain clueless to the fundamentals of how their brain works. Without this awareness, results slip away like trying to catch fish with bare hands.”
I also summarized a key point he shared in his reflection:
“Your nervous system is constantly running an internal algorithm, processing millions of data points every day, most of them subconsciously and unnoticed. But your response to those outputs directly shapes your thoughts, actions, and ultimately, your RESULTS.”
That is why I believe the business of business is relationships, and that includes your relationship with your own Operating System.
For every leader reading this:
Your nervous system is your true strategic advantage and the non-traditional approach to advanced and modern high performance. The best part? You can upgrade the software.
Learn it.
Work with it.
Reduce the drag points.
Because once you do, the distance you can cover in a year might just surprise you.
If you remember one thing from today’s issue, let it be this: the speed of your business will never exceed the capacity of your nervous system. Build that capacity, and momentum takes care of itself.
Here’s to the right kind of speed,
Mom of 2 who hates minivans, loves luxurious travel experiences, and believes life is too short for mediocre champagne.