Episode 75 Holiday Special: Gratitude, Scar Tissue, and 5 Business Gifts for 2026

Most businesses do not break in a single moment. Pressure builds quietly, decisions get heavier, and strategic focus starts to slip long before a crisis forces attention.In this milestone 75th episode of The Business Emergency Room, Maartje van Krieken reflects on why organizations reach a breaking point and what leaders can do earlier to change the outcome. Drawing on her experience in disaster management and strategic decision making, she explores how business resilience is built by recognizing small issues before they compound and by responding more effectively to uncertainty and overload.Maartje offers decision-making tools to help leaders regain momentum, including a simple framework to break decision paralysis and restore forward movement. She also shares habits that protect time, energy, and clarity, along with guidance on sharpening strategic focus so teams can reduce noise and concentrate on what truly drives value.This episode is a thoughtful reset for leaders who want to lead more proactively, strengthen resilience, and enter the next season with clearer direction and better decisions.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Why the Business Emergency Room Exists02:33 The Plaque Buildup That Breaks Businesses05:33 What Business Resilience Really Requires12:18 Decision Defibrillator: A Tool to Break Decision Paralysis15:06 Cancel Three Things to Reclaim Time and Energy18:26 Using Outside Eyes to Reveal Blind Spots24:46 Strategic Focus as the Foundation for Momentum29:34 Leading Forward With Clarity and MomentumLinks:The Decision Defibrillator ToolConnect with Maartje van Krieken:Connect with Maartje on LinkedInVisit The Chaos Games Consulting websiteVisit The Business Emergency Room websiteSubscribe to The Business Emergency Room on YouTubeSubscribe to Maartje’s SubstackHost Maartje van Krieken is a crisis strategist and decision-making expert who thrives in high-stakes business environments. Combining disaster management training, hands-on experience in global industries, and leadership skills honed as a seasoned sailor, she helps businesses navigate chaos with precision. Whether tackling transformation, scaling challenges, or leadership bottlenecks, Maartje delivers actionable insights to turn turbulence into traction.Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm