THE ROOT 9
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Oliver Buchannon
Yoana (Sidzhimova) Byrd

How does one describe themselves in 100 words? A feat that likely does not do any of us justice. I am certainly no expert...just someone who created a weekly structure to navigate the tension between an appreciation for discipline and a desire to be more present. I realized that without a rhythm, my life quickly became an endless to-do list. I started writing The Root 9 as a way to share the weekly structure that helps me find my center. It’s my personal practice of using discipline to find liberty, and I’m so glad to have you here. :)


THE ROOT 9: 51.1 | On Our Words to Ourselves

THE ROOT 9: 51.1 | On Our Words to Ourselves

Lock In | Week of 3.2.26 | Kindness In Our Dialogue

Mar 3, 2026

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4 min read

THE ROOT 9: 48.3 | Rationality vs. Feel

THE ROOT 9: 48.3 | Rationality vs. Feel

Re-Focus | Week of 2.22.26 | On the things we do to feel like 'us'

Feb 27, 2026

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5 min read

THE ROOT 9: 50.2 | Refusing to be Aged Out

THE ROOT 9: 50.2 | Refusing to be Aged Out

Reflect | Week of 2.22.26 | On rewriting expectations

Feb 25, 2026

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3 min read

THE ROOT 9: 50.1 | On Running the Day

THE ROOT 9: 50.1 | On Running the Day

Lock In | Week of 2.23.26 | Shifting out of reactive mode

Feb 23, 2026

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4 min read

THE ROOT 9: 49.2 | A Dog Doesn't Learn to Sit for Free

THE ROOT 9: 49.2 | A Dog Doesn't Learn to Sit for Free

Reflect | Week of 2.16.26 | On minimizing limiting internal negotiations.

Feb 18, 2026

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4 min read

THE ROOT 9: 49.1 | On The Cost of the Clock

THE ROOT 9: 49.1 | On The Cost of the Clock

Lock In | Week of 2.16.26 | Searching For the Sweet Spot Between Precision and Presence

Feb 16, 2026

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4 min read

THE ROOT 9: 48.3 | Alchemy of identity

THE ROOT 9: 48.3 | Alchemy of identity

Re-Focus | Week of 2.9 | On moving beyond the surface level of daily habits

Feb 13, 2026

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3 min read

THE ROOT 9: 47.2 | On Original Long Shots

THE ROOT 9: 47.2 | On Original Long Shots

Reflect | Week of 2.2.26 | On how 18th-century whaling expeditions built the template for modern innovation.

Feb 11, 2026

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3 min read

THE ROOT 9: 48.1 | On Trusting Your Internal Compass

THE ROOT 9: 48.1 | On Trusting Your Internal Compass

Lock In | Week of 2.9.26 | Finding Clarity Amidst External Noise

Feb 9, 2026

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3 min read

THE ROOT 9: 47.3 | Lesson on Kindness

THE ROOT 9: 47.3 | Lesson on Kindness

Re-Focus | Week of 2.2 | On creating safe spaces for ourselves

Feb 6, 2026

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3 min read

THE ROOT 9: 47.2 | Foundations Over Fences

THE ROOT 9: 47.2 | Foundations Over Fences

Reflect | Week of 2.2.26 | On how core principles outperforming a checklist of restrictions

Feb 4, 2026

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4 min read

THE ROOT 9: 47.1 | On The Power of February

THE ROOT 9: 47.1 | On The Power of February

Lock In | Week of 2.2.26 | Ensuring our goals remain as fuel, instead of debt

Feb 2, 2026

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4 min read

THE ROOT 9: 46.3 | The Mandatory Personal Invite

THE ROOT 9: 46.3 | The Mandatory Personal Invite

Re-Focus | Week of 1.26 | On elevating your priorities

Jan 30, 2026

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4 min read

THE ROOT 9: 46.2 | Rhythm of Reset

THE ROOT 9: 46.2 | Rhythm of Reset

Reflect | Week of 1.26.26 | On 4/7/8 Breathing

Jan 28, 2026

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4 min read

THE ROOT 9: 46.1 | On The Architecture of Showing Up

THE ROOT 9: 46.1 | On The Architecture of Showing Up

Lock In | Week of 1.26.26 | Compounded effort = strategic positioning

Jan 26, 2026

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5 min read

THE ROOT 9: 45.3 | The Weight of Goal Completion

THE ROOT 9: 45.3 | The Weight of Goal Completion

Re-Focus | Week of 1.19 | On Differentiating Owned vs. Borrowed Goals

Jan 23, 2026

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5 min read

THE ROOT 9: 45.2 | Defining a 'Break'

THE ROOT 9: 45.2 | Defining a 'Break'

Reflect | Week of 1.19.26 | On recharging through the absence of input, not presence of distraction

Jan 21, 2026

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4 min read

THE ROOT 9: 45.1 | On Pressure and Permission

THE ROOT 9: 45.1 | On Pressure and Permission

Lock In | Week of 1.19.26 | Reclaiming agency through the power of permission

Jan 19, 2026

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3 min read

A New Year, A New Flow for TR9

A New Year, A New Flow for TR9

Reframing The Root 9 structure in 2026.

Jan 12, 2026

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3 min read

THE ROOT 9: 44.3 | Just Starting

THE ROOT 9: 44.3 | Just Starting

Finish Strong | Week of 12.29 | On Starting Before You Are Ready

Jan 2, 2026

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4 min read

THE ROOT 9: 44.2 | Planning in Seasons

THE ROOT 9: 44.2 | Planning in Seasons

Reflect | Week of 12.29 | On choosing focus over initial overwhelm

Dec 31, 2025

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4 min read

THE ROOT 9: 44.1 | Room For More

THE ROOT 9: 44.1 | Room For More

Lock In | Week of 12.29 | On making space for new hellos

Dec 29, 2025

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5 min read

THE ROOT 9: 43.3

THE ROOT 9: 43.3

Finish Strong | Week of 12.22 | On Old & New Traditions

Dec 26, 2025

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4 min read

THE ROOT 9: 43.2

THE ROOT 9: 43.2

Reflect | Week of 12.22

Dec 24, 2025

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5 min read

THE ROOT 9: 43.1

THE ROOT 9: 43.1

Lock In | Week of 12.22

Dec 22, 2025

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5 min read

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