This is the time of year where you will hear lots of business owners talking about an ‘September reset’. While September is the perfect time for pause and reflection and looking ahead to next year, it can feel daunting. Adding unnecessary pressure and making you feel like you have to have everything in order or you’re already behind. We want to tell you: that is not the case!
Now it’s October and you feel like it’s too late! But with 3 months left in the year, there is plenty of time to make progress with your goals, connect with your supporters and prepare for the year ahead! It is not necessary to reset, but if you do want to, here’s a short guide on how!
Taking some time for reflection…
The first step in planning ahead is reflecting on what has already passed. What did you set out to achieve this year? What went well? What would you change? What have been your best sellers? Which projects have you enjoyed working on and which have you not?
Reflecting on your year so far can help you see where your time could be best spent for the remainder of the year. It is also important to shut down those feelings of ‘not having done enough’ or ‘not having achieved enough’ throughout the year and recognise what you have achieved that you may not have had a chance to acknowledge.Â
While you may not have achieved everything you set out to do in January, you have still made progress. That progress deserves to be celebrated! Use what you have learnt this year to maximise your progress for the months ahead.
Set Realistic Goals for the Rest of the Year
So, how to revisit your goals… Which goals did you set this year that you haven’t achieved yet? Which can you realistically achieve before the end of the year?Â
Rather than trying to squeeze every unfinished goal into the final months of the year, focus on what is genuinely achievable and valuable to your business.
You might want to:
- Increase sales of a particular product or service.
- Reach new customers or reconnect with existing ones.
- Improve your social media presence.
- Build relationships with other small businesses.
- Introduce a new product, service or offering.
- Get your finances and business administration in order.
- Make more time for the parts of your business you enjoy.
Choose a few priorities that are achievable in the next few months and break them down into smaller, manageable tasks.Â
With this new clear focus, you can decide where to spend your time and resources more easily during these busy months, instead of scrambling to achieve everything with no clear direction or planning!
Clear Up Those Jobs That Have Been Sitting on Your To-Do List!
There is nothing worse than trying to enjoy a Christmas break knowing you have a huge to-do list waiting for you when you get back! Especially as coming back to your business for a new year already comes with a lot of work to do!
We all have those tasks that seem to keep getting pushed to the bottom of the list. Whether it’s updating your website, organising your files, sorting out your inbox, refreshing an old document or getting around to that process you want to change.Â
Just before the Christmas prep kicks in to its fullest is the perfect time to clear up those lingering tasks before the year-end.Â
Clearing some of these smaller jobs now means you are less likely to carry a long list of unfinished tasks into January. It can also free up headspace for the things that actually need your attention during the final months of the year.
You don’t have to clear the entire list in one go. Pick a few jobs that have been hanging around the longest and get them done so they’re not waiting for you in January!
Start Preparing for the Christmas Season
Preparing for Christmas doesn’t have to be daunting! The earlier you start to prepare, the better you can walk into the festive season.
For product-based businesses, what are you planning to offer this Christmas? Do you have the stock needed arranged? How long do you need to create your products? What is your shipping deadline going to be? If you provide a service, think about your availability, upcoming bookings and whether you need to communicate any changes to your working hours over the festive period. Put these key time points into a visual calendar to support you in staying on track.
Other points to consider over the festive period:
– Plan how you’re going to keep in communication with your customers before and after Christmas. When will you not be reachable?Â
– When do your campaigns and content need to go out to reach your audience at the most effective time?
And remember, Christmas is not relevant to every business in the same way. Focus on the opportunities that make sense for your products, services and customers.
Reconnect With Customers and Other Businesses
The final months of the year are a great opportunity to reconnect with customers and other businesses.
Reach out to existing customers; you could send a thoughtful email thanking them for their support, ask for feedback or update them on your business’s progress for the year! You could also connect with another business, attend a festive networking event or set up a collaboration for the new year.
Building these relationships can create valuable connections and opportunities that continue into the new year.
Start Thinking About the New Year!
No, you don’t need to have your whole 2027 business plan ready by December! But making a start is a great idea. What do you want your 2027 to look like?
While thinking about what you have learnt this year, what would you like to do more of, and what needs improvement?
Think about:
- What do I want to do more of?
- What do I want to do less of?
- What has worked particularly well this year?
- What hasn’t worked?
- Where would I like the business to be this time next year?
You don’t need all the answers yet but by thinking about these questions now, you can be in a better place when you actually start your 2027 plan!
Now you’re ready to make the most of the rest of the year!
You’re all set to make intentional use of the time left this year and make sure your energy is going where it will be most impactful!Â
Are you interested in learning more about Support Small UK? Check out our Support Small UK Socials and keep in the know for future events!
