Reset and Refocus: Business Goals for the Final Quarter
As the kids head back to school and the pace of life shifts again, September is the perfect time for business owners to pause, take stock, and realign. The final quarter of the year is just around the corner - and with it comes the opportunity to finish strong. Whether you’ve smashed your targets or lost momentum somewhere over the summer, there’s still time to reset and refocus.
Start with a simple review
What’s gone well so far this year? What areas have slipped through the cracks? Be honest - this isn’t about beating yourself up, but about learning from what’s worked and what hasn’t. Look at your financials, customer feedback, and any goals you set earlier in the year. It helps to ask: “if I had to achieve just one thing by Christmas, what would it be?”
Once you’ve reviewed, it’s time to prioritise
With just three months left, it’s unlikely you’ll have the capacity to do everything, and that’s okay. Focus on the goals that will make the biggest difference. That might be increasing sales in the run-up to Christmas, finally sorting out your website, or re-engaging with past customers. Keep your goals realistic and achievable - success breeds motivation, and there’s nothing quite like ticking something off your list.
Don’t forget the power of small changes
You don’t need to reinvent your entire business in a single quarter. A quick refresh of your product descriptions, a tidy-up of your inbox, or scheduling a month’s worth of social media posts in advance can make a big impact without feeling overwhelming.
It’s also a great time to plan ahead
Think beyond December. How do you want to start 2026? What steps could you take now to ease that transition? Maybe that’s getting your January marketing mapped out early, or reviewing your pricing before the New Year.
Lastly, carve out some time for you
Burnout won’t help anyone, least of all your business. Make space to reflect, recharge and celebrate how far you’ve come. Even if you haven’t ticked every box, you’ve made it through three-quarters of the year running your own business, and that’s no small feat.
So brew a cuppa, grab a notepad, and give yourself an hour or two this September to reset and refocus. You might be surprised just how much you can still achieve before the year is out.
