Reflection of the Week

How to Finish the Year Strong (Without Burning Out)

Happy Friday, all!

This week has been packed with strategy sessions, and one theme keeps coming up: how to make the most of the last quarter of the year. Whether you’re feeling on track or like the months flew by in a blur, Q4 offers a natural reset point—a chance to reflect, recalibrate, and plant the seeds for a strong 2026.

Here’s a simple framework I’ve been using with clients to close out the year with intention and clarity:

1. Reflect on 2025 so far.

Before jumping into action, take a breath. Look back at what you set out to do this year:

• Are you close to your revenue goals?
  Is client growth and retention where you want it to be?
  Are you working the hours you want to work?

This process isn’t about judgment—it’s about awareness. Your answers help reveal what’s working, what isn’t, and what might need to shift.

2. Adjust and act for Q4.

Three months is plenty of time to make meaningful progress. Ask yourself:

• What offers or services are performing well, and how can you double down?
• What can you tweak in your marketing or sales process?
• What boundaries or habits need reinforcing to help you finish the year sustainably?

Often, small iterations—like revising a package, adding a deadline, or reconnecting with past clients—can lead to big results.

3. Plant seeds for 2026.

As you look ahead, don’t just think in terms of goals. Think in terms of what you want to feel more of next year.

• What did you learn about yourself and your business in 2025?
• What rhythms, routines, or relationships do you want to cultivate?
• What does success look like for you—and how can you design for that now?

One of the most significant mindset shifts I keep coming back to is this: your business will always be a work in progress. There is no “there.”

You’ll hit some goals, miss others. You’ll grow, change, and uncover new truths. And through it all, your power lies in choosing what to tend to. Focus on what you can control, and trust that you’re laying the groundwork for something meaningful and sustainable.

The important part is to take the next right step. So commit to one thing you can do next week to get you closer to where you want to be.

Questions of the Week

1. What goals or intentions from earlier this year still feel meaningful to pursue?
2. Where can you simplify, streamline, or shift your energy in Q4?
3. What do you want your business (and life) to feel like in 2026?

Tool of the Week

Try Notion or Reflect to guide your end-of-year review. Both tools allow you to journal, analyze, and track progress over time. Create a “Year in Review” dashboard or template to log wins, challenges, revenue, client data, and key insights. If you’re not into new AI technology, you can always take an hour next week and write your thoughts down on paper or in Word. The simple act of writing things down brings clarity—and helps you make more informed decisions for the future.

Wishing you a spacious, focused, and fulfilling Q4. Let’s finish well, not rushed.

Best,

 

Brian