Fall Into Focus: 5 Ways to Finish the Year Strong as a Woman in Business

With the crisp fall air and football everywhere, a sign of the times is that a new year is brewing. This is not the time to slow down, but rather to get prepared for the new year. With two months in the current year, use this time to reflect on 2025, reset, and refocus to start 2026 strong. Here are five tips to start 2026 strong.

First Tip: Revisit Your Vision

We all start the year with our resolutions. Goals and tasks that we want to accomplish during the year. Yet somewhere between 2Q and 3Q, we lose focus. Now is the time to look at our vision again and evaluate what was accomplished and where we can improve.

One way that you can do this is by reviewing the vision and mission that you developed for your business. Then go to your Bylaws and Policies and procedures to see if they align with the vision and mission to established for your business. If they are not in alignment, now is the best time to edit those documents and have them ready for approval at the shareholder meeting at the beginning of 2026.

Second Tip: Refresh Your Brand Presence

After you have revisited your vision and mission, look at your brand. Consider what presence your business is evoking to your ideal audience. If you are on social media, evaluate how your ideal client would view your social media posts. If your ideal client would not gravitate to the brand you present, now is a great time to update that presence.

With Black Friday on the horizon, get your marketing ready for release to give your clients ample time to view your ads and make the decision to buy. If you are offering any promotions, you may want to run them by your attorney to prevent any legal disputes from disgruntled participants.

Third Tip: Strengthen Your Support System

Businesses cannot survive alone. Not only do you need clients for your business to survive, you need other businesses also. This is the perfect time of year to look into buying Christmas gifts for fellow vendors and getting that order in for delivery by Christmas. Let your support system know how important they are to your business.

Use this time of year to coordinate a fall networking event or a company event to strengthen and support those with whom you work. A strong support system is a strong business.

Fourth Tip: Prioritize Wellness and Boundaries

With the cooler air is cooler air illnesses. Combine that with the stress from running a business and you have the formula for the flu or a severe cold. Now's the time to buy extra hand sanitizer, antibacterial spray, and extra tissues. With the holidays around, also practice your use of "No". And "No" is a complete sentence. You do not have to attend every event; just be strategic about the events you attend. Boundaries are healthy and show that you value yourself and your time. Those that respect your boundaries are worth your time.

As a business owner, if you do not have a planner, now is the time to invest in one. It is so easy to overbook this time of the year and having your dates written down or in your phone with notifications keeps you to your schedule. Just be sure to plan in rest this season.

Fifth Tip: Plan for a Powerful Q4

The fourth quarter is not over yet. You still have time to make for a great Q4. How do I know? Because that is how Black Friday got its name. The sales accumulated on the day after Thanksgiving shopping took businesses from the red (in debt) to the black (not in debt). With Thanksgiving exactly one month away, today is the best day to plan accordingly to get into the black this quarter.

To plan for a powerful Q4, have these four goals written down and review them everyday: financial, marketing, and personal development.

In closing,

Embrace this fall season with confidence and clarity. Declare a powerful and profitable fourth quarter for you and your business. A lot can happen in two months. Go out and make sure that it happens to you and your business.

If you have any tips, goals, or rituals for the fourth quarter, feel free to leave them below.

Happy Fall, Y'all!