Fourth quarter planning – prepping the way for a glorious new year

Business

Photo of fall leaves

Flight School

Fall Forward

The season has flipped from summer and fall is in full swing. It is the time for long hikes among the glory of the trees, pumpkin patches, and hayrides. This is a season that I spend a lot of time in my garden. I rake up fall leaves, cut back overgrowth, and deadhead flowers. I review all of my trees and bushes in the fall and trim back dead branches and anything that isn’t healthy. In the fall, I also look forward to spring. I till and fertilize my soil, and I plant bulbs and perennials that will lay dormant through the winter.
I also use this time to visualize my garden in it’s next season. I have flowers that only bloom in the spring. The first is my beautiful spirea. It drapes with clouds of tiny white blossoms. This is followed closely by golden daffodils and vibrant red tulips. I look forward to seeing these blooms every year.
If I neglected my work in the fall, however, these blooms wouldn’t be vibrant, or perhaps would not appear at all. The preparation of the fall helps these beautiful flowers grow their best in the Spring.

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.

Audrey Hepburn

Prepare your business

It is tempting this time of year to see the end of the year in sight and pull back from work activities. It is so tempting to just coast into November and December and set renewed goals for 2024 in January. But, just like my garden, the fourth quarter of the year is the perfect time to prepare for the new year. 

In business, we tend to look quarter-to-quarter. But in the fall quarter, I look forward to the new year and to spring. Fall is a time of reflection for me.

What worked this year?

Where did I see the most return on investment?

What didn’t work?

What needs attention?

What needs to be trimmed?

Fall is when I decide what things I will fertilize (invest in) and which things/projects I will trim to make space for other things.

Audrey Hepburn said, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” I think the same is true of writing a business plan, setting goals, or simply looking and planning ahead for the next season.

I encourage you to use this fall season to reflect on your year and look forward to the vision you have for the new year. What changes can you make now that will set you up to realize that vision?

 

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