Catch up on some related episodes:

What to focus on to double your results this year

Today’s talking points:

The last quarter of the year is almost upon us. Don’t worry, I’m sharing my top tips so you can boss the last 90 days of the year and head into 2024 strong!

Check out the the Boss resources

In just a month and a half, we will be getting down to the last 90 days of 2023.

So I wanted to ask you a really important question: are you winding down or are you ramping up? Have you made the most out of your business ideas from 2023? Here's what I mean by that.

For some of us, we get to the end of September and we've already decided that the year is pretty much over - the festive season is just around the corner. We’re busy taking part in festive fun or taking kids to all their activities. It's just easier to go with the flow than to focus on your business ideas from 2023.

But in today's episode, I wanted to talk with you about why right now is the perfect time to start ramping up and laying the foundation for 2024 and setting business goals in these last 90 days of the year.

We dive into:

Why smashing Q4 gives you a head start on the new year
3 ways you can simply and effectively make the most of your business ideas from 2023.
The biggest mindset shift you can make when it comes to finding more time

get a head start on your 2024 goals

Quarter 4 is a time when it seems like everybody goes instantly, instinctively into survival mode. Businesses, family, friends, they find themselves merely trying to get through each day and week, only to suddenly realise that weeks have passed by quickly and the significant goals they had set for themselves in various aspects of life—be it business, health, relationships, or personal growth—have remained unachieved.

So I want to share with you a few quick strategies that can help you to get some momentum toward those big goals that you have for the rest of this year.

A lot of us wait until the new year to setting business goals for ourselves, but if you think about it, starting in the final quarter of the year is like giving yourself a bonus of three months to work on those goals.

You know, a lot of us tend to wait until the new year to start setting business goals for ourselves. But here's the thing: by thinking about this now, you're giving yourself a little bonus, an extra three months to work on your goals and get things rolling for next year. So, even though you might feel like the year is coming to an end, you're actually setting yourself up for an awesome start to the next one.

Now, I get it. Sometimes it feels like there's not enough time to focus on our goals. Life gets busy, unexpected things pop up, and suddenly, it's easy to feel like we're falling behind. But here's the deal: you don't have to wait until everything is perfect to start making progress. In fact, taking small steps now can make a big difference down the road.

So, if you know someone who could use a little boost or if you're feeling ready to make the most out of the rest of this year, go ahead and share this with them. Let's break the cycle of giving up on our goals when things get busy, and let's set ourselves up for an amazing end to this year and a great start to the next one.

So let's get into it and talk about three ways or three strategies that can help you make the most of the last few months of 2023, particularly the last 90 days from October to December. Keep in mind, this is excellent groundwork before the launch of our "Boss Your Q4" series, where we'll delve even deeper into these strategies.

Pin down the key goals only

I want you to picture yourself transported to the crisp dawn of January 1, 2024. This is the start of a brand-new year, brimming with untapped possibilities. Now, it’s time to zero in on your goals for 2024 in life and business. Take a moment to reflect on those big, audacious dreams you're aiming for. (If you haven't ventured into this territory yet, no worries! Setting business goals can be overwhelming – now is the ideal moment to scribble down a few initial aspirations!).

It might be hitting a revenue milestone in your business, embarking on a creative venture or maybe a health goal like conquering that 10,000-step daily goal. They could be goals in any area of your life and business. It's important to think about not just the goal, but breaking it down and bringing it back down to today and asking yourself the question of what can you do right now to lay the foundation for achieving that goal. Is there something that you need to do? Is there something that you need to learn? Is there someone that you need to ask for help? Or are there habits that you need to upgrade?

As you think about different parts of your life or your business and what you want to improve in 2024, here's a friendly tip: keep it simple. When it comes to setting business goals, aim for just three to five big goals.

Why? Well, we're often full of ambition, especially if you're an entrepreneur. We have lots of dreams and things we want to achieve. But having a super long list of goals can slow us down. It's like juggling too many balls at once.

So, focusing on three to five key goals for the new year can make a real difference. Setting business goals helps you see things clearly. You know exactly what steps to take, where to ask for help, and what habits to build. What worked about your business ideas from 2023? What needs to change?

When you keep your focus narrow, taking action becomes easier.

let nature guide us for the final quarter of the year

Now the next thing I think about when it comes to making the most of the last 90 days of 2023 is listening to nature.

Now, before you think, Holly, what has happened to you? Just stick with me, okay…Autumn is such an amazing season, not just because of the cooler and the leaves falling from the trees, and the pumpkin spice lattes. It's all about nature.

Nature in this season is naturally shedding what isn't working anymore, it's naturally letting go. So autumn really is about letting go. And so what I want you to think about is, what do you need to say no to right now? What do you need to take off your plate? What do you need to let go of what is no longer serving you? Which of your business ideas from 2023 are no longer working? This is really important.

When you're setting your sights on what you want to achieve in your life or business, here's a simple piece of advice: let go of what's no longer serving you.

It's so easy to keep saying "yes" to everything that comes our way but here's the thing – your plate can only hold so much. When it's already overflowing, piling on more isn't the answer.

By focusing on just three to five key goals, you're making space for progress. It's like decluttering your goals list. So, as you set your sights on your big goals for the upcoming year (or even for the rest of this year), get real with yourself. What's truly holding you back from setting business goals? What's adding more weight to an already full plate? It's like streamlining your path to success.

Here's an example that might resonate with you: Imagine you and your partner are feeling swamped with your kids' schedules. Running from one activity to another, it's like a never-ending race. But then you decide to change things up. Instead of signing your kids up for multiple activities, you focus on just one per kid. Suddenly, you have more breathing room, more quality time. It's like trimming away the excess to reveal what truly matters.

Now, let's talk about that idea machine that entrepreneurs often are. I get it, new ideas are exciting! But here's a friendly reminder: not every great idea needs to be acted upon right now. Sometimes, it's like putting a recipe on hold when you're already cooking up something delicious.

Take me, for example. One of my business ideas from 2023 was an amazing planning system, a game-changer for my clients. And for a moment, I thought about turning it into a fancy physical planner. But then I had a heart-to-heart with myself. I realised that adding this new project would spread me thin and distract me from what's already working well.

So, if you ever find yourself buzzing with a fantastic idea, pause and consider: does this align with my core business? Does it support what's already bringing results? Sometimes, pressing pause on one thing allows you to make better progress on others. It's like tuning your focus to the right station.

By making room, letting go of the unnecessary, and focusing on what truly matters, you're setting yourself up for success. It's like decluttering your goals and thoughts to make way for the things that light you up.

make time for your goals

Now, the final tip here to help you get the most out of the last 90 days of 2023 is to not just wait to find time but to make time.

You know, I often hear people saying, "I want to improve this area of my life, but I just can't find the time." Sounds familiar, right? I get it, we are busy people.

But here's a friendly truth bomb for you: time can't be your scapegoat. We're all guilty of it, me included. If time is your excuse, go back to the above. What do you need to say no to or not right now? Because you simply cannot squeeze more onto an already overflowing plate. You can't. You have to clear the plate, you have to give yourself that time. You have to give yourself the space to make your priorities happen. There's no getting around this.

One of my biggest challenges around self-care used to be exercise, I used to hate going to the gym. I am very introverted, I don't like going into group classes but I couldn’t find consistency on my own. Nothing worked and as a result, I was coming up with a lot of excuses and reasons why I didn't have time to do what I needed to do. So I made a change and realised I needed to make the time. I needed to find the time that really worked for me and for me, that time was in the morning. So I worked my routine around that. Now for me, exercise is such a non-negotiable part of my routine.

Another example from my journey of setting business goals: I wanted to increase my podcast to an extra episode a week.

I knew that for me, if I made time on my calendar and set the day and time, I would show up, even when I wasn't feeling great because it would become a habit. So that's exactly what I did. As a result, it's led to a huge increase in podcast downloads, which has led to a huge upswing in new people discovering me, my message, and my business. It all started with making time in the calendar actually blocking in my Google Calendar, that I was going to create an extra podcast episode each and every week.

So my prompt for you with this final strategy is, what do you need to make time for in these last 90 days to achieve your big goals?

it’s time to RECAP

Alright, here's a quick recap for you to help you maximise the next 90 days of the year and really smash those business ideas from 2023.

First, pin down your top three to five goals for 2024. Think big, whether it's in your personal life, business, health, or relationships. Picture where you want to make waves and what accomplishments you're after.

Next, let's talk about saying no. Clear the path for what truly matters. Saying no is a power move. Feel free to decline anything that doesn't align with your goals. "Not now" is a valid response – it's your time, after all. What’s the point in spending all that time setting business goals for 2024 if you don’t make any time for them?

Lastly, time management. Don't wait for free time to magically appear. Plan it out. Schedule blocks of time for your goals. Small steps add up, so keep going!

I really hope this helps you think about how you're going to make the most out of these last four months of 2023!