Because finishing the year as a business owner is not for the faint-hearted...

Dear Entrepreneur… A December Note From One Who Gets It!!

We’ve officially wrapped up the first week of December, and listen… if entrepreneurship had a soundtrack right now, it would be a mix of gospel, kwaito, and a soft cry in the background. Because finishing the year as a small-business owner? Whew. It is not for the faint-hearted.

Business owner….…… this week alone probably reminded you that running a business in December should come with hazard pay. Internal admin has perhaps not let you rest, client admin won’t let you blink, and suddenly, everything “urgent” is due yesterday. Somewhere in between all of that, you’re probably reconciling accounts, preparing year-end reports, chasing customers for last-minute payments, doing performance appraisals, planning year-end parties, and trying to show up still like you’ve got it all under control. You probably do have everything under control, but damn, at what cost…..babe, are you even breathing??

And if you’re feeling overwhelmed… please know this: You are not alone. December is not always a ‘finish strong’ month, and that’s okay. There’s this pressure we put on ourselves to end the year with fireworks, milestones, immaculate to-do lists, and perfectly tied-up loose ends. But here’s the truth: Sometimes you won’t finish the year strong, and that’s still a strong finish. Because strength isn’t always performance. Sometimes, strength is survival. Sometimes strength is saying, “It’s been a lot, but I’m still here.” And for entrepreneurs, that alone is a doctorate-degree-level achievement.

Not everything will be completed, and it doesn’t mean you failed. Some tasks will carry over. Some emails will be pending. Some documents will only be finalised in January. Some strategic plans will stay dormant until you wake them up again next year.

And guess what? It is completely, beautifully, and humanly okay. Entrepreneurship is not a race to perfection. It’s a marathon of adjustment, reflection, and recovery. Which brings me to the heart of this letter…

 📌 When December overwhelms you… return to strategy

• Pressure is loud. Strategy is calm.

• Pressure shouts, “Do everything!” Strategy whispers, “Do what matters.”

At the end of the year, it’s easy to work reactively, firefighting, improvising, fixing what broke, apologising for delays, and trying to keep everyone happy. But strategy gives you a place to come home to. A grounding. A reminder. A compass. Your strategy tells you, what needs your energy, what can wait, what must be communicated, what must be outsourced, and what simply doesn’t fit anymore.

December is the month when you check your pressures against your plan. You don’t abandon strategy; you realign to it. Important to remember is that communication is your saving grace. When things feel chaotic, please do not disappear. Silence is not a productivity tool.

Let your clients know what’s happening. Let your staff know what the priorities are. Let your partners know what will only be delivered next year. People are far more gracious when they are informed. And honestly, communication buys you peace.

Another one we forget in business is that if you can’t finish it, outsource it. One thing entrepreneurship has taught us is this: You do not get extra points for suffering. If tasks are draining you, delaying you, or distracting you, permit yourself to outsource reports, admin, accounting, social media, document formatting, and project follow-ups. You are not less capable because you seek help. You are more strategic because you protect your bandwidth.

Here’s your December reminder - You don’t need to enter January exhausted and defeated. You just need to enter January prepared. Rest is part of the plan. Reflection is part of the plan. Rebuilding is part of the plan.

If this week felt like a lot, breathe. You are carrying a business and several people’s livelihoods. And you’re doing the best you can with the capacity you have. That is enough and You are enough.

💛 And before the year ends… be kind to yourself. You have shown up. You have pushed through. You have led. You have built. You have carried more than most people understand.

So if your year ends quietly…

• If your to-do list spills over, let it be.

• If your admin is still staring at you, let it be.

• If your goals shift into the new year, let it be.

You didn’t fail, you simply lived the reality of entrepreneurship. And the beauty of business you get to start again. You get to adjust again. You get to implement the strategy again. With clarity. With oxygen. With a rested mind.

So from one entrepreneur to another……Take this month one breath at a time. You’re doing well. Even if it doesn’t feel like it.

Yours in Development,

The Business Doctor Keitumetse Lekaba