The Final Stretch: October Reflections & Strategic Moves

As October bows out and we step into the final two months of the year, I want to remind every entrepreneur reading this: we’re not done yet. There’s still time to make intentional moves that set you up to finish strong and start smart. Too many business owners switch to “wait for January” mode around this time, and they stop planning, pause executing, and cruise through November and December as if the business calendar takes a festive nap. But if you’re serious about growth, now is not the time to wind down; it’s the time to wind up strategically.

Before you print those December party invites, print your management accounts. Know your numbers because they’re talking to you. Ask yourself: what did I project at the start of the year? Where am I compared to that? And what’s the real reason behind the gap, if there is one? If your numbers could speak, they’d tell you whether your business is running you or you’re running it. Before the year closes, sit down with your accountant, your bookkeeper, or your mentor and go through your revenue, profit margins, expenses, and cash flow. The goal is to go into the new year with clarity, not confusion. Don’t wait for January to start auditing what’s already behind you because by then, you’ll just be reacting instead of leading.

Strategy isn’t seasonal. January is not the time to start planning; it’s the time to start executing what you’ve already planned. This is your moment to review your business model and assess does it still serves your current market reality. Assess your customer base and who’s growing with you, and who’s ghosted you? Reposition your offering and know what problems you are solving right now, and for whom? And revisit your pricing and assess if you’re charging in line with the value you deliver, or are you still operating on old assumptions? Remember, a strategy that lives only in a PowerPoint file helps no one. Action is the best presentation!

In practical terms, there are a few things every entrepreneur should do before December. Schedule your 2026 planning session now, even if it’s just a half-day with your core team. Do a quick “numbers autopsy” looking at income, margins, cash flow, debtors, and projections. Send thank-you notes to key customers and nurture those relationships before the year ends. Close all loose ends on unpaid invoices, compliance matters, and outstanding contracts. And finally, take stock of your people. Are they in the right roles for the goals you’ve set for next year? Because the way you end determines how you enter.

Entrepreneurship is not a race, it’s a rhythm. And right now, the rhythm calls for intentional review and strategic refocus. Don’t wait for January to start over. Do the hard thinking now, so you can start the new year running, not crawling. You’ve still got time to turn your year around. Finish the year knowing where you stand. Enter November with a plan. And when December comes, let it find you ready, not recovering. Because real entrepreneurs don’t take a break from their purpose, they just adjust the tempo.

Soooo………Before you rest, reflect. Before you close, calculate. And before you plan for next year, make sure you understand this one. If this message speaks to you, take one intentional step today: carve out time to review your business, your numbers, and your next move. You don’t need a new year to begin again, you just need a clear plan.

Yours in Development,

The Business Doctor Keitumetse Lekaba