There are less than 100 days left to do something of value and to be of value to someone in 2026. I have heard many times how once we turn the calendar to October; people sort of just push their clients, business, and work aside and slide into the holiday season, football, parties, and eating until it is January. Are you one of these? As a mentor and as a coach I am adamant about “completion” of what is in front of you. So, what if there are big “Amazon prime days,” Costco, Target and Walmart all fighting for the best deal on something to pull in a big win in the 4th quarter of the year. These big corporations pull out all the stops to get you and your money into a buying frenzy! When I graduated from college I worked for the 2nd largest ad agency in the US. I managed all the projects and worked for all the creatives in the firm. We were targeting our buying audiences in July with advertising being written, photographed, filmed and time bought on radio, tv, billboards, print and other outlets long before you the consumer were aware anything was going on.
What do you have in the works for finishing this year strong?
Thanksgiving is next month, and you can create an offer of Thanks for all your customers who purchased something from you these past 12 months. I have encouraged several of my clients to create a “Video of Thanks” just 1 – 3 minutes long and send it by email during the month of November or even December. You can video yourself with your iPhone and make one generic, or for your repeat high dollar clients/customers you can do a more personal video. I can assure you, I have not received one of these from any business I frequent. This is not something for social media. Social Media is not personalized enough, and you want to be 1:1 with your customer.
Every day there are opportunities every businessperson must impact a customer and value them for their loyalty, their new business or just being above the fray. Are you one of those people who have a constant ringing in your ears? To me that is the incessant noise of chaos around us all the time. Where does one go to hear silence? Hearing an uplifting comment, praise or even a smile and courtesy is an unusual welcome change from the ringing.
Don’t put off what you can do to lift another person up today!
Instead of scrolling for hours on your phone, put some effort into what we’ve talked about above. Do you really need to keep looking at the scores, or your fantasy football team again to see where you stand? Has social media grabbed you by the throat and become your new addiction? These may seem innocent at first, but when then become your “go-to-activity” in times of boredom and stress, you have a big problem. Not to mention, these activities dumb you down.
Right now, in the waning months of 2026 just about all of the people I follow or groups I am a part of are already doing ZOOM call to their audiences about what they have already reflected on, changes that will be coming in the new year, what assessing their customers has revealed to them, the new vision for the new year and so on. These are well thought out and pretty specific as to all that they have thought about over the course of a summer of thought. Too soon you think? I don’t think so. You are capable of creating a new opportunity for your team, your customers and your community if you just think about what you and your business can do!
In the month of December, I challenge my clients to get away and disconnect with the year, their family, and their businesses and go somewhere for a couple of days to a place that inspires them. Perhaps it’s the beach, or woods, maybe it’s borrowing a family member or friends’ condo just to think and reflect on 2026 and to think about 2027 without the world tugging at every minute of your day. Look at your calendar right now and see where you can create some time to get away and think. I’m not advocating abandoning your family during the holidays, I am asking you to put some focused thought into the passed year and to envision something new for 2027,
I will post this get away exercise in the December 2026 blog just like I have done for over 20+ years. Many famous CEOs do this practice each year and what comes out of that focused thinking and reflecting time has moved the needle in their corporations and their business bottom line for decades. You should try it. You might be very surprised at what you come up with.
Is anything bubbling up in your thinking yet? Keep these thoughts in front of you weekly. Perhaps you look at your calendar each week to see what that next week holds, you should look for those “white spaces” where you can get away to think!
janice@janicebastanicoaching.com
908-229-3797
www.janicebastanicoaching.com
www.johnmaxwellgroup.com/janicebastani
