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Last-Quarter Push: Focus and Drive
October is one of my favorite months of the year. It's the month my husband and I got married. The weather is wonderful: it's that time of year when you can wear a t-shirt during the day and a sweater or hoodie in the evening. The smell of the autumn air, the vibrant colors of the changing leaves, football games, and all things pumpkin-flavored and pumpkin-scented top my list of favorite things. It also happens to be the perfect time of year to reflect on your goals and refocus on the things that matter most before the calendar turns to a new year.
When I take inventory of my goals, I organize them around five core components of wellbeing. I do an honest assessment of where things stand in each area today, both celebrating what's gone well and outlining what to prioritize in the final-quarter push.
Here is how I work through each one, along with a few questions to help you do the same.
1. Career
Enjoying what you do every day and feeling a sense of purpose in your work.
As a career sales professional, I've always known the fourth quarter as crunch time: the final stretch to hit annual quota. It's when I dial in, to the dollar, exactly what's needed to reach each team member's individual goal and our combined number.
You may not carry a quota, but the same question applies: what, specifically, stands between you and the finish line you set in January? When you know the exact gap, you know where to put your energy.
Questions to ask yourself:
How are your quarterly and annual goals progressing?
Which one or two goals would make the year feel like a success if you finished them?
Does your work still energize you and give you a sense of purpose?
2. Social
Having strong community and relationships in your life.
My husband and I make a point of celebrating our anniversary every year. Last year, we marked 20 years with a trip to the Maldives. This year, we're keeping it simpler: a weekend in Chicago with great food and quality time spent together.
We also have three kids together and best friends from every season of life, and we are lucky enough to still have all our parents and siblings with us. It's important to me to prioritize individual time with each of my kids, girls' nights out, and time with my parents and siblings.
Questions to ask yourself:
Who do you want to spend more time with before the year ends? Or reverse the question: who is taking up more time than they deserve?
Which family gatherings and traditions matter most to you this season?
What vacation, adventure, or experience do you want to prioritize?
3. Financial
Stewarding your resources in a way that offers stability and supports your lifestyle goals.
My 401(k) and 529 contributions run on autopilot, which frees me up for the part I love most this time of year: planning our holiday trips and traditions and mapping out next year's family vacations.
When the must-haves take care of themselves, you can give your attention to the money decisions that create memories.
Areas to review:
Costly debt: What can you pay down before year-end?
Retirement savings: Are your contributions on track for the year?
College and family planning: Are you saving toward the milestones ahead?
Experience fund: What are you setting aside for trips and traditions?
Holiday spending: Have you set a budget before the season starts?
4. Physical
Maintaining your health in a way that optimizes energy and mobility.
I aim for 10,000 steps a day and strength training three to four times a week. I also protect seven to eight hours of sleep a night and prioritize protein and hydration.
None of these habits are complicated, and that's the point. With the busiest season ahead, the basics are what keep your energy steady enough to finish the year well.
Areas to review:
Food: Are your meals giving you the energy you need?
Exercise: What is your plan for staying active as the weather turns?
Sleep: Are you getting enough rest to recover?
Annual exams and preventative care: Which appointments do you still need to schedule?
5. Spiritual
Connecting to a purpose that gives direction to your goals and reflects your core values.
I saved the most important area for last, because it guides all the others. Before I begin any goal planning, I reflect on my core values and what matters most to me. My purpose is to love God and love others well, and that grounds my intention in everything I do.
On a recent episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast with Oprah Winfrey, Mel shared one of her favorite ways to think about purpose. Purpose, she said, is not the thing that you do. It is "the thing that happens in others when you do the thing that you do."
When I look at my career, my relationships, my finances, and my health through that lens, the goals that matter most become clear.
Questions to ask yourself:
What are your core values, and does your calendar reflect them?
Where do you find community, whether through faith or another source of connection?
Would a values assessment or a conversation with a coach help you clarify your purpose?
Your Final-Quarter Push
You don't have to tackle all five areas at once. Rate each one from 1 to 10 and celebrate what's gone well. Then choose the one or two areas where focused effort over the remaining weeks of the year would matter most.
October reminds me every year that the seasons change whether we're ready or not. The year isn't over, and there is still time to finish it with focus and drive.
If you'd like help clarifying your values and building a plan for the final quarter, I'd love to work with you!
Audrey LaMere is The Confidence Coach at WeInspireWe. Her desire is for every person to recognize and harness the unique brilliance within themselves – owning their identity. Audrey is passionate about raising the consciousness of every leader at home, in the community, and in the boardroom so they can effectively raise themselves up to great leadership and can raise those around them up too. Audrey’s personal mission is to create a ripple effect that impacts the world - enabling greater connection, joy, purpose, and impact globally!
If you’re ready to know who you are, confidently step into your great leadership, and make that lasting impact, then schedule a free coaching session with Audrey today.
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