Autumn is the perfect time to pause, plan, and refocus to give your business direction, clarity, and momentum for the months ahead.
As summer draws to a close and we step into September, there’s often a feeling of fresh energy and new beginnings. Children return to school, diaries start to fill up again, and businesses regain momentum after the quieter months.
For many business owners, September can feel like a second ‘New Year’ and a great time to reset, refocus, and plan.
But before diving headfirst into the busyness of day-to-day operations, it’s worth pausing for a moment to reflect and remember direction is better than speed.
So many business owners get caught up working in their business that it can leave little time or energy to step back and ask the bigger questions:
· Where is my business heading?
· Is my time aligned with my long-term goals?
· What opportunities are there available for me right now?
· What do I need to change?
Working on your business means creating the space to reflect, review, and plan strategically. It’s about lifting your head above the day-to-day to see the bigger picture and clarify your direction to ensure that all the effort you’re putting in is moving you where you want to go.
Think of it like setting out on a car journey. You could be driving at full speed, but if you haven’t put your Sat Nav on, you may end up miles away from where you intended. A little time spent reviewing your route makes every mile more purposeful.
The benefits of stepping back
When you deliberately carve out time to work on your business, a few things happen:
· Clarity – You rediscover what matters most and where you want to go.
· Focus – You identify priorities and stop wasting energy on distractions.
· Confidence – With a plan in place, you feel more certain about decisions.
· Momentum – Ironically, slowing down to think often accelerates progress later.
Why is September the ideal time?
The post-summer season is a unique window. You’ve still got a few months left in the year to make significant progress, but enough distance from January to realistically assess what has (and hasn’t) worked so far. It’s a natural time to reset goals, re-energise yourself and your team, and put fresh strategies in place before the year-end rush.
Creating space to think differently
To give business owners space for this process, I run ‘Work on your business’ sessions to give you the opportunity to gain perspective and leave with a clear, practical strategy and action points.
Whether you’re a solo business owner who wants to refine your vision, or a team leader aiming to align your team around shared goals, these sessions create the structure and accountability to move forward with confidence.
Your September challenge
This month, before your diary fills up completely, block out just half a day to think about your business. Ask yourself:
· What’s working well?
· What’s not working well?
· What’s draining my time and energy?
· What do I want to achieve by December?
Remember—direction is better than speed. When you’re clear about where you’re heading, every action becomes more purposeful.
Why work with me?
With 25+ years’ experience in running a range of companies including a PR and marketing firm, I combine my business and coaching experience to help you get the best from these sessions.
I’m also the Expert Coach in Residence for the North East BIPC, Northumberland Small Business Service and Northumbria University’s Business Start-up Incubator and help entrepreneurs across the region to develop and grow their businesses.
Work on your business sessions
If you’d like help creating clarity for your business, please get in touch. You can opt for a half or full day session to step back, reflect, and leave with a clear vision, direction, and action plan. It could be the most productive time you spend this season.
Sam Hook
Uniquethinking
Coaching for you and your business
www.uniquethinking.co.uk