#21: Make The Most of Q4: Finish The Year Strong

Use Q4 strategically to set your company up for a successful next year with practical tips on operations, talent, finance, and business development.

As we enter the final stretch of the year, it’s tempting to push through Q4 in a rush to hit annual goals. However, at Second First, we believe that Q4 is the perfect time to slow down, reflect on the year, and plan strategically for next year. By taking a thoughtful approach, you’ll avoid feeling like you’re behind when January arrives.

In our latest podcast episode, we share a process to assess how your company has performed so far and how to shift into a long-term strategy. We recommend using the S.W.T. analysis—strengths, weaknesses, and trends—so you can identify key trends in the market and industry that could shape your strategy. We also provide actionable questions to assess four crucial categories: operations, talent, finance, and business development.

Take the time in Q4 to tighten up your processes, assess team needs, and strengthen relationships with partners. This will help you hit the ground running in January, ensuring that you start the new year feeling prepared and ahead of the curve.

You'll hear all about:

• 01:32: Q4 is the time to take an honest look at the past year and shift into long-term strategic thinking.

• 02:00: Introduction to the S.W.T. assessment: strengths, weaknesses, and trends.

• 02:26: How trends in the market, technology, and consumer behavior can influence your strategy.

• 03:04: Operations: Questions to ask about bottlenecks, processes, and vendor performance.

• 04:14: Talent: Where are team bottlenecks? Who is ready for a promotion? Where do you need to upgrade your team?

• 05:21: Finance: Ensure your prices, margins, and payroll are in check. Focus on profits, not just revenue.

• 05:57: Business development: Build better relationships with referral partners and explore strategic partnerships.

• 06:20: Example of creative strategic partnerships to boost sales.

• 07:09: Wrap up with key insights on setting up recurring revenue and starting next year strong.

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