The One Question That Sets Up Your Next 90 Days
Is it already November, or is it finally November? Either this year flew by, or you can't wait for the new one to start. Either way, the next quarter is coming at us like a freight train. For most leaders, the next couple of months are a whirlwind of personal and professional responsibility, and calendars rarely look consistent through the holidays. Before you know it, we're in the new year.
In a coaching session recently, I asked a client one question: "What do you want to look back on in January and say, I did that?" That single question sparked a real conversation about growth, planning, and what the next couple of months actually need to look like to set up a strong transition into the new year.
Now is the time to look ahead. What systems need to be in place? What conversations need to happen with your team? What needs to be ordered, hired, or built to be ready for next quarter? It's easy, especially in a hard season, to stay locked on right here, right now. Getting above the day-to-day to see the whole business starts with a mindset shift.
Shift to a future-oriented perspective. Eliminate distractions. In the rush from task to task, it's easy to forget to slow down and think. I have to schedule that time — nobody just finds it. Giving your brain a break from the noise gives your creativity room to show up and gives you space to reflect on the past and think about what's ahead.
Journal. Adding one more thing to an already-full list feels impossible, but reflecting on what's working and what isn't is often the thing that breaks you through to the next level.
Seek outside counsel. Talking to someone outside your organization reframes your thinking around what actually matters, and gives you the accountability to follow through on what you decide.
Once you've carved out the time to work on the business instead of just in it, it's time to decide what to focus on. Where are we now? A clear-eyed look at the current state of the business — what's working, what's not, where the metrics actually stand. Where do we want to be in 90 days? Keep it to 90 days. That keeps you forward-focused without overcommitting to a year's worth of ambition all at once. What will it take to get from here to there? That answer is your simple business plan — the gaps you need to fill, written down.
From there, build a plan that actually works: a to-do list of the real commitments that close the gap, a calendar where every priority has a deadline — if it's not on the calendar, it's not real — and clear communication to your team about what you're aiming for. Overcommunicating is a myth. Tell them, then tell them again.
Follow those steps and you'll have a plan simple enough to actually execute, aimed in the direction you meant to go. Before you know it, January will be here — and your business will be ready to meet it.
What do you want to look back on in 90 days and say, "I did that"?
