3 hacks – Facing september with clarity
If you’re like me, September doesn’t start with fireworks.
After 3 fantastic weeks of holiday, I come back to an inbox that looks like a crime scene. Half-read threads, “circle back?” pings, meetings everywhere. And in less than 60 days, my manager will ask for 2026 forecasts.
That’s when I say: “If I don’t reset now, the year will run me – instead of the other way around.”
3 hacks I use myself to face September with clarity:
- Pick your December win. Not “crush Q4.” Too vague. Instead: By December, what would make me proud? Last year it was launching myself as a freelancer. This year it’s making my personal brand visible to the right people. For you, it could be:
- Landing your next job or getting a promotion.
- Improving your freelance sales pipeline for autumn. Leading one project that matters.
- Write one sentence ➡️ “By December, I will _ so that _.”
- Protect your energy, not just your schedule. A busy calendar ≠ progress. So I cut one thing that drains me (goodbye, meetings without agenda 🙃) And add one thing that fuels me, like coaching conversations or deep focus work. If it doesn’t give energy or move the December win needle, it waits.
- Run a career pit stop. Before Q4 starts sprinting., I hit pause and ask myself two simple questions:
- Do I really see myself in this same project next year?
- Is it time to explore a new track?
👉 And If you’re unemployed, this pit stop is even more crucial. It’s not about chasing “any” job. It’s about showing your real value, standing out beyond the job boards, and having a strategy that puts you in front of the right people.
September often trick us.
It makes us want to sprint.
But what we really need is to anchor, breathe, and choose the right direction.
Here’s where I can help. I’m offering a few 1:1 coaching spots open this month, for professionals who want to sharpen their job search strategy, work on their personal brand or gain clarity for the rest of the year.
Not sure yet? Start small. Book a free 15-min clarity check-in – built for exactly this moment, before September steals your focus.
Let’s make sure this year ends with your win, Javi
