Most strategies don’t die in planning sessions. They die in Q3.
Quietly. Slowly. While no one’s looking.
According to MIT Sloan, 67% of strategies fail—not because they’re flawed, but because the people executing them drift instead of adjust.
And right now, with Q4 right around the corner, that’s the exact risk.
Where Founders Are Right Now
You’ve got two paths:
Path 1: Drift.
You blame the summer slowdown.
You delay decisions.
You convince yourself it’s “just a phase” that will fix itself.
Path 2: Reset.
You pause.
You take ownership.
You use September to recalibrate and drive into Q4 with clarity.
The difference?
Execution—and leadership that evolves when the original plan hits resistance.
Why Strategy Falls Apart (and How to Catch It)
According to MIT Sloan:
- Failed strategies usually had strong goals
- But execution collapsed due to slow decisions, diluted focus, and no mid-year correction
As James Clear puts it: “You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
And I’d add: Your systems follow your calendar—and your calendar reveals how you're showing up.
If This Sounds Familiar...
- You’re 75% through the year and not where you thought you'd be
- You’re watching your team coast
- You’re busy, but the scoreboard isn’t moving
Then you’re not out of time—but you are out of excuses.
This moment isn’t about perfection.
It’s about presence.
And presence is how you get your power back.
My Story: When I Stopped Accepting “Slow Summers”
When I ran my staffing company in Michigan, every summer we’d stall.
The auto plants shut down. Our clients shut down. Our cash flow shut down.
I bought into the narrative: "This is just how summer goes."
But eventually, I started asking better questions:
- Who’s still building during the summer?
- Where else can we offer value?
I brought the questions to my team.
We chose three new cities.
I brought the plan to my coach.
We built daily, weekly, and monthly KPIs to support the pivot.
And that’s when things took off.
We expanded outside of Michigan.
Evened out our cash flow.
And made the Inc. 5000 six times in seven years.
Because I stopped reacting—and started driving.
Client Story: Rob’s September Wake-Up Call
Rob’s a founder I coach.
Q1? Great.
Q2? Flatlined.
Q3? Stress, drift, low morale.
He almost defaulted to the classic founder fallback:
"We’ll just push harder."
But we paused.
We pulled up his vision.
Audited his calendar.
And asked one powerful question: “If your calendar was the only evidence of your strategy, would it hold up in court?”
The answer? No.
He was letting everyone else’s priorities hijack his week.
We rebuilt his rhythm:
- Strategy blocks
- Team alignment
- Space to lead again
By Q3 close:
- The team hit 110% of their target
- His COO stepped up
- Rob took a full week off—and didn’t feel guilty about it
Because clarity replaced chaos.
Where You Can Start
You don’t need a new plan.
You need to get back in sync with the one you already believed in.
Here’s your Q4 Reset Checklist:
- Revisit Your Vision
Not just the numbers. Reconnect with the why. Are you leading from alignment—or obligation? - Audit Your Calendar
Where’s your time actually going? Is it advancing the mission—or babysitting distractions? - Make One Bold Move
What tough call are you avoiding that could reignite focus and momentum?
You have 65 working days left in the year.
Make them count.
What Happens When You Realign
Founders who pause in September…
- Reduce decision fatigue—because clarity wins
- Tighten team alignment—because presence inspires
- Boost execution—because you’re back in the driver’s seat
MIT Sloan reports that leaders who recalibrate mid-year are 3.5x more likely to hit their year-end goals.
It’s not about ambition.
It’s about rhythm.
The Truth You Might Need to Hear
You don’t need a new strategy.
You need a new way of showing up for the one you’ve got.
The rest of your 2025 hasn’t been written yet.
But if you don’t pick up the pen, distraction, indecision, and drift will write it for you.
September is a blank page.
Pick up the pen.
Write your next chapter—with intention.
Want help resetting your Q4 leadership rhythm? Hit reply and let’s talk about what that looks like—for you, your team, and your business.
Here to help,
Todd Palmer
