Let’s be honest—July can be brutal.
When I ran my staffing company, I used to hate this time of year. Decision-makers vanished on vacation. Phones stopped ringing. Invoicing dipped. And I found myself staring down a cash flow cliff with a lump in my throat.
Even when I thought I was ready—when EOS was humming and my projections looked solid—those quiet weeks still rattled me.
And I’d spiral.
**Shame. Fear. Helplessness.
**That old inner voice would whisper, “What if we’re losing our edge?” or worse, “What if this is the beginning of the end?”
Looking back, I can see it clearly: that wasn’t strategy—it was panic.
I’d pile on sales calls, roll out discounts, push the team harder—all while pretending I was calm and in control.
But I wasn’t leading.
I was reacting.
I was white-knuckling July.
And the worst part? I didn’t talk about it. I wore the mask of “everything’s fine” because I thought that’s what leaders were supposed to do. Carry the weight.
Alone.
That changed the day I started working with a coach. He taught to look at things such as historical data, seasonal hiring trends and staffing industry analytics for the summer season.
I realized the summer slowdown wasn’t the real problem—the story I told myself about it was. I made it mean I was failing. That I wasn’t enough.
Once I named that, everything shifted.
- I stopped fearing July and started planning for it.
- Built up cash reserves in Q2.
- Invested in my team.
- Used the slower pace to strengthen client relationships and build culture.
Turned the slump into a strategy.
And you know what?
Our weakest revenue months became our strongest leadership months.
Because leadership isn’t about avoiding the slump.
It’s about how you show up when it hits.
What This Moment Is Really Asking From You
This season isn’t calling for hustle.
It’s calling for presence.
Not to fix everything overnight, but to pause, take a breath, and make a few clear, intentional moves.
When the pipeline slows, it’s easy to panic. But this dip? It’s a test.
Not of your talent—but of your endurance, clarity, and vision.
If September is the race…
July is your training camp.
Five Power Moves to Rebound from the Slump
- **Reconnect with Clients
**Reach out to your top 10. No pitch. Just ask: “How are you planning for fall?” Listen. Be a partner. - **Recalibrate the Team
**Quick stand-up. Re-anchor to the mission. Celebrate progress. Set the tone for Q3. - **Refine Your Offer
**What pain points are about to spike for your customers? Adjust now. Get Q4-ready. - **Rebuild Your Lead Flow
**Nurture. Educate. Stay visible. Now is the time to warm up leads before the fall surge. - Reset ***You
***Quiet months bring up noisy thoughts. Journal. Get coached. Ask: Am I reacting… or responding?
Client Story: How Chris Turned Panic into Progress
Chris, a founder I coach, used to dread July. Pipeline gone cold. Team momentum slipping. His instinct? Do more. Hustle harder. But the more he pushed, the worse it felt.
When we worked together, I asked him to do something wild…
Slow down.
He took the time to study his sales cycle. Reached out to old clients. Gave his team space to regroup and retool.
By September, his pipeline was hot, the team was re-engaged, and revenue spiked.
Because he didn’t just work harder—he worked smarter.
It started by changing the story he told himself about the slump.
Micro-Action: One Text, One Connection
Pick one person—client or teammate.
Send a check-in. Not a pitch. Just presence.
“Hey, just thinking of you. How are things going for you this summer?”
That’s it.
Simple. Intentional. And powerful.
Truth You Might Need to Hear
**The rebound doesn’t start in September.
**It starts now.
With one brave, clear move toward leadership.
You’ve got this. And if you want a thinking partner to help map out your next move—hit reply. Let’s talk.
Here to help,
Todd Palmer
