Stop Waiting for the Ball to Drop

Think about it: what if you started today instead of in 2 months? Where would you be by the end of the year?

Most people use the holidays as an excuse to stall. They convince themselves there isn’t enough time left to make meaningful progress, so they push everything to January. But if you add up the days between now and New Year’s, that’s 90+ opportunities to show up differently.

Ninety days of momentum can completely change your life.

The Space Before Holidays

This stretch of the year is actually your golden window. Before the chaos of travel, family dinners, and office parties kicks in, you’ve got time and space to set up systems that will carry you through the holiday season.

Ask yourself:

• What can I automate so it runs even when I’m checked out?

• What routines can I anchor in before life gets busy?

• Where can I focus my energy now so I coast through December instead of scramble?

This isn’t about adding pressure — it’s about buying freedom with foresight.

Define Your Runway

Your Q4 runway should feel intentional, not overwhelming. That means identifying the 2–3 things that, if accomplished, would make you feel proud walking into 2026.

Examples:

• Finalize a contract or partnership that builds Q1 momentum.

• Launch a side project (newsletter, podcast, creative outlet) and get your first pieces of content out.

• Set up a financial system (automated savings, budgeting tool) so you hit January already in flow.

When you know what the runway looks like, the takeoff feels inevitable. 

Worksheet: Your 60-Day Runway Planner

Take 15 minutes to sketch this out:

1. Goal: Write down one Self, one Health, and one Wealth goal (from last week’s framework).

2. Mini-Milestones: Break each down into 2–3 steps you can realistically hit before the end of the year.

3. Weekly Action: Assign one action per week for the next 8 weeks.

4. Accountability: Write down who you’ll share this with.

By the time the calendar flips, you won’t just have resolutions — you’ll already have results.

Reflection Prompt

If you started today, what’s one result you could realistically achieve before January 1st? Write it down and give yourself a deadline.

Closing Note

This framework isn’t just about setting goals — it’s about aligning them. Because you can’t be rich in one area while bankrupt in another and expect to feel fulfilled.

Over the next 11 Tuesdays, we’ll keep layering tools, strategies, and reflections that make sure all three buckets are moving forward together.

Because this is the real work: building a life that’s rich in compensation, richer in life.

Alexis Matthews