January gets the resolutions. Fall gives you a chance to position yourself for what comes next.
Every January, we hear about fresh starts. New goals. New planners. New versions of ourselves.
There is nothing wrong with that.
But when it comes to your career, waiting until January to decide what you want next can mean starting later than you need to.
In many organizations, fall is an important planning period. Priorities for the coming year begin taking shape. Leaders start discussing budgets, talent needs, succession, new initiatives, and where additional capabilities may be needed.
That makes September and the months that follow an important career window.
The question is: Are you using it?
The Quiet Planning Window
September rarely feels as significant as January.
There is no countdown. No pressure to announce a resolution. Most people are simply getting back into their routines after summer.
But this quieter period gives you an opportunity to look ahead before the year is over.
What do you want to be different about your career next year?
Do you want more responsibility?
Greater visibility?
A promotion?
A leadership opportunity?
A move into another area of the organization?
A new company?
Or have you realized that the career you have been building is no longer the career you want?
You do not need to have every answer today.
You do need to begin asking better questions.
Three Things To Do Before October Ends
Get Specific, Not Just Ambitious
“Grow my career” sounds positive, but it does not tell you what to do next.
Define what growth means for you.
More scope?
More influence?
A different title?
Higher compensation?
A new organization?
Work that better fits the person you are becoming?
The clearer you become about the destination, the easier it is to identify the moves that will help you get there.
Make Your Work Visible on Purpose
Doing strong work matters.
So does making sure the right people understand the value you bring.
Ask yourself:
Who knows the impact I have made this year?
Can I clearly explain that impact?
Have I built relationships beyond my immediate team?
Do the people making decisions about future opportunities know what I am capable of?
Visibility is not about constantly promoting yourself. It is about making sure your contribution is understood.
Activate One Meaningful Move
Clarity becomes valuable when you act on it.
Choose one career move you can make before the end of October.
Schedule the conversation.
Reconnect with someone in your network.
Ask about an opportunity.
Document your results.
Update your positioning.
Research the market.
The Activate step in my S.O.A.R. Method® is about moving from thinking about what you want to taking deliberate action toward it.
Your next move does not have to be dramatic.
It does have to happen.
The Real New Year Starts Before January
You do not need January 1 to make a new career decision.
You can begin now.
The next several months give you time to get clearer about what you want, strengthen your visibility, build key relationships, and position yourself for opportunities that may emerge in 2027.
Before you add another goal to your calendar, ask yourself one question:
What do I want to be different about my career by this time next year?
Then ask:
What am I willing to do before this year ends to help make that happen?
If you know you want something different but need help determining the right strategy, this is the work I do with leaders and professionals through 1:1 executive and career coaching.
Together, we can clarify where you are going, identify what may be getting in the way, and create a practical plan for your next move.
Prefer to work through the process on your own?
The Unshakeable Career is a self-paced course designed to help you strengthen your career positioning, increase your visibility, and take greater ownership of your next move.
