14 Fridays Left in the year! That simple realization can either bring excitement or panic. A Facebook post with this phrase reminded me how quickly the year is ending. Instead of thinking about holiday festivities, my mind raced to the financial realities—Thanksgiving expenses, employee bonuses, year-end goals, 2018 planning, and tax deadlines. Even more daunting, I reflected on the ambitious goals I set just 37 Fridays ago.
As business owners, we have three choices: ignore the reality and continue celebrating, react with fear-driven urgency, or take a step back and assess the situation. I strongly advocate for the last option—what I call 2017 reflection.
How to Make the Most of 14 Fridays Left
Block Out Time for 14 Fridays Left Reflection
Dedicate 90 minutes to review and assess your progress. Ideally, include a trusted team member who understands business operations, scheduling, and workflows. If you don’t have such a person, consider hiring a business coach for two sessions. Investing in external accountability ensures honest feedback and a new perspective on what’s working—and what’s not.
Assess Your Year’s Progress with 14 Fridays Left
Look back at January 1st and measure how well you allocated your time. Calculate the hours dedicated to these key areas and compare them with actual participation. Then, rate yourself from 1-10 (10 being the highest) in these categories:
- Future growth initiatives
- Weekly full Board of Directors meetings
- Weekly production meetings
- Weekly marketing meetings
Create a Year-End Plan for Fourteen Fridays Left
To maximize the final 14 Fridays Left, schedule a weekly one-hour team meeting on Mondays or Fridays. Before these meetings, conduct a pre-meeting with a key team member or business coach to analyze obstacles that block your progress. Identify what prevented you from achieving your early-year goals. Then, redefine realistic year-end goals and develop a structured plan to meet them.
The Formula for Success: 14 Fridays Left Strategy
Success doesn’t happen by chance. It comes from planning your work and working on your plan with discipline and consistency. Without a structured approach, businesses often find themselves in panic mode.
I’ve received calls like:
“We need $50,000 in revenue in the next 30 days, or we’re in trouble!”
One real example: On August 15th, a business owner called in crisis mode. They needed $51,000 by month’s end to cover expenses. By August 31st, they had collected $62,378. The difference? They adopted the mindset of 14 Fridays Left all year long.
It’s Not Too Late – Take Control of Your 14 Weeks Left
With 14 Fridays Left, there’s still time to course-correct and accomplish everything you originally planned. But success requires a structured strategy. Take action now:
- Review your schedule and set aside 90 minutes every Friday for growth and future planning.
- Choose four key projects to tackle between now and year-end.
- Treat these final weeks as your two-minute warning for success.
If you never set clear goals at the start of the year, don’t worry—there’s still time. Take this opportunity to take control and finish the year strong.
Need help getting started? email us now. Let’s make the most of your 14 Fridays Left!
Author: Molly Hall McGrath
