5 questions to regain focus and end the year on a high
Read time: 6 minutes
As the temperature drops and the days get shorter, it’s so easy to think the year is pretty much wrapped up.
I know I’ve been guilty of this in the past.
- We're in the final quarter.
- The inbox is that little bit quieter.
- The energy of the first half is gone.
- Those big opportunities feel like they’ve passed.
And yet.
This week, I signed my biggest sponsorship deal of the entire year (!) — and it came completely organically.
It’s given me that second wind I really needed, and was a reminder that time is abstract; the calendar doesn’t decide when opportunities appear, we do.
Every week between now and the end of 2025 is a chance to push forward.
So instead of writing off the next couple of months, I’m now asking myself a few questions to figure out where I am, what still matters, and how I want to finish 2025.
Here’s a simple reflection framework you can use to do the same: five questions to help you reset and find your ‘final-stretch’ focus.
Quick note: I'm opening a limited number of coaching spots for professionals who want to reposition their personal brand for 2026. Applications close 3rd November — I'd love to work with you! >>> CLICK HERE TO APPLY
1. What’s given you energy — and what’s drained it?
Lately, I’ve been paying close attention to how my energy shifts throughout the day or week. Some things light me up; others feel like really hard work. The pattern is usually obvious once you see it on paper.
Do this: Write down the things that energise you and the things that exhaust you. As the year winds down, aim to spend a little more time in the first column and a little less in the second.
2. Where have you made the biggest impact so far this year?
It’s surprisingly easy to forget what’s actually gone well. We go from one task to the next without stopping to notice the moments that mattered. Often, the most meaningful impact isn’t in the ‘big’ things — it’s in the quiet consistency, or the follow-through when no one was watching.
Do this: List your top three impact moments from the year so far. What made them effective? How can you build on those strengths over the next few weeks?
3. Where have you grown the most, and what did it cost?
Growth rarely arrives neatly packaged. Sometimes it looks like (very!) messy progress, setbacks, or long stretches of feeling deeply uncomfortable. Yet when you look back, you can usually trace a skill, strength, or perspective that’s been built because of it.
Do this: Identify one area where you’ve genuinely grown this year. What did it demand from you — time, courage, patience? And how can that growth help you as you close out the year?
4. Which goals still feel relevant?
A lot can change in ten months. Some of the goals you set in January might not fit anymore — and that’s absolutely fine; it’s not failure, it’s growth. The key is to be honest about what still matters to you and what you can gracefully let go of.
Do this: Revisit your goals from earlier this year. Which ones still feel aligned with where you’re heading? And which can you cross off or adapt before the year ends?
5. How do you want the rest of the year to feel?
Something I’ve realised is that not every goal needs a metric. Sometimes it’s more powerful (and appropriate) to choose a feeling or theme to guide you. If this year has felt chaotic, maybe you want the next few weeks to feel calm. If it’s been comfortable, maybe you want to stretch yourself.
Do this: Choose one word to define how you want the rest of the year to feel — and use it as your compass for decisions between now and December.
The bottom line
A reflection process doesn’t need to be a big task — twenty minutes with a notebook, a coffee, and some honesty is more than enough.
There are still nine weeks left in the year! That’s nine chances to show up and make meaningful progress. The year isn’t done yet — this is just the final stretch.
I've opened a limited number of 1:1 coaching spots, for professionals who want to reposition their personal brand for 2026. FILL IN THIS FORM TO APPLY.
Here’s to finishing 2025 strong!
Speak soon,
Dupé
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