September 2025 Planning Tips and Resources
September's challenge isn't getting back to work — it's recognizing that 'back to normal' means something different to everyone
For many of us, September is the real new year. Summer’s behind us and suddenly everyone expects full throttle.
But here’s the thing: your team and collaborators are reboarding at different speeds. Some are ready to sprint, others are still finding their rhythm. And everyone’s carrying different versions of what “back to normal” means.
September and October are the last two full months before the winter holidays start the next round of calendar musical chairs, which makes this window precious from a team focus perspective.
That makes now the perfect window to kick off collaborative projects, reset focus, and realign with your team.
The trick is acknowledging that “back to work” doesn’t mean “back to the same pace for everyone.” Some teammates need gradual acceleration. Others need you to channel their pent-up energy. All need clarity about what actually matters now.
The resources below can help you plan intentionally, reconnect your team, and build sustainable momentum instead of yet another frantic push.
~Charlie
Resources for the Real New Year
We all know the changes September brings, but it’s rare that we use this knowledge to explicitly communicate changes in expectations and team habits. Consider this your nudge to practice making the obvious explicit.
“Clarity about what actually matters now” might mean a change in the scope of your projects and goals, both work and personal.
Like December/January, September is a prime time for finding homes for your intentions, dreams, and energy — aka, goal-setting and prioritizing.
When reducing scope and realigning for the remainder of the year, consider implementing PTR: “permission to release,” where teammates have permission to release old tasks, projects, and ideas without judgment, justification, or commentary.
Free subscribers: now might also be a great time for you to give our paid subscription a try. $10 a month will get you all these resources, our two monthly calls, the full digital suite of Momentum Planners, and more. Cancel anytime.
Join Us in September
Mark your calendars for our September events, open to our paid subscribers:
Leadership Strategy Session (LSS): Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 11:00 am PDT
Resetting the Pace for the Push AheadSeptember is the real new year. Kids are back in school. Summer hours end. Your team is (mostly) back and the pressure is on: finish Q3 strong, tee up Q4, and make the back half of the year count. This session is about helping leaders reset the pace—strategically. September is the moment for clear-eyed recommitment. What you set now will determine how you close the year.
Monthly Momentum Call (MMC): Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 11:00 am PDT
Recommitting Without the RushThe people who thrive in September aren't the ones who try to do everything. They're the ones who use this natural transition point to get clear on what actually deserves their energy for the remainder of the year. This call is about helping you recommit strategically— without the overwhelm.
September Momentum Planners
The Momentum Planners were built to keep your most important work front and center. Download the free version of our September planners to help you determine what actions and ideas are serving you, and which need a retool going into the second half of the year.
Paid subscribers can access the full suite of dated planners below. 👇 If you don’t see them, please make sure you’re logged in to your paid account.
If you don’t have a paid subscription yet, now’s a great time to upgrade.