Finish Strong: How to Make the Most of the Year’s Final Stretch

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and for many video production business owners, this is the time when things start to slow down. Clients begin winding down their marketing activities, video projects get postponed until the new year, and the temptation to coast through the final weeks of the year becomes strong.

If you've worked hard all year—juggling production schedules, handling client demands, and navigating unexpected challenges—you may feel like easing off the gas pedal as the year comes to an end. And while rest is essential, there’s also a huge opportunity in front of you.

Rather than coasting, this is the perfect time to finish strong—to make the most of the remaining weeks of the year and set yourself up for success in 2025.

Why Finishing Strong Matters

The final weeks of the year can be a powerful period for your business if you approach them with intention.

1. Momentum Carries Over

The way you finish this year determines how you’ll start next year. If you slow down now, you might find yourself struggling to regain momentum in January. On the other hand, if you push through and accomplish something meaningful, you’ll enter 2025 with a head start.

2. Clients Are Still Watching

Just because some clients are pausing projects doesn’t mean they aren’t thinking about next year. If you use this time to fine-tune your marketing, build authority, or reach out to potential clients, you can position yourself as their first choice when they’re ready to invest in video production again.

3. It’s the Best Time for Strategic Work

With fewer client projects in December, you finally have the time to work on the parts of your business that get neglected during busy months. Whether it’s improving your website, refining your proposal process, or creating new marketing content, now is the perfect opportunity.

The Power of a "Negative Split" Mindset

In sports like triathlon, running, and cycling, there's a concept called a negative split—completing the second half of a race faster than the first. This means starting at a controlled pace and then pushing hard toward the finish.

It’s the opposite of what many people do. Most burn out early by sprinting at the start, only to fade toward the end. But the smartest competitors save energy, finish strong, and often overtake those who started too fast.

This same principle applies to your business. Instead of winding down as the year closes, you can choose to ramp up, push through, and gain a competitive edge.

How to Finish Strong in Your Video Production Business

1. Choose High-Impact Activities

Rather than spreading yourself thin, focus on one to three key projects that will set you up for success in 2025. Here are some ideas:

  • Optimize Your Website: Update your portfolio, add new case studies, and refine your messaging.

  • Create or Improve Your Proposal Template: A stronger proposal could increase your close rate next year.

  • Develop a Marketing Asset: A landing page, a new showreel, or a video series can help you attract more clients.

  • Plan Your 2025 Marketing Strategy: Outline your content calendar, outreach efforts, or ad campaigns.

  • Tackle Lingering To-Do List Items: Small but important tasks that have been postponed all year.

Pick one if you’re feeling drained. Pick two or three if you have the capacity to push a little harder.

2. Use the “Sprint” Method

The end of the year is a great time to use a focused sprint to tackle a specific project.

A sprint is a short, intense burst of effort where you dedicate a set period—such as one or two weeks—to completing a specific goal.

  • Set a clear, achievable goal (e.g., “Refine my website’s homepage and update my showreel”).

  • Block dedicated time on your calendar.

  • Eliminate distractions and go all in for a short period.

At the end of the sprint, you’ll not only have something tangible completed, but you’ll also experience a strong sense of accomplishment heading into the holidays.

3. Shift Your Mindset from Fatigue to Focus

It’s natural to feel tired after a long year. But often, the energy required to procrastinate is greater than the energy required to simply get things done.

Many people spend weeks thinking about what they "should" do but never take action. Meanwhile, others commit and knock out a project in a matter of days.

One way to push through is by visualizing how it will feel to finish strong:

  • Imagine wrapping up the year with a clear win under your belt.

  • Picture starting January with momentum, rather than scrambling to regain focus.

  • Think about how good it will feel to look back and know you made the most of the time available.

This mindset shift can be the difference between drifting into 2025 or charging into it with confidence.

Apply This Concept to Any Area of Your Business (or Life)

Even though we’re talking about finishing the year strong, you can apply this philosophy to almost anything:

  • Finishing the day strong: Instead of dragging through the last hour of your workday, push hard and knock out an important task.

  • Finishing the week strong: Instead of coasting into the weekend, use Friday afternoons to complete something meaningful.

  • Finishing a project strong: Instead of rushing to just "get it done," invest time in making it exceptional.

Success is built on habits, and the habit of finishing strong pays off in every area of life.

The Competitive Advantage of Pushing Through

There’s an interesting observation in cycling: When most riders reach the top of a climb, they relax and start coasting right at the crest of the hill.

But smart cyclists keep pedaling hard over the top, gaining a crucial speed advantage before the descent.

In business, most people start coasting in November and December. This is the perfect time to keep pushing while your competitors slow down.

If you do, you’ll be ahead when the new year starts—and you’ll find yourself in a stronger position than ever before.

What’s One Thing You Can Finish Before the End of the Year?

As we close this year, I challenge you to choose one meaningful thing to complete before the holidays.

  • What’s something you’ve been meaning to do, but haven’t made time for?

  • What’s something that will make an immediate impact in 2025?

  • What’s something you’ll feel proud to have accomplished?

Once you decide, commit to finishing it strong.

Final Thoughts: Are You Up for the Challenge?

You don’t have to go all out to finish strong. Even one well-executed action can set you apart.

But if you take advantage of this window of opportunity, you’ll step into the new year ahead of the game—while everyone else is still warming up.

So, what’s your next move?

If you’re ready to finish strong and set yourself up for a successful 2025, I’d love to help. Check out my coaching services at RyanSpanger.com for guidance on refining your business strategy, marketing, and sales process.

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