December is almost here. Which means warm fires, hot chocolate, and holiday cheer.

It also means less work gets done in many non-retail business settings.

And it’s easy to see why with all the snow days, holiday parties, office get-togethers, photos with Santa, school concerts, and car appointments for snow tires. There are gifts to be bought and wrapped, big dinners to be made, people to see, and vacations to be taken. It’s a circle – maybe not a vicious one, but a circle nonetheless: We’re so busy having fun that work takes a backseat. The less we get to work, the less work we get. It’s easy to step out of the office for an extra break or to take a longer lunch. Who’s gonna notice especially since the office is so much quieter. My writer friend Erin Casey said it best: “Nothing gets done in December.”

December is a lot like August as there’s lots happening outside of work. The biggest challenge to business in August is that most people take vacation in that month. So similar to December it’s challenging to reach people, get replies, and make business decisions. Although December also has the added challenge of people being pulled in different directions due to the demands of the holiday season.

It is especially hard to do business between December 24th and January 1st, where things come to a virtual standstill. And when you do eventually get in touch with a prospect or client they don’t want to make any decisions until “after the holidays.”  

The irony is that December can be a great time to get work done – yours or your clients’. Take advantage of the remaining time in November to make your phone calls, send your emails, have your meetings, close your deals, and get your contracts signed. And if you still find yourself with time on your hands, why not revisit your business plan, get some blog posts in the bag, attend a networking event, work on your social media strategy, or develop new products or services? If you aren’t working IN your business, December can be a great time to work ON your business.

So go on, give yourself an early gift this holiday season: Get things done. You’ll be glad you did. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Scott Trites is a Social Media Consultant and Owner of Knockout Social Media