September is the New January: Back to School, Back to Business

By Tricia Scott.

If you’ve been in business for any length of time, you’ll already know there are two natural “new years” in the calendar. The obvious one is January, with its fancy fireworks, resolutions, and gym sign-ups we regret by February. The second is September.

And honestly? September is the one that really counts.

It has a different flavour. It doesn’t carry the pressure of “new year, new you.” Instead, it’s more like a gentle but firm tap on the shoulder pads. The holidays are over, the kids are back at school, and suddenly the rhythm shifts. The air changes, routines settle back in, and it feels like the world is inviting us to reset, reflect, and refocus.

For entrepreneurs, September is golden.

Why September works so well for business

Unlike January, when everyone is worn out and nursing a mince pie and turkey hangover, September comes with an energy that’s lighter, fresher, and more practical. You’ve had some time away from the desk — even if it wasn’t a beach in Bali, the pace was different. That space gives perspective.

And perspective is power. 

It’s in that breathing room that you notice what’s working, what’s not, and where you’ve been hiding behind “busy.” September offers the perfect moment to ask yourself:

• What do I want to carry forward?
• What do I need to let go of?
• What deserves my energy for the rest of the year?

Back to school, back to business

There’s something nostalgic about September. The smell of new pencils, the feel of crisp notebooks, the slightly-too-big blazer on the first day of school. It’s a season of fresh starts that’s built into our bones.

As business owners, we get to recreate that moment. Your “back to school” might look like:

• Clearing the clutter off your desk (yes, that pile of “I’ll deal with it later” counts).
• Blocking time in your diary for the projects that actually move the needle.
• Re-establishing boundaries around your energy after a summer of saying yes to too many barbecues, meet-ups, and “just one more Prosecco.”

It doesn’t need to be dramatic. Sometimes it’s as simple as sharpening your metaphorical pencils and reminding yourself: I get to choose how I show up for the rest of this year.

Forget resolutions. Focus on rhythm.

First, what not to do. Don't go setting shiny September goals that look fabulous in your planner but leave you gasping by October.

September isn’t about radical reinvention. It’s about rhythm. It’s about choosing actions that feel sustainable and aligned — things you can actually stick to when life gets back to reality.

Instead of, “I’ll overhaul my entire marketing strategy this month,” try:

• Committing to posting once or twice a week.
• Reaching out to three potential collaborators.
• Updating your About page to reflect who you actually are now (not the version from three pivots ago).

Small, aligned actions compound. By the time January rolls around, you’ll already be three (hundred) steps ahead.

A reset for your mindset

September isn’t just a reset for your business, it’s a reset for your head. Over the summer, maybe you slowed down more than you wanted. Maybe client work fell quiet. Maybe you lost momentum and felt like you were sliding backwards.

That’s okay.

Instead of beating yourself up for what you didn’t do in August, use September to remind yourself:

• You’re allowed to begin again.
• You don’t need permission to realign.
• Your business grows when you do — one step, one choice at a time.

Start as you mean to go on

So here’s the invitation: start as you mean to go on. Not in a forced, shiny way — but in a way that feels doable, empowering, and real.

Clear your desk. Pour that coffee. Take one step that moves you closer to the business (and the life) you actually want.

Because this is your entrepreneurial new year. And this time, you get to write the rules.

I believe in you (always).

Tricia Scott is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Female CEO – Create Evolve Overcome, a global magazine, community, and platform championing women in business at every stage. A startup mentor and multi-company director, she has personally mentored more than 100 women and is an unapologetic amplifier of women’s stories, helping purpose-driven entrepreneurs step out of hiding and into their power, building businesses that feel as good as they look.

Through The Female CEO, Tricia curates a worldwide stage for women’s voices, strategies, and successes—because visibility isn’t a luxury, it’s a catalyst. When she’s not deep in conversation with her brilliant team of editors and contributors, you’ll find her with her MacBook in one hand and coffee (or something fizzy) in the other, dreaming up the next big way to make women feel seen, supported, and unstoppable.