Why the Great Lock-In Is a Great Time to Plan Your Next Career Move
It’s almost Q4, which means the end of the year is quickly approaching. You might be reflecting on what you’ve accomplished, what you didn’t, or maybe just bracing yourself for the holidays.
Most people push their goals for the new year into January. But if you follow that pattern, the cycle repeats: you enter 2026 at the starting line instead of already in motion.
That’s why the Great Lock-In—a challenge that encourages people to focus intensely from September 1 through December 31—is such a powerful opportunity. Instead of waiting for the reset button in January, you can use these months to design your Strategic Executive Exit™ and step into the new year with clarity and momentum.
Get Out Ahead of Q4
Fall tends to be a season where people hunker down—whether that’s because of shorter days, back-to-school rhythms, or the upcoming holiday rush. The Great Lock-In flips that instinct: it challenges you to choose one goal and double down before the year ends. For executives and leaders, there’s no better target than mapping your next career chapter.
Go Into 2026 With Momentum
Most people show up on January 1 still tying their shoes. But if you spend the last 90 days of 2025 locked in on your career transition, you’ll show up already moving—clear on your direction, confident in your plan, and energized by progress you’ve already made. That head start is what separates those who talk about change from those who actually make it.
Take Advantage of Work Holidays
The final stretch of the year comes with natural breaks—office closures, lighter schedules, PTO. While colleagues mentally check out, you can treat these windows as focused work sessions for your exit plan. It doesn’t take endless hours, just consistent time each week to reflect, design, and set your strategy.
Have a More Exciting Holiday Season
Imagine this holiday season, when someone asks “So, what’s new with you?” Instead of recycling frustrations, you can share: “I’ve been locked in on designing my next chapter.” That single shift transforms the holidays from small talk to possibility—and puts you in the driver’s seat of your own story.
Take Advantage of Holiday Networking
The holidays are also prime time for networking. People are more open, more reflective, and more willing to have deeper conversations. If you’ve been using the Great Lock-In to clarify your vision, you’ll know exactly what to say when opportunities arise. Those intentional conversations can spark introductions and collaborations that accelerate your exit in 2026.
How To Get Started
The Great Lock-In isn’t about doing everything—it’s about focusing on the right thing. If your goal is to design your next career move, start here:
Define the values, skills, and impact that make up your special sauce.
Identify what’s no longer serving you in your current role.
Explore three possible paths forward and test them against your vision.
This is the process I guide clients through inside the Strategic Executive Exit™, where we turn reflection into a personalized, psychology-backed plan for leaving the corporate grind behind and stepping into a fulfilling next chapter.
The Great Lock-In isn’t just a challenge—it’s an invitation. By locking in now, you can turn the last 90 days of the year into the launchpad for your most purposeful, impactful career move yet.
