Ah, summer. When calendars ease as vacations are had, teams bond when the surf is just right, and everyone just looks and feels sunny. Sometimes–not always!--it’s a softer rhythm.
For business leaders, this subtle shift in pace can open up valuable space to zoom out and re-center. It’s a perfect opportunity to revisit goals, reinforce operations, and strengthen your business before the latter part of the year ramps up.
Shift Gears, Not Goals
Summer’s natural dip in urgency is exactly what makes it a sweet spot for strategic work. With fewer back-to-back calls and Q4 deadlines not quite looming yet, there’s finally room to think long-term. Whether you’re fine-tuning your operational roadmap, tackling recurring bottlenecks, or decluttering internal systems, summer months can be the best time for work that’s critical—but rarely urgent enough to climb the to-do list.
Planning Amid Uncertainty
Summer also signals the start of hurricane season in Florida, and you know how quickly a storm can disrupt operations. According to FEMA, roughly 40% of small businesses don’t reopen after a major disaster. That’s not just a weather problem—it’s a continuity problem.
This is the time to evaluate your business continuity plan. Can your systems support remote access if your office closes? Is everything backed up? Do your employees know the communication protocol in case of a disruption? These are questions best answered before a crisis, not during one.
Continuity Planning Can Unlock Momentum
Last summer, a firm I work with used summer months to review its client delivery process. By identifying friction points and creating fallback systems, they not only protected themselves from potential disruptions, but they found ways to increase their average project delivery speed by 8% as a bonus! That’s the power of proactive thinking. Resilience doesn’t just minimize risk—it unlocks momentum.
Five High-Impact Summer Moves
Even if you’re juggling vacations or a leaner team for a few weeks, here are five things worth prioritizing this summer:
1. Audit your tech tools—are they working for you or against you?
2. Host a midyear strategy session with your leadership team
3. Review your emergency operations plan and make needed updates
4. Clean up customer data or internal documentation
5. Revisit your budget and reallocate funds toward high-impact initiatives
Wrap-Up: Make Summer Count
Just because things feel a little quieter doesn’t mean it’s time to coast. The most resilient businesses don’t wait for urgency—they use the space between sprints to build strength. And summer, with its brief but meaningful shift in energy, is the perfect time to do just that.
Because when the pace picks back up—and it will—you’ll be glad you used this time to move with intention.
About Valyr
Valyr (“valor”), a local family-owned and operated software development company, is certified as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE), and is dedicated to excellence in creating the tools and systems that help Jacksonville businesses run smarter and faster. Visit us at valyr.com.
(904) 649-9339 • valyr.com • 9393 Mill Springs Dr. • Jacksonville, FL 32257
