Three months left in the year is more than enough time to make meaningful progress on your business. In this transcript, Mark shares eight practical strategies for finishing the year strong, including why forgiving yourself for missed goals is the essential first step.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
- Why the end of the year is actually the best time to accelerate your business
- Eight practical strategies for finishing the year strong
- How to forgive yourself for missed goals without making excuses
- Why small wins build momentum for bigger accomplishments
- How to leverage your mentors and mastermind groups for accountability
- The connection between physical fitness and business productivity
Episode Summary
Mark opens with internet marketing news: Google's algorithm continues showing fluctuations, with some sites moving up and others dropping. His advice remains consistent. Write fantastic content for readers and stop trying to game Google. The more energy you put into great content instead of algorithm chasing, the better off you will be long term.
Mark also mentions Andrew Hansen's Constant Profits Club course, which teaches people to earn money through content writing while building their affiliate marketing skills. The course structure lets students generate income by selling writing to other bloggers while they wait for their own affiliate sites to gain traction.
The main segment is about finishing the year strong. Mark frames it using the football analogy of a two-minute drill: the Giants ran 12 plays in two minutes and seven seconds to win Super Bowl 42. The question is what your two-minute drill will look like for the rest of the year.
Mark's eight strategies:
1. Forgive yourself. There is no time for self-recrimination. Acknowledge where you are, own it, and move forward. Nine months ago you set goals and did not hit all of them. That is done. Now focus on what you can accomplish in the remaining months.
2. Stop procrastinating. Many people around this time of year think they are too far behind to start. That thinking is a trap. Ignore the fall television season. Stop waiting and start doing.
3. Start small. Get some quick wins. Clear out annoying unfinished tasks that have been draining your emotional energy. Those small completions build momentum.
4. Clear your space. Declutter your desk, hard drive, Evernote inbox, and mind. A clean workspace creates mental clarity for focused work.
5. Reconnect with your goals. Decide what you can realistically own between now and the end of the year. Be honest about holidays and other commitments, but do not let them become excuses.
6. Leverage your support system. Tell your mentors, mastermind groups, and accountability partners what you are doing. Let them know you are restarting and ask them to hold you accountable.
7. Invest in your health. Even small improvements in fitness and nutrition pay dividends in creativity and productivity. Commit to something achievable like 10,000 daily steps.
8. Build a plan. Take your original yearly plan, modify it for the remaining months, and focus on the one or two most important things. For Mark, that meant getting the podcast consistent and finishing his affiliate marketing course.
Mark closes with audio from Gary Vaynerchuk emphasizing the importance of action over consumption. Stop reading, stop pondering, stop attending conferences. Start doing.
Key Takeaways
- Three months is plenty of time to make significant business progress if you stop making excuses
- Forgiving yourself for missed goals is the essential first step. Acknowledge reality without catastrophizing.
- Small wins clear emotional energy and build momentum for bigger accomplishments
- Your competition is slowing down for the holidays. That is your opportunity to get ahead.
- Physical fitness directly affects business productivity. Small improvements compound.
- Focus on one or two important things rather than trying to accomplish everything at once
What's Changed Since This Episode
Mark recorded this in October 2016. The motivational principles are timeless, but the business context has shifted.
The “stop consuming, start creating” message is more relevant than ever. In 2026, the volume of business education content available through podcasts, YouTube, online courses, and AI tools is orders of magnitude larger than in 2016. The temptation to endlessly consume rather than take action has only intensified. Gary Vaynerchuk's advice to stop reading and start doing remains essential.
Accountability tools have improved dramatically. Notion, Asana, and other project management platforms make it easier to track goals and share progress with accountability partners. Mastermind groups now commonly use shared dashboards and regular check-in systems.
The fitness-productivity connection is now well established. Research continues to confirm that regular physical activity improves cognitive function, creativity, and decision-making. Wearable devices from Apple Watch to Oura Ring make tracking fitness metrics effortless, and many entrepreneurs now treat exercise as a non-negotiable part of their productivity system.
The “one thing” focus strategy has gained mainstream adoption. Books like “The ONE Thing” by Gary Keller and “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown have popularized the approach Mark describes of identifying your single most important priority. In 2026, this principle is widely considered best practice for solo entrepreneurs.
Resources Mentioned
- Tony Robbins — personal development
- Gary Vaynerchuk — entrepreneurship and marketing
- LNIM Podcast
Related Episodes
If you found this episode helpful, you might also enjoy:
- LNIM105 — How To Get Back On Track
- LNIM108 — Choosing A Domain Name
- LNIM109 — 14 Critical SEO Tips For Bloggers
Listen and Subscribe
Listen to Late Night Internet Marketing on Apple Podcasts or subscribe at latenightim.com/internet-marketing-podcast/. Have a question for Mark? Call the digital recorder at 214-444-8655 or drop a comment below.
