Podcast Episode
468 The Back-to-School Business Reset: Why September Changes Everything | Success September (Part 1)
Passports, Profits and Pixie Dust | Business Systems, Coaching & Marketing for Travel Agents··11 September 2026·35 min

About this episode
The Back-to-School Business Reset: Why September Changes Everything | Success September (Part 1)
September is basically January with better weather and pumpkin spice. 🍂
There’s something about back-to-school season that makes us want to pull out the planners, get back into routines, organize everything, and decide that THIS is finally going to be the season when we get our lives together.
And your travel business deserves that same reset.
In Part 1 of my new Success September series, we’re talking about why September is the perfect time to stop, evaluate what’s actually working in your travel business, and decide what deserves your attention for the final four months of the year.
As a high school Spanish teacher AND travel agency owner, my routines change dramatically when school starts again. But you don’t have to be a teacher or have kids in school to feel the shift. Your routines change in the fall—and so do your clients’ routines and buying behaviors.
Instead of waiting until January to make changes, let's use September as our second chance at a fresh start.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why September can be the “second January” for your travel businessHow to adjust your business routines when your season of life changesWhy your business should work around your real life—not the other way aroundHow your clients’ travel-planning habits shift after summerWhat travelers may already be thinking about for winter, spring break, summer, and 2027 travelHow to audit what actually worked in your business from January through AugustThe questions to ask when evaluating your sales, marketing, and lead generationWhy you’re allowed to STOP pursuing a goal that no longer makes senseHow to choose your Big Three priorities for the rest of the yearWhy your calendar should reflect what you say your priorities areHow to complete a simple KEEP → STOP → START September business reset
Your Success September Challenge
Schedule a September Reset Meeting with yourself.
Give yourself at least 30–60 minutes and look honestly at your business.
Ask yourself:
KEEP: What’s working that I want to continue?
STOP: What’s wasting my time, draining my energy, or simply not producing results?
START: What needs to happen between now and December 31 to move my business forward?
Then choose your Big Three priorities for the rest of the year.
Because four months is a LONG time in business.
You don’t need to write off the rest of the year because you haven’t accomplished everything January-you thought you would. And you definitely don't need to wait until January 1 to make changes you already know you need to make.
Coming Up in Success September
This is just Part 1!
Throughout September, we're working through four steps to help you finish the year stronger:
RESET → SYSTEMIZE → SELL → SCALE
Next week, we're tackling Systems September: Stop Running Your Travel Business the Hard Way.
We’ll look at the systems every travel advisor needs, what you can automate, what should stay personal, and where your business might be quietly stealing your time.
Because the goal isn't just to get busier in Q4.
It's to build a business that can actually handle the business you're trying to create.
🎧 If this episode gave you the back-to-school kick in the pants you needed, share it with another travel advisor who could use a September reset, and make sure you're subscribed to Passports, Profits, and Pixie Dust so you don't miss the rest of the Success September series!
Remember: You don't need January 1 to start over. Sometimes all you need is a fresh notebook, a new routine, and a little September energy. 🍂✨
Links & Resources
Connect with Lindsay:
https://www.lindsaydollinger.com
https://www.instagram.com/lindsaydollinger
💼 Curious about becoming a travel advisor?https://www.atlastiseetheworldtravel.com/quiz
Try Tern: http://try.tern.travel/7fQCVH