Alex Turner is the general manager of financial training firm Ambitious Minds.

AT THE start of this week, a small, planning milestone passed by – there are now fewer than 100 working days until Christmas.

While still mired in the malaise that is brought on by the endless frustrations of trying to get things done in August, it isn’t that appealing to consider how soon the routine operations of the business will be disturbed again.

But 100 days is a useful time period to make significant progress.

Whether it’s exploring your company’s suitability to begin exporting, getting a grip on a social media strategy, training your accounts team on standardised spreadsheet modelling, or whatever it is you would really like to achieve, there is plenty of time to set things on the right path.

The bunker-down mentality that has been a common strategy, often necessary or at least useful over the last four years, is one that many firms will continue to require in the months ahead.

But that is what makes the next 100 days so enticing.

The years of downturn, recession and fragile growth have resulted in businesses cutting the fat and operating as efficiently as possible.

For many, there aren’t any significant savings left to find.

But rather than exasperating staff by trying to eke out a further saving with a David Brent-style paper clip rationing, there is the opportunity to do something that can make things better.

It may be the start of work on a long-held plan or simply a bit of theatre designed to create a boost in morale.

The chances are you’ve already got at least a couple of ideas in your mind now (and if you haven’t, perhaps the 100-day plan is to find a way to delegate or discard some of your work to lift some of the weight off your shoulders). I set my goal at the weekend, and already I feel fresher and more focused.

Having the medium-term goal in place and a firm deadline by which to achieve to it, I’m feeling energised about my own target.

Imagine how good the mince pies will taste on Christmas day if you are relaxing, happy in the knowledge that you have succeeded in achieving something that is important to you and your business.