In this article, we discuss why the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is not a pause in the M&A market but a strategic window. While many founders disengage, the quieter holiday weeks create space to prepare thoughtfully, cleaning data, sharpening the narrative, and mapping the buyer landscape without the pressure of active deal timelines. Through the contrasting approaches of two competing CEOs, the article shows how deliberate, low-intensity preparation in December can position a company to move faster and more confidently when buyers return in the new year.