Hey there!
As we prepare for the crisp air and colourful palette of autumn, I’m reminded why my logo features a multi-coloured tree. Just like fall is a season for transformation—a time when leaves change their hues and prepare for a new beginning—I help you do the same in your career.
Like trees, careers aren’t built overnight; they grow slowly, nurtured by the decisions we make, the goals we set, and the actions we take. You need to establish a strong root system to ensure you are stable and resilient, surround yourself with fertile soil, and then grow.
So, as you sip your pumpkin spice latte and savour the flavour of fall along with this week’s newsletter, remember: the season of transformation is upon us.
The question is: are you ready to turn over a new leaf?
The Power Of Seasonality: Leveraging September Energy For Transformation
Do you remember the nervous back-to-school excitement of this time of year when you were a kid? The crisp new notebooks, the shiny pencils, the thrill of seeing old friends and making new ones. It always felt to me like a chance for a fresh start, an opportunity to commit to striving to be better. Even as adults, September carries that unmistakable scent of change. As someone that is hopelessly addicted to personal development and self-improvement, it is my favourite time of the year. I love the fall vibes.
We leave summer behind us—a season often filled with vacations, BBQs, and a laid-back approach to life. As September rolls in, so does a renewed sense of focus and drive. This seasonality is not just for the kids returning to school, it also applies in the world of work.
The Clock is Ticking, But There’s Still Time to Do Things That Matter
Come September, you realize the year is on its home stretch. It’s like being in the third period of a hockey game; time is ticking, but there’s still a chance to score that game-winning goal. There are still 4 months of the year left, which is more than enough time to make substantial improvements in your life. It is the perfect time to revisit the goals you’d set for yourself in 2023 and make any required adjustments.
Of course, change can (and should!) happen anytime you are ready. Waiting for the “perfect moment” is nothing more than procrastination. But there is something to leveraging the natural rhythms and psychological shifts that each season brings. So why not use September’s natural momentum to your advantage?
Hopefully, you’ve had some time this summer to unwind and reflect, and maybe you realized that your work isn’t doing it for you anymore. There is just something missing. That is a very normal feeling at certain points in your career, especially around mid-life. You’ve had some success, but that success is now keeping you stuck.
September can act like a defibrillator for your career, bringing it back to life – if you decide to act upon that energy. It is the perfect time of year for a get more intentional about crafting a job that is perfect for you. There is no job out there that is perfect for you already; you need to do the work to create it. It does not happen by accident.
Practical Steps
If you’ve decided that it makes sense to leverage that September energy to make improvements to your work, what might you do? How can you get started? Here are some strategies to consider:
- Shift your mindset. 🧠Your mindset can be your greatest ally or your worst enemy. If you’ve spent the summer dragging your feet or dreading the workday, now’s the time for a mental reset. Flip the script. Instead of seeing challenges as burdens, view them as opportunities for growth. Apply some principles from positive psychology to reframe your outlook. Embrace a growth mindset and remind yourself that you develop skills over time; they aren’t something you’re born with.
- Time management.⏰ Let’s face it; time is one of our most precious assets, but is also one that easily slips away if we’re not intentional about it. Deciding what you’ll work on based on what emails land in your inbox or what instant messages pop in is a foolish way to work. Instead, intentionally plan your time on multiple scales; long-term (5+ years), yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily. The farther out in time you’re planning, the less detailed the plan. You need to make sure you’re not over-planning, because detailed plans that go too far out hurt you and hold you back, rather than helping. At the daily level, combine the ideas of time-blocking and the Pomodoro technique to schedule your day. Knowing exactly when you will work on each task is a great way to ensure you aren’t over-committing. It also removes the constant need for you to decide what you’ll work on next. Build up your time management system, as freeing up some time is one of the best paths to giving yourself room to breathe.
- Energy management. 🔌If you are running on empty all the time, having free time won’t matter. If you’ve got low levels of energy, everything you do is harder. It is worth some effort to consider what activities and people drain your energy, and which fire you up. Eliminate as many of the energy-drains that you can, and do as much of the things that charge you up as possible. Ensuring that you eat properly, and get enough sleep and exercise also pay huge dividends in your energy levels.
- Clarify your goals. 🎯Getting clear about what you are doing and why will inspire you. You can’t make progress if you don’t know where you’re going. If you’re holding onto New Year’s resolutions that were more aspirational than practical, it’s time for a reality check. Maybe you aimed to exercise seven days a week but barely managed two. Cut yourself some slack, but also adjust your goals to something more realistic. Remember, progress over perfection. Adopt process-oriented goals, rather than focusing on the outcomes.
- Accountability. Most hard goals to achieve comprise several simple steps. The problem is usually not knowing what to do, but is getting yourself to act. When setting new goals or redefining old ones, having someone to hold you accountable can work wonders. Whether it’s a friend, a coach, or a dedicated app, external accountability can provide that extra nudge you need to stay committed. Most people have no trouble breaking a commitment to themselves, but don’t want to break a commitment they made to others.
- Skill and Knowledge Building:📕 Since you’re in that ‘back-to-school’ frame of mind, why not literally go back to school? Online courses, webinars, and workshops abound in September. Invest in learning that elevates your professional or personal growth. Developing yourself is the best investment you can make, as it will pay dividends for the rest of your life.
Final thoughts
In a nutshell, September offers a unique blend of urgency and opportunity. It’s not just another month; it’s a psychological springboard. Consider using that amazing September energy to drive yourself forward on building the career and life that you dream of. It is the perfect opportunity to build something you can be proud of, so that as we wrap up 2023, you will look back with pride at how far you’ve come.
Call to Action
Now, it’s over to you. Reading an article like this might be helpful, maybe even inspiring. But it won’t get you to where you want to go; you need to act. What are your “September Resolutions”? How will you leverage this month to make meaningful change in your life?
The clock is ticking, but it’s far from running out.
Times are tough economically and budgets are tighter than ever. Investing in career coaching might seem like a ‘nice-to-have,’ not a ‘need-to-have.’ However, there is no better use of money than moving yourself towards the career and life you long for.
I know it’s not cheap to embark on a big coaching program; it is a major commitment. Which is why I’ve put in place a new, lower-cost way to work with me. I don’t want you to have any excuses for staying stuck in a job you hate.
For less than a hundred bucks, you get a personal one-hour consultation with me. We’ll deep-dive into whatever career challenges you’re facing and come up with actionable steps to get you back on track. Not sure how long I’ll keep this going, so hit me up on this offer soon.
Let’s build a job you don’t just like, but LOVE! 🚀
Quotation that I have been pondering
Our ability to change and grow is something I strongly believe in, no matter where we are in life. It doesn’t matter where you started from, or how much success (or lack of it) you’ve had until now.
Better is always possible.
Which is why I love this quote from renowned author C. S. Lewis;
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
You just need to:
- want to change
- believe that change is possible for you
- take consistent action to move forward.
Journal Prompt
To reach for the stars and snag those life-altering achievements, you can’t underestimate the power of habits and routines that align with your grand goals. But here’s the thing: these life-hacks are a double-edged sword. Sure, they can supercharge your productivity and slash the tedious burden of daily decision-making. However, they can equally trap you in a monotonous cycle, blind you to fresh opportunities, and make you avoid change like a cat avoids a bathtub full of water.
Not good.
Now, why am I musing about this? Because this week’s journal prompt was born from a personal experience this weekend. For some unknown reason, I took a spontaneous detour from my meticulously crafted routine. And when I dared to shuffle the deck, it uncorked a wellspring of creative juices.
Which is why I encourage you to consider:
“What’s one thing I can do today to mix things up?”
Don’t hold on to any expectation; just make the change for the sake of change. Allow yourself the freedom to do something different, having no outcome in mind. Just mix it up.
Be sure to let me know if you tried this and whether it helped!
