It’s the business end of the season, how do you plan to play?
A new client said to me, “Post labor day is when I really hit my stride for the year.”
I laughed, but he was serious.
He went on to say that, the beginning of the year he comes out of the gates hard, he takes a breather in the summer, but like a 400 meter runner rounding the last bend, it is now that he finds his best.
In New York you feel this energy, almost like the city itself is winding up to close out the year strong.
Just tapping into this energy gives you a shot in the arm, but to drive your year home with power I suggest the following four steps:
1. Review your year: Look back on the year and evaluate your performance according to whatever metrics make sense for you. Out of 10, how do you feel about your year? As importantly, out of 10, how strong do you want to close out your year?
2. Set clear (and aggressive) goals: What goals match your expectations for finishing the year? At this stage (actually all year), I suggest setting weekly, monthly and year-end goals. Keep it simple. And set a baseline goal that you think you can hit, and a stretch goal that is wildly exciting!!
3. Know the 2 most important uses of your time: There are a billion and one ways to use your time, and then there are the 2 highest value uses of your time for driving your goals. What are they? How do you plan to direct more time into them? What time sinks must you diminish or eliminate? How committed are you?
4. Get stronger: Many people wait for the new year to set resolutions, but the best time to get stronger is now. Ask yourself, what is just one way you can improve that will enable you to close the year stronger? It might be physical. It might be mental. It might be a skill. It might be a decision.
Whatever it is, how will you get stronger to finish the year stronger?