September is a perfect month to re-evaluate and get a fresh start on your life and leadership. While familiar routines have been disrupted over the last six months, there is always an opportunity to reset your routines and get unstuck.
- Build on strength – look at what is working well and do more of it! Doing a reset is not just about fixing stuff. You are not broken. But you do get more of what you focus on, so pay attention to your successes. Then examine what created each success and how you can repeat it.
- Be clear, make a plan and celebrate success – instead of New Year’s resolutions, create a September Success System. Decide what you want to do, who you want to be and what it will take to make it happen. Then put the activities on your calendar. Progress needs to be celebrated to lock in your results.
- Budget the time – it’s easy to set aspirational goals. Accomplishing them takes time. One of our frequent challenges is believing that we can do more than we can. The reality distortion field is great until your body or relationships pay the price.
- Belong to a community that supports your progress. One of the most important choices you make is the people that surround you. Think about the ten people you spend the most time with. Do they inspire you and encourage you to be your best self.
Orange is the new black, breakfast is the new lunch, Monday is the new Thursday, sitting is the new smoking, self-expression is the new entertainment, and September is the other January. – Gretchen Rubin