I love the fall. I always have.
As a kid, I loved new school clothes, backpacks filled with new supplies, and the start of a brand-new school year.
As an adult, I still love the fall. I enjoy the fresh, crisp air, the change in wardrobe and, even though I’m no longer in school, the fresh start feel of September.
As part of my fall ritual, every September I circle back to the plans I made in January. I want to see how I’m doing and make any necessary mid-course corrections.
If you’re interested in doing the same, here’s what I suggest:
- Review your plan. This is a good time to find your annual plan and read through it. If you’re like me, you’ll find goals already achieved as well as some you might have forgotten about. Take time to revise your plan so it makes sense from where you are now.
If you don’t have a plan, jot down what you’d like to accomplish by the end of the year and start from there. It’s not too late to finish the year strong. - Take stock of how you’re feeling. As solo’s we often don’t take this into consideration. Ask yourself: Am I enjoying my work? What would I like to change about how I spend my days? Am I happy with my clients? Do my fees reflect the value of my work?
On the personal side, is it time for a physical? How’s my workout plan going? Did I start those hobbies I thought about in January? And, have I been taking time off to focus on family, friends and fun? This part of life is important, too. - Check in with clients and customers. It’s easy to lose sight of our clients’ and customers’ goals for the year. This is a good time to review your notes and make suggestions about the projects they wanted to accomplish.
They might not thank you for reminding them, but as they check goals off their lists, I bet they’ll be happy you did!
One third of the year is still left. There is plenty of time to adjust course and get back in the game full force, finishing the year strong and with intention. Who says fresh starts in September are only for kids?!