THE AUGUST RESET
August is affectionately known as the summer month, even when the sun forgets to show up for its scheduled appointment.
For me, August is the bridge that takes us to the final quarter of the year.
Imagine that bridge high above the every day, providing a great view of where you have been and giving you a fresh perspective on the things you have learned and experienced along the way.
With a panoramic view of the last five months in your life and business, it is the perfect time to reflect, refresh and recharge for the road ahead. Leverage the richness of the road you have travelled and position yourself to finish the year strong.
Here are three things to help you reflect, refresh and recharge:
Capitalise on the lessons learned and skills acquired
Get a blank piece of paper and divide it into three columns label them:
Column 1: Event
Record the major events that you have experienced during the past five months
Column 2: Emotions
Record the emotions you attach to each one
Column 3: Lessons learned, and skills acquired
What did you learn from each one?
These are the things that you are going to take with you for the journey ahead, that will put you in good stead as you navigate your way to success.
- Create a SWOT that’s personal
A SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat) analysis is used to evaluate a company’s past, present, and future position. It provides organisational leaders with a new perspective on what the organisation does well, where its challenges lie and which avenues to pursue.
A Personal Brand SWOT analysis can do the same for you in pursuit of your personal, business or career goals. It provides you with an opportunity to look under the hood and gain insights, based on your strengths and weaknesses, the challenges you see ahead of you, and the possibilities that emerge as a result.
Strengths and weaknesses are internal. Opportunities and threats are external. By identifying the internal, you are in a better position to see the external.
When conducting your personal SWOT analysis, think about what you want to get out of it. Are you looking for personal growth, or do you want to try something new?
- Pack for the year ahead
Armed with the wisdom and insight from the previous exercises revisit the heart of your brand: vision, mission, values, your why
Refreshed and recharged, reset your targets and priorities for September through to December and position yourself to finish the year strong.
