Like the rest of us, you are probably taking advantage of the “fresh start effect” the month of September gave us. While those feelings are strong, they do tend to wear off quickly as the temperature drops and the days get shorter. But if you create a strong system for yourself, you will have no other choice but to follow through on your goals. Keep reading and we’ll outline how to keep that Fall excitement from fading away.
1. COMPETE WITH YOURSELF
With 2023 being just a few weeks away(!), the Fall is a good time to look back at everything you accomplished in the past year. Once you take inventory of everything you have done in the first three quarters of 2022, set your goals for the remainder of the year. Choose goals that are realistic to accomplish in three months, but that will still push you to compete with those first nine months.
2. TAKE DAILY, CONSISTENT ACTION
Rain or shine, you have to keep moving forward. Make sure you take consistent action every single day towards your goals, no matter how small that action is. Even if you only inch 1% closer to your goal each day — that’s better than standing still, or worse, taking a counterproductive action that moves you farther away. One way to do track this progress is to create a chart or habit tracker where you can mark down one thing you did each day that brought you closer to your goal. If your goal is to be more active, then your daily actions can be things like stretching for 15 minutes in the morning, going for a walk at lunchtime, or signing up for a spin class. Give yourself credit for each of these actions and keep track of your progress. The same system can apply to professional goals like closing X number of deals or starting a new venture.
By the time December 31st rolls around, you will have set up the habits and rituals to kick off 2023 with a bang. And who wouldn’t want a head-start on the New Year?!
3. LEARN TO DELEGATE
You can’t do everything yourself and you shouldn’t try to — especially if you want to level up in your business. To determine which tasks you should delegate, first ask yourself: what do you hate doing? And what are you just not that good at doing? This can include things like bookkeeping, scheduling/administrative tasks, copywriting, graphic design, social media management, and more. Identify these tasks and delegate them to someone else on your team, or hire a contractor if necessary. Delegating chunks of your workload will free up your time to be spent on more important things that you actually enjoy.
4. TAKE RISKS
If you want to relish rewards, you need to take risks. Look at what you have going on in your life and think of what’s the next big risk you can take to get to the next level. It will definitely scare you, as it’s out of your comfort zone, but go for it anyways. This can be something as simple as reaching out to a potential mentor, or going to an intimidating social event. Taking risks can bring you more satisfaction in your work and your personal life — and it can bring you closer to those year-end goals that you have your eye on.
5. GET AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER
Whatever lofty goals you have for yourself, someone out there has the same — or similar — goals. Find someone or a group of people who can help you stay on track by keeping you accountable for what you said you would do. This might look like weekly (or daily) check-ins, or sharing your habit tracker (see #2) with a friend to help you stay on track. It helps if your accountability partner is in the same industry as you, but it’s not entirely necessary. It can be a friend or sibling too — you can still hold each other accountable for your respective goals. (If you’re interested in joining the Level Up accountability program, learn more here.)
6. CHALLENGE YOUR LIMITING BELIEFS
It’s time to address the elephant in the room — or in your head, in this case. A limiting belief is something like “I’m not smart enough to close this deal” or “I don’t have what it takes to run this marathon.” These limiting beliefs are often deeply ingrained into our subconscious and have been restricting our perspective for a long time.
A powerful tool in overcoming this mindset is self-reflection. Every time you hear that negative voice in your head, take note of it — maybe even write it down in a journal. Click here to learn more about how to identify your limiting beliefs, and more importantly, turn them around.
7. CREATE A MORNING ROUTINE
Almost all successful entrepreneurs have morning routines. If you don’t already have one, it’s time to create one. A morning routine will not only help set the tone for the day, but it also works out your discipline muscle. The morning is a perfect time to accomplish those tasks that you might not feel like doing, but you know will have a positive impact on your life. These tasks might include stretching, exercising, journaling, reviewing your to-do list, reading, or something as simple as making the bed.
The most successful people in the world are highly conscious of how they spend their mornings — and there’s a reason why. What you do in the first few hours after you wake up can have a huge impact on the rest of the day.
8. PRACTICE GRATITUDE
Not only is it proven to boost your mood, but practicing gratitude trains your brain to look for the positive side of the situation. It is also proven to help you develop a stronger resilience to stress in the long run. And Fall is the perfect season for this, as we make our way towards Thanksgiving. It’s never too early to start being mindful of everything you are grateful for.
9. EXERCISE DAILY
To keep your mind sharp and your body in shape, exercise is a must. Whether it’s going for a morning walk or taking a HIIT class after work — exercise is the key to a successful fourth quarter. It might get a little tougher as the days get shorter, so maybe it’s time to try out a new class or set up a home gym. When in doubt, a long walk in the morning with your coffee can be the perfect way to clear your head and prepare for the day.
10. JOURNAL REGULARLY
Putting your thoughts on paper is a practice that many successful entrepreneurs swear by. That’s because journaling helps you organize your thoughts, stimulates reflection, and can also generate creative ideas. As an entrepreneur, there’s no other tool that can do this better. Try to incorporate this into your daily routine, and see how it affects your performance for the rest of the year.
While you work on incorporating these tips into your life, remember this quote from Aristotle:
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit.”