Finish Strong: Effective Quarterly Reflection and Planning for Personal and Professional Growth

Ever wondered why some people keep repeating the same mistakes while others seem to learn and grow effortlessly? Today's episode of the Morning Mindset Podcast with me, Craig Skelton, is going to uncover the secrets behind effective quarterly reflection and planning. As we step into the last quarter of 2024, it's the perfect time to reassess and realign our goals. We'll discuss how to gain clarity on your achievements and pitfalls, helping you avoid the common trap of moving forward without learning from the past. If you're self-employed, running your own business, or just keen on personal development, this episode will provide actionable insights to ensure you finish the year strong.

Skipping reflection could leave you walking into the next quarter blindfolded. We'll go through crucial questions that you should ask yourself, such as evaluating your past goals, identifying challenges, and assessing the impact of your relationships and habits. Find out how to break the cycle of repeating errors and discover strategies to recalibrate your efforts. This isn't just about looking back but learning how to move forward with a renewed sense of purpose and direction. Don't miss out on the chance to transform your last quarter into a period of significant growth and achievement!

Watch the episode on YouTube youtube.com/@themorning-mindset

Looking for one to one mentoring, visit my website to see how it works craigskelton.co.uk

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to the Morning Mindset Podcast with me, craig Skelton. Each day, we kick off your morning with positivity, actionable insights and the motivation you need to conquer the day ahead. Whether you're looking to develop a positive mindset, habit of persistence or simply starting your day on the right foot, this podcast is your daily dose of inspirational and practical advice. And today's podcast? It is the start of October, which means we're entering the last quarter of 2024. Yep, that is absolutely right, it's the final stretch of the year. So today's episode is about reflecting on the past three months, understanding what you've achieved, both personally and professionally too, and why now is the perfect time to plan for the next three months to make sure you finish the year on a big high. Whether you're self-employed, sole trader, running your own business or just focused on personal growth, this quarter is your opportunity to make the most of 2024. So why is reviewing the last three months crucial when you're running your own business? First things first, let's talk about why reviewing the past three months is not just important as a business owner, but it is essential. Many people set goals at the start of the year. You've got your business plans, you're full of energy, you're full of optimism, but then you get to like halfway point in the year, things start to become a little bit of a blur and then, by the time hope rolls around, we might feel like we've lost that momentum. Does that sound familiar? It does for many people, but the truth is that reviewing your last three months is more than just about patting yourself on the back or beating yourself up for what you didn't get done. It's about gaining clarity Clarity on your progress, clarity on what worked and what didn't work. When you take time to reflect on the past quarter, you give yourself the gift of learning, patterns, trends, areas where you've grown, and you spot the pitfalls to avoid in the future. And if you didn't take time to reflect, you risk staying stuck in the cycle of doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results. Life and business are too short to stay on a hamster wheel. Reflection helps you break that cycle, recalibrate and move forward with purpose.

Speaker 1: 2:11

How do you go about reviewing the past three months? These are some of the questions you can ask yourself and extract valuable insights from your past experiences. The first thing to do is look at. The first thing to do is look at what goal did I set myself for, or my business for, july, august and September. Did you reach those goals? Why and why not? The second thing to look at is what challenges did I face? Reflect on the obstacles that came up. Were they internal, like procrastination or self-doubt, or external, like market conditions or clients? And the third thing to look at is what habits serve me and which ones held me back. Are there other habits that you adopted that boosted your productivity or improve your well-being? And what about the ones that drained your time and energy? And the fourth thing to look at is we'll look at what relationships or collaborations helped you grow and which ones became dead weight. Businesses and personal life are often about the people around us, so reflect on how your network influenced your success or your setbacks. By answering these questions honestly, you'll have a clearer picture of where you stand, and that clarity that's like a roadmap for the next three months.

Speaker 1: 3:25

Now let's talk about the flip side. What happens if you don't review your last quarter? If you just keep pushing forward without taking stock, you're essentially walking into the next quarter blindfolded. So think about it. How can you know where you're going to go if you don't know where you've been? The danger of not reflecting is that you just carry your mistakes and bad habits forward into the next quarter, likely to repeat the same errors, get distracted by the same issues and fall short of your potential. Businesses can lead to financial losses, missed opportunities and burnout. On a personal level. That can lead to frustration, self-doubt or feeling stagnant. Reflection isn't about dwelling on the past. It's about learning from it. If you don't take the time to reflect, you're essentially saying that your time and effort over the past three months weren't worth analysing. Every minute you spend working towards your goals is valuable, so don't waste that time. Reflect on it, learn from it and then move forward with greater purpose and greater intention. Now we've reflected on the last three months.

Speaker 1: 4:25

It's time to plan for the final quarter of the year. How do we make sure that the last three months of 2024 are your best? You need to start by setting clear, actionable goals, specific, measurable goals. For example, I want to increase my client bank by 15% by the end of the year. Or I want to work out three times a week for the next 12 weeks. Make sure your goals are aligned with your larger vision.

Speaker 1: 4:51

Think about why you set the goals in the first place. Do they fit with your long-term plans for you, your business and your life? And if that's not the case, then it's better to work. It's better to focus on a few key goals that are meaningful, rather than spreading yourself too thin, chasing too many things at once. Another key aspect of planning this final quarter is to schedule regular check-ins with yourself.

Speaker 1: 5:13

Don't wait until the end of december to see how things are going. Set weekly or bi-weekly reviews. This keeps you on track, allows you to pivot where necessary and keeps you motivated. So now I want to look at necessary and keeps you motivated. So now I want to look at ending 2024 on a high. So think about it. How do you want to feel when you look back on 2024 on New Year's Eve? Do you want to feel proud, accomplished and ready for what 2025 has in store for you, or do you want to feel regret for not making the most of these last three months? The good news is, you have control over that outcome. By reflecting on the last quarter and planning for the final one, you're giving yourself the best possible chance to end the year on a high note. This is your opportunity to tie up those loose ends, achieve those goals you've been working towards and set yourself up for success in the new year.

Speaker 1: 6:02

So, as we kick off October, take today or this week to reflect on what you've accomplished over the past three months, both in your personal life and in your business. Once you've done that, set your goals for the next three months. Use what you've learned to make it smarter, more focused decisions. Remember the final quarter of the year isn't just about wrapping the year up. It's about finishing strong, setting the stage for even greater success in the future. Make the most of your time. So that's it. That's today's the Morning Mindset. Thanks for tuning in, as always. Here's to reflection, planning and an incredible last quarter of 2024. Let's finish the year on a high and take control of our journey. Have an amazing day, stay motivated, stay focused, stay positive and run your own race.