WS Chronicle

By Algenon Cash

Summer is officially behind us and I have tears in my eyes as write this article – Labor Day is more bitter than sweet for me. Summer vacations are ending, schools are reopening, and families are easing back into their normal routines. 

If you’re like me, you wish summer could be 365 days a year, but naturally that would cause irreparable harm to our planet. For now, I’ll have to settle for relocating to nearby warm locations in the fall and winter – a great benefit of living in North Carolina.

Being an entrepreneur often doesn’t leave much discretionary time for summer activities, but I always make the most of the season while it’s here, and I never quite feel the season is long enough. Summer can be great to reconnect with family, reflect on where you are with personal goals, relax with friends, visit places, or just generally break away from the daily grind and hustle.

When summer comes to a close, temperatures lower and days shorten, which can lead to anxiety for lots of people. End of summer gloom is a common affliction. I see it amongst my friends and often hear random people discussing it.

For many people, including myself, the end of summer symbolizes the end of fun. I often feel more carefree during summer. I enjoy attending backyard cookouts and leaving work early to catch the sunset from my roof.

Nevertheless, we must find value in every season, because they all bring us growth, opportunities, and enjoyment. 

Here are five key strategies that I utilize to break the summer gloom.

1.  Reimagine your personal goals. Every new season presents the chance to measure where you are with personal goals and objectives. More than ten years ago, I drafted a life plan, which is a blueprint for where I want to go in life, what I would like to achieve, and how I plan to reach those goals effectively. I update the plan every New Year’s Eve and recalibrate the actual goals once a quarter. Ask yourself – what would you love to happen this season? Whether it’s buy a home, purchase a new car, get a promotion at work, or start a new business, you will need a solid plan that moves you in the right direction. Writing down your goals is the most powerful step to converting them into reality.

1. Reflect on the past season. You must have a vision and think ahead, but it’s just as critical to reflect back positively – deeply thinking about the progress that you’ve made. Whatever you’ve been through over the summer, good and bad: What have you learned? Where can you appreciate your decisions? What have you learned about yourself? Always focus on being your own best coach and cheerleader. Acknowledging progress creates momentum to keep you moving forward.

2. Clean out your work and personal space. One of the most liberating experience in my life occurred when I sold my house to relocate downtown. It forced me to conduct a close review of all the “stuff” that I accumulated, and then ask tough questions about the need for all my “stuff.”  Eventually I donated over ten truckloads of “stuff” to Goodwill and I felt increasingly lighter with each drop off. Make time to clear out the clutter in your office or home. Focus on keeping the items most important to your daily routine. Maybe schedule a day to invest in new items that may be an upgrade!

3. Deliberately cultivate stronger relationships. Don’t allow summer to be the only season when you see family and friends. Go into fall with a clear plan on how you can have a positive intention about other people in your life. It’s super easy to get caught up in our needs and circumstances, but also target ways to bring more value into the lives of other people around you. Simple gestures of thoughtfulness like giving a compliment, a smile, or a hug not only makes them feel amazing, but will give you warm feelings too.

4. Embrace the new season. Ask yourself what you don’t like about the new season and work those concerns into your life plan with tactics and objectives to help you overcome anything that may hold you back. Don’t allow yourself to fall into old habits. Create new ones that reduce stress while pushing you toward your most important goals. For example, if you dread running in the morning now that summer is over, develop a new routine of exercising in the gym on a treadmill.

Fall has arrived, but don’t weep for the bygone days of summer. Instead, explore ways to leverage the new season to achieve the many goals that you have in life. Every season brings forth unique moments that can contribute greatly to your overall success.

Contact me with questions, thoughts, or to share any summer stories!

Algenon Cash is a nationally recognized speaker and the managing director of Wharton Gladden & Company, an investment banking firm. Reach him at acash@algenoncash.com.