Posted by Dave Lorenzo - Business Coach

Yesterday, I referred to the cycle of the seasons and posed a question about your processes of renewal. Today, I offer ten ideas for renewing yourself professionally and bringing to life the Cycle of Continuous Improvement:

Shed the old. Start with the physical. What objects in your office and home are not adding any value to your life? Some suggest getting rid of anything that’s not beautiful or useful. Another rule of thumb is that if you haven’t touched it in a year, it goes. If certain people in your life have become draining of your energy and good will, consider cutting back your contact with them. Ask yourself if the rewards of the relationship are worth the investment of your time. This is also a great time to leave behind fears that have held you back and reconsider your tolerance for risk and willingness to consider new opportunities.

Let go. If you’ve been holding onto any grudges toward business partners or friends, take some time to think about why and assess whether it would benefit you to let go of those. If someone in your life is not a healthy presence, you most likely know it. But if petty disagreements have kept you out of touch, maybe it’s time to bury the hatchet.

Rest. After the buzz and energy of summer, fall is the perfect time to come in from the cold, relax, and renew your energy stores. One day of good rest can completely rejuvenate someone’s who burned out and exhausted. Getting good rest when you need it is a simple but very important way to take care of yourself and give your body and mind a chance to heal and grow.

Update contacts. This is a great time to go through your address book or contact list and add new contacts and update the old. It’s also the perfect time to get together for coffee or lunch with someone you haven’t seen in a while. You never know what kinds of opportunities may open up from these catch-up dates.

Break a habit, and form a new one. Breaking bad habits is never easy, but it only takes 21 days to break or form a habit, they say. If you’ve been meaning to quit smoking, cut back on fast food, exercise more, or spend an hour a day on your overarching goals, start now and maintain your effort till the middle of October. It’s only three weeks. You can always go back to the old way if you find the new is not working for you. Chances are, you’ll be glad you tried it, though.

Focus. Once you’ve weeded out the unnecessary in your life, pinpoint the most essential elements. Choose your most important objectives, and arrange your life in a way that supports them. Remember, the fewer overarching objectives you have, the more attention you can devote to each one.

Exercise. Getting your blood flowing, breathing fresh air, and waking your body up with exercise is usually extremely energizing. At this time of year, with the crisp air and leaves, many outdoor activities are at their most enjoyable—walking, jogging, tennis, basketball, soccer, rollerblading. It only takes an hour or so, and getting physical activity can oftentimes renew you like nothing else can.

Educate yourself. Fall is back-to-school time for the kids, and it can be for you, too. Take a continuing education class, an informal class in a subject relevant to your field, or private instruction in an area you want to know more about. Keep striving to learn and add new value in your work.

Try something new. One of the best things about a new challenge, whether it’s in your professional life or personal, is that you show yourself you can do it. Facing the new removes the fear of the unknown and gives you confidence to try more new things in the future. When you do new physical exercises, you challenge muscle groups you might not be accustomed to working. Similarly, any new venture will challenge you in ways you might not expect, mentally, socially, or professionally.

Reinvent yourself. Who you are and how you move through your career at any given time is defined by you. If you want to be viewed as an innovative person who comes up with great new ideas, but you haven’t been seen this way in the past, create and demonstrate value of innovation. Tune in to your passion, and draw from that to renew your purpose.

Filed under: Personal Strategic Planning
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