Conduct Your Work in Seasons to Maximize Your Impact

Nine days ago marked the start of my favorite season — Autumn. I absolutely love feeling the temperatures cool down, the leaves changing colors, and of course taking the family to the pumpkin patch.

With the start of this new season, it’s a perfect time to reflect on what we’ve accomplished through the year, and the challenges that remain before us. Often times, we’ll find ourselves staring at a mountain of work and wonder how we’ll ever get it done, or where to even start.

We can learn a lesson from nature when it comes to tackling that mountain of work. Speaking of tackling, we could also learn a lesson from football, which I’ll use below to outline a plan for maximizing your impact in the work you do. In football, you have four “seasons” much like nature.

Preseason

When you first take on a new project, it makes little sense to dive right in and just start working. Instead, you should spend a little time planning your moves. Get your ducks in a row, so to speak. Similar to the preseason in football. This is the time where you get ready for the grind that is the regular season. Iron out your playbook, get your game plans together, and get ready to rumble.

Regular Season

The regular season is where you put in the bulk of your work. Day in, day out; Week in, week out; It’s all the same. You build on the preparation you put in during the preseason, and work on getting better with each rep. You grind through, even when it gets tough. You may have some setbacks, and you may have some exciting victories. But it’s not over yet…

Playoffs

You’ve made it through the regular season, and you’re now in the postseason. If you’ve made it this far, then the finish line is nearer every day. Coincidentally, this is also the time where you’re playing the hardest — this is where it counts more. Expect to see some of your best work materialize during the final push in your project.

Off-Season

You’ve done it! The project is finally completed, and you’re quite proud of the effort you’ve put into it. Most people prepare to jump right in to the next project, however this is where you need to rest. We human beings need to rest and recuperate to put in our best performance the next time.

I don’t recommend taking 7 months off, but a few days or maybe even a week before rolling in to the next project will do you well. You’ll be clear-minded and refreshed, ready to start the preseason work of preparation again.

Using a “seasonal rhythm” like this may very well help you maximize your impact on the projects you work on.

I’d love to hear below if this method has helped you any, please let me know!