Kimberly Frey Consulting

Every September, I feel a familiar shift. The air cools, routines return, and life seems to invite us to slow down and look inward. I recently shared on my You Can Do It podcast that fall has always felt like a reset button for me. Yes, I love the traditions such as apple picking, pumpkin patches, and s’mores by the fire, but what I love most is how this season nudges us to reflect on where we are and where we’re headed.

Generally speaking, fall tends to be a time when many people become more focused on their inner selves and their personal growth. The questions that starts to pop up for us are, “How do I want to finish this year out?” and “What do I want to have achieved?”

I personally believe that a big reason for this renewed focus on goals and growth at this time of the year, at least here in the US, is because of our traditional school calendars. As children, we started a new school year in the fall. Once we graduated from K-12 education, colleges, universities, and even vocational programming often revolves around the same school calendar. So, it’s easy to see how as adults we often equate leaning into learning and growth with this season as well. 

So how do we make the most of this time in regards to our personal growth? 

The first thing we need to do is spend some time in honest reflection. This is the time to look back at the goals we made for ourselves at the beginning of the year and determine the progress we have made towards them. Here are some questions you can ask yourself during this process:

• Is this goal still relevant for me? Sometimes a goal we set at the beginning of the year no longer connects to where we are in life currently.
• Am I on track to achieve this goal? If your goal is still relevant, but the timeline to achieving it no longer matches your original estimate, then it’s perfectly acceptable to revise it. (That’s actually the missing success piece I talk about in this episode of my podcast.)
• How can I revise this goal to achieve my success? Often, you don’t need new goals. You just need to look at your current goals in a new way and adjust it to your current reality.

When I first started attending my local community college for my Associate in Arts degree, I had set a goal to complete the program in two years, which is the standard time. However, I was married, had two children under the age of five, and worked full-time. So this meant that I was taking classes all year – even during the summer.

Towards the end of my program, my children’s father and I separated. It was a very traumatic separation, and I became a single parent basically overnight. It was past the withdrawal date for my classes, so I couldn’t drop them (although the final grades I received for them were the lowest grades I had ever received).

As that semester ended, it was obvious that my current goal of completing my degree in two years was no longer relevant or attainable. I was the sole caregiver for my children (and the sole income). I had to prioritize my family over my personal goals, but that didn’t mean I had failed. It just meant that I wouldn’t be completing the goal by my original deadline. I still went on to earn my degree, although it took me two and a half years instead of just two. And then I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree and eventually my master’s.

My story is proof that revising your goals doesn’t mean you’ve failed; it means that you’re flexible and resilient enough to adapt. That’s where real success happens.

So if you’re realizing you need clarity on your next steps, now is the perfect time to schedule your free strategy session with me. Together, we’ll reflect on what’s worked so far this year, uncover what’s holding you back, and create a simple, achievable plan for ending this year strong – and stepping into the next one with confidence.

Don’t let this season of growth pass you by. Use the link to book your free call today.

Because You Can Do It.
And I Can Help.