Why the year can begin twice

I still work to the rhythm of a school year, even though it has been some time since I left one.

For twelve years I led two schools in Scotland as Principal and CEO. One of the habits that has stayed with me long after I stopped setting a school calendar is this: I still believe the year can begin twice.

The year can begin twice

There is the obvious start on the first of January. Everyone knows that one. Then there is the start that arrives in late summer, when a new school year used to begin.

The new academic year always gave us another natural point to stop, look back and begin again. I no longer work in a school, but I still find myself working to that rhythm.

You do not need a school calendar to use this idea. Any leader, in any sector, can build a second start into their year. A birthday, the end of summer or a quiet week between projects all work just as well.

An honest review, not a fresh start

January goals are made before the year has taught you anything. By the time August arrives, you have real evidence.

That is what makes a second start so useful. It is not about beginning again from nothing. It is about looking back at what has actually happened and using that to decide what comes next.

When I check in with myself twice a year, I am not asking whether I followed some original plan to the letter. I am asking a few plain questions. What has gone well. What has been harder than expected. What have I actually achieved that I have not given myself credit for. What needs a different approach, or a more realistic timeline.

My own review this year

At the start of this year, my main professional goal was to get Resta Forte properly up and running. I wanted to build a community, develop a client base and get clearer on the kind of support I wanted to offer.

I am pleased with where that stands. There is a community of subscribers, clients whose work I care about, and a much clearer sense of where the business is heading. There is still plenty to build, but the foundations are there.

My other priority was my body. Building strength, moving daily, looking after myself properly. I have kept up the strength training all year, and for most of it I managed the daily movement too. That has slipped a little recently, mostly because it has been hot enough here in northern Italy that moving at all can feel like an achievement.

I eat well most of the time. I have also been thoroughly enjoying la dolce vita, with plenty of good food and rather more wine than my sleep would recommend. As I move into the second half of the year, I want to return to what actually helps me feel well. Better sleep. The daily movement back in place. Building on what is already working rather than starting again from scratch.

A few honest questions to ask yourself

Where are things genuinely going well for you at the moment, professionally and personally?

What have you achieved this year that you haven't properly acknowledged?

What do you need to leave behind to move closer towards your goals?

What needs to change or adjust as you head towards August?

If you want to go further than these questions, I've put together a free Mid Year Reflection journal. Four short sections, working through where you stand today, what the first half has given you, what you want from the second half, and where you're heading beyond it. You can download it here.

Give the review the time it deserves

It is easy to skim through questions like these, form a vague answer and move on to the next task on the list.

Give yourself a proper block of time instead. Somewhere quiet, phone away, pen and paper if that helps you think. Look at your life as a whole, the professional and the personal together. They have an inconvenient habit of affecting each other.

You do not need a perfect plan at the end of it. The value comes from slowing down long enough to notice what is true.

A second start does not need to mean a dramatic new direction. Sometimes it simply gives you enough space to see the next useful step.

Ways to work with me

If a second start is where you want to properly invest in your own leadership, here is where to begin.

Lead with Inner Calm is a four-week self-study programme for women who want to understand what is really running the show under pressure, and start to change it. It is the place most people begin.

Stay Strong. Lead Well. is a ten-month group programme that holds the practical leadership skills and the inner work together, alongside other women carrying similar responsibility. The next cohort starts on 20 August.

For senior leaders and CEOs who want a direct, confidential thinking partner, my one-to-one may be the better fit.

If you are not sure where to start, a complimentary clarity call is a good place to find out. No obligation, just a proper conversation.

Whichever half of the year you are in, I would ask you the same question I ask myself. What have you learned so far that you are not yet using?

About Johanna Urquhart

Johanna Urquhart is a leadership coach, mentor and the founder of Resta Forte. With 25 years of senior leadership experience including 12 years as a school Principal, she supports leaders to step fully into their leadership, expand their influence and make a meaningful impact, while continuing to nurture their health, relationships and sense of self.