How Will You Finish the Year Strong?

Blink — and September is already here. Seriously, how is it September 2025 already?

This time of year always has a certain energy about it. The children head back to school, the rhythm of work kicks back in, and summer feels like a distant memory. It’s almost like a second New Year…without the fireworks, but with the same opportunity to pause and reflect.

And with that pause, many of us start asking:

• Am I where I thought I’d be at this point in the year?

• Do I need a reset?

• Is it finally time to make that change I keep thinking about?

  
  

If those questions have been circling in your mind, you’re not alone. September has a way of holding up the mirror.

Why Change Feels Hard (And Why It Doesn’t Have To)

Most people assume change comes down to willpower.

• “I’ll just start going to the gym.”

• “I’ll just apply for that promotion.”

• “I’ll finally carve out time for that passion project.”

  
  

But here’s the truth: lasting change doesn’t start with your actions. It starts much deeper.

There are different levels of change — from your environment and daily habits all the way up to your values, identity, and purpose. The problem is that most people try to change from the outside in. They focus on behaviours (“I’ll just push harder”), when the real leverage comes from the inside out.

That’s why so many New Year’s resolutions fizzle out by February. You can force yourself to behave differently for a while, but unless you’ve aligned the deeper layers, it won’t stick.

The Seven Levels of Change

When I work with clients, I often talk about the seven levels of change. These are:

1. Purpose – Why does this matter to me? What’s my bigger ‘why’?

2. Identity – Who do I need to become to make this possible?

3. Values – What matters most to me right now?

4. Beliefs – What’s driving me forward? What’s holding me back?

5. Potential & Capabilities – What skills or strengths do I need to develop?

6. Behaviours – What actions do I need to take consistently?

7. Environment – Who and what am I surrounding myself with?

Most people start at the bottom. They try to change their environment (“new gym”, “new diary”) or their behaviours (“I’ll wake up earlier”, “I’ll work harder”).

But if your purpose, identity, values, and beliefs aren’t aligned? It’s like building a house on sand.

The Inner Roadblock

What many people don’t realise is 95% of what we do is driven by our subconscious mind.

That means you can consciously decide, “I want to pivot into a new role” or “I’m finally going to start that business” etc. And yet still find yourself sabotaging your own progress.

Does this sound familiar? You say you want one thing, but your actions drift back to old habits. That’s not laziness — that’s conditioning. Beliefs you’ve carried since childhood, stories you’ve told yourself for decades, ways of being that feel safe even when they no longer serve you.

The good news? Once you spot those patterns, you can shift them.

The Crossroads of Midlife Leadership

If you’re a high-performing leader in your 40s or 50s, chances are you’ve already achieved a lot. You’ve built a career, delivered results, ticked the boxes, maybe even reached milestones others admire.

But now you may be at a crossroads.

• Do you pivot into something new?

• Go after that long-held goal that’s been sitting quietly in the background?

• Redefine success for this next chapter of life?

  
  

This is where external achievements stop being enough. You’ve proven you can do it…but is it what you want to do?

This is where the old way of doing things — working harder, pushing through, muscling it out — stops working. What got you here won’t get you there.

The shift requires something deeper: alignment.

Reflection Prompts for a September Reset

Here are some questions I often share with clients. Take 15 minutes, grab a coffee, and journal on them:

• Purpose: Why does this change matter to me now? What’s my deeper “why”?

• Identity: Who do I need to become in order to create this change? How would that version of me think and act?

• Values: What really matters most to me in this next chapter? (Not what I think should matter, but what truly does.)

• Beliefs: What old story do I need to release? What new belief would serve me better?

• Environment: Who do I need to spend more (or less) time around to make this real?

These aren’t just coaching questions. They’re alignment questions. And alignment is what makes change stick.

Ending the Year Strong

We still have a good chunk of the year left. And that’s exciting.

So, the real question isn’t just: “What do I want to achieve by December?” It’s: “Who do I want to become by December?”

Because when you start there, the goals, the habits, the external changes all fall into place.

An Invitation

If you’ve been sitting with these questions, and you’re ready for more than just surface-level change, I’d love to invite you to a virtual coffee.

It’s a chance to pause, reflect, and explore what’s next for you in a safe, focused space. No pressure, just clarity.

👉🏾Book Your Virtual Coffee Here

This is a powerful season to reset, re-align, and decide how you want to finish the year strong. Don’t let it slip by on autopilot.

Here’s to finishing the year strong — with clarity, purpose, and alignment.