Tumble Turn.

Last week we considered some ideas on how best to exit life one or a season that’s over. If there was one key point to note it is to delete the notion that you can get away with bad manners just because you are leaving office or location. It reminds me of many years ago when we met our requirements for graduation from university. We went to the coast to celebrate. I still remember the notice in the rooms that warned us not to carry the bathrobes. For a hotel to have such notices up it means they housed some folks with tabia mbaya (bad manners).

And yet some folks still attempted to check out with the bath robes. It was quite embarrassing seeing them being interrogated at the hotel reception. Maybe they felt they could get away with it now that we are finally getting our degrees That perceived immunity from bad decisions at an ending is something we need to watch out for. It is an illusion that will soon disappear and we will be faced (and followed) by the consequences.

Back to my shark swimmer analogy. Her goal at the turn is to push in one direction and into the other. I always wonder if she hears my shouts as she’s turning at the wall. I’m not sure I help but I’ll keep shouting. It’s what good dads do ama hehe. In a halftime context, what are the immediate things you will pay attention to for Life 2 (our new season) to actualize? For most folks what makes halftime exciting is that there is a sense of permission to pursue now something they’ve been passionate about. It’s a fertile ground to dream, explore and test-drive interests we’ve had for long. It’s also a weird time because it’s not the norm in society to attempt childhood passions as an adult. One tends to feel awkward because our dreams look out of place and unrealistic to those around us.

I remember being challenged and even discouraged from shutting down my business. It didn’t make sense to many and It was hard to swim against the current and pursue what I considered a more meaningful life. You have to find what will keep you moving otherwise it’s easy to betray your dreams and go back to the life society demands you live. How tragic would that be? Maybe this is a good place to apply the version of courage that tells us to feel the fear and do it anyway. Of course, after you have worked out some hesabu (calculations) on how you will keep the lights on during your transition.

Understanding the value of the glide is important before you resume your swimming stroke. My shark knows that after the push off the wall, it is faster and conserves her energy when she glides before resuming her stroke. Between an ending and a new beginning is the middle ground I like to call a place of nothingness. After a hard-charging season of life, it’s important that one just chills and recharges. It’s a pit stop of sorts where you get serviced and ready to go back onto a new road.

This is the time to reconnect with yourself and loved ones, take that trip you’ve always wanted or just chill at home and bond with Netflix. It is easy to pick out folks on the golf course who are in the gliding phase. They play a lot, hardly have their phones on them and never seem to be in a hurry to leave. They’ve earned it so it’s all good. The place of nothingness or neutral zone is necessary but comes with a caveat. Be wary not to stay there too long. A new season beckons and if we snooze we may lose.

Have your first strokes in mind after the glide. That’s the third tip on starting a new season well. As much as it’s a season of relaxing deadlines and timelines, it’s important to at least have some personal deadlines to achieve certain things. I call these no-pressure deadlines because you are not answerable to others but yourself. For me, after closing operations, I got to research coaching and registered for my certification. That started the push towards my new season gaining momentum. If you don’t know what next steps to take after the exit from Life 1 it may help to engage a coach to help create clarity on the next steps.

Lastly, celebrate and document what you are grateful for in your first half. My shark celebrates every race, especially the ones where she has shed off a few seconds and beaten perennial rivals. We usually take stock on the way home. I particularly like the reflections and analysis of her performance. She’s engaged and I like it. The same should be done when transitioning from one season of life into another. What are the highs and lows you encountered in the just-ended season of life? And what are the learnings? We shouldn’t waste the lessons from our victories and failures lest we repeat them in our next phase of life.

Journaling has helped me reflect better and some of the reflections have morphed into goals of sorts. As a coach allow me to leave you with some questions to ponder if you are at the end of a long season. I hope they get you started on your next season folks.

What does a good finish look like for you?

What is your deeper story for why you are making a change?

Who are the people you want to impact with your deeper story?

Write your message to them.

It may be all foggy externally folks but your internal compass will be like the goggles that help you see better in the water.