The Quarterly Reset

The Purpose and The Pivot is a podcast for women navigating transitions in career, leadership, faith, and personal growth. It’s for those moments when you’re re-evaluating what’s next and choosing to realign with purpose—intentionally and confidently.

Through honest conversations, meaningful stories, and practical insight, we’ll explore how to embrace change, lead through transition, and move forward with clarity after the pivot.

McLain Career & Life Coaching dba McLain Enterprises, LLC

https://www.mclainenterprisesllc.com

https://calendly.com/mclainenterprises/30min 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Welcome to the Purpose and the Pivot, the podcast for women who know it's time for more. With your host, C. Renee McLean, career and life coach and champion for women navigating change with confidence and clarity. Each week we'll have real conversations about career moves, life transitions, mindset shifts, and the power of redefining your purpose at every stage of life. Whether you're pivoting professionally, personally, or both, this is your space for guidance, growth, and grounded support. Let's dive in.

SPEAKER_01 0:45

Welcome to The Purpose and the Pivot. Today's episode is the Quarterly Reset. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 0:56

Reflection and recalibration.

SPEAKER_01 0:59

Yes, let's get into this. So today I want to send you an invitation. An invitation to pause. Yes. To step out of constant motion. Yes, yes, yes, yes. And I want you to take an honest look at where you are before you decide where you are going next. Yes, yes. Because growth isn't just about doing more, it's about doing what's aligned. Yes. And alignment requires reflection. Uh-huh. Yeah, you've heard me talk about alignment before. It is so very important. Yes. And many high achieving professionals, they just move from one goal to the next goal without ever stopping to ask, hmm. Is this still working for me? Hmm. Is this still aligned with who I am becoming? Yeah. So that's why the quarterly reset matters. We are nearing the end of the first quarter of 2026, right? So this quarterly reset, it matters. Take inventory. Yes. We need to reset, reflect, and recalibrate. Yes, yes. So you know, and this is the thing, it's not about perfection, it's not about judging the last season, but it's about recalibrating with intention. Recalibrating with intention. So let's walk through this together. And I will tell you this. I recently had to do this for myself. Uh-huh. Yeah. I was overwhelmed. And I'm still somewhat overextended. Okay? So what you have to understand about me, I am very organized and detail-oriented. That's just who I am.

SPEAKER_02 3:19

I think I was just born that way.

SPEAKER_01 3:22

And I found myself falling short, though, of some things and getting things mixed up. That is so not like me. So I knew it was time to reset, reflect, and recalibrate. It was time for me to take a look at this first quarter, which by the way has gone by so very fast because there's just so many different things that I have going on. But I still have had to take a look at that and determine where I would like for this quarter to what I would like for it to look like. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 4:06

What I would like for it to look like.

SPEAKER_01 4:09

So yeah, I had to do this myself. So I'm not telling you to do anything that I have not had to do and still working on myself. So let's get into this and let's start by reviewing wins, wins and lessons, because they go together, right? So first let's talk about your wins, okay? And I want I want you to resist the urge to skip this part because this part is very, very important. Many people are quick to critique themselves, criticize themselves, right? But slow to acknowledge their growth. So I want you to take a moment and think about the last few months. Think about what did you accomplish? Yeah. What did you navigate? Uh-huh. And what did you handle better than you would have in a previous season? Yeah, yeah. Wins don't always look like big milestones. Sometimes a win is simply setting a boundary that you used to avoid setting. Sometimes it's speaking up when you normally would have stayed quiet. Sometimes it's something that you've been putting off and going ahead and getting that thing started. Uh-huh. Yeah, yeah. And then sometimes it could be choosing rest, huh? When you would have pushed through. I'm still working on this one. I am. Mm-hmm. Yeah. But those are still wins. Even if you've made a little progress, even if you've made some progress, it is still a win. You know why? Because wins, those wins, even as small as they may be, they represent growth. You are growing. You are growing. And then alongside your wins, there are lessons. Yeah. And it may not be anything like grandiose, but it's still a lesson. So maybe something didn't go as planned. But what did you learn from that? Maybe a decision didn't lead to where you expected. But did you find out that that may have been a blessing in disguise? Maybe you stretched yourself too thin. Yeah, I know this one. But I'm working on it. I'm working on it, right? And so it's not failure. It's not failure. It's feedback. It's feedback. And so I'll use myself as an example because maybe you know, stretching yourself too thin. That's something that I struggle with. And so I'm learning how to set the boundaries that I need to set with my schedule.

SPEAKER_02 7:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:20

Yeah. So it's not failure, it's feedback. And get this, guys. Feedback is valuable if you're willing to learn from it. And I'll use myself as an example because I'm learning from this. Because what does it teach me to stretch myself too thin? I'm tired. I'm tired. I feel exhausted when I do that. So I know that I need to stop doing that and recalibrate and um work on my schedule better, do better with my schedule, right? So ask yourself, because I know what this season has taught me, but ask yourself, what did this season teach me? Hmm. It may not be that you've stretched yourself too thin. It may be that decision that didn't lead to where you expected it to go, and you realize that it was a blessing in disguise. Or maybe it was um something that just didn't go planned as planned. And you realize that that was not something that you should have been doing. I don't know what it is for you, but think about what this season taught you. Yeah, think about that. And then let's talk about the misalignment because misalignment is often subtle, it's often subtle, it doesn't always show up as something being completely wrong. Sometimes it's just a feeling that something may be just a little off. Something feels a little off. Yeah, you're busy, but you're not fulfilled, you're productive, but you're drained. You are achieving, but it feels disconnected. That's misalignment. Yeah, that's misalignment, and it might be in your schedule, however, where your time is going doesn't reflect what actually matters. Yeah, it might be in your commitments, you're saying yes to things out of obligation instead of alignment, though. Yeah. Or it could be something internal. Maybe you've outgrown a mindset, a role, or an environment, but you just haven't made the adjustment yet. Yeah. Awareness is key. So becoming aware of these things is really key because you cannot realign what you haven't first acknowledged. Say la. Yeah. Pause and think about that. Yes, yes. So let's talk about releasing what no longer serves. Because once you identify misalignment, the next step is to release. And this is where many people get stuck because releasing feels uncomfortable, letting go of commitments, letting go of expectations, and it may be expectations of others, other people, their expectations of you. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Letting go of the version of you that could handle everything. Yeah, guys, we can't handle everything. We can't handle it all. No matter how hard we try. So the truth about this is you cannot step fully into your next quarter while holding on to everything from the last one. Something has to shift. Yes, something must be adjusted or released. It might be a commitment that no longer aligns. It may be a habit that drains your energy. It may be a belief that keeps you playing small. And releasing. Releasing is not failure. It's making space. Yeah. Making space for what's next for you. What is next for you? You must make space for it. Uh-huh. Yeah. Yeah. So now let's let's clarify this next season. Let's clarify some priorities for this next season. Okay, because once you've created adequate space, now we can talk about focus. Yes. What actually matters? Uh-huh. Yeah. So let me ask you this. What actually matters to you in the next 90 days? The next quarter? What actually matters to you in the next 90 days? Or let's put it this way: what actually matters to you to do in the next 90 days? What matters to you for you to do or for you to complete? What is it that matters to you that you feel like you need to complete within the next 90 days? Within the next 90 days, the next quarter. Okay? It's not everything. It's not what feels urgent, but what is it that's important? That's where clarity becomes powerful. What is important for you to complete within the next ninety days? What is it? What is it? And instead of trying to do everything, choose a few priorities that truly align with your goals and your growth. Yeah. So ask yourself, where will my time and energy make the greatest impact in this next season or quarter? I'll ask you, I'll say that again. Ask yourself this question: Where will my time and energy make the greatest impact in this next season or quarter? Uh-huh. Yeah. Because when we prioritize everything, nothing gets the attention it deserves. So focus creates momentum. And momentum gets you going. Yes, yes, yes, yes. So let's talk about choosing three guiding values. Okay. So let's pause for a moment and ground this season or quarter in the values that matter most to you. Because values are your decision-making filter. Yeah. They help you choose wisely when opportunities arise. Yeah. They let you know which of those opportunities are the right ones, the best ones. Yeah. Yeah. These values help you say no when something doesn't align, right? And they help you stay anchored when things get busy. Uh-huh. Yeah. So ask yourself: what three values do I want to guide me in this next season or in this next quarter? Maybe it's clarity. Maybe that's a value for you. Maybe it's courage. Maybe that's it. Maybe it's balance. Mm-hmm. Yeah, that's one of mine, that's for sure. Yeah, that's one of mine. Maybe it's faith. Maybe it's growth. Maybe it's integrity. Maybe it is peace. Yeah. There's no perfect set of values. No perfect set. But there is a right set for you in this season. And when your values are clear, your decisions become easier. Uh-huh. When your values are clear, your decisions become easier. Example, one of my values is balance. Uh-huh. So knowing that that is one of my values, it makes my decisions become easier when there are things that I have to say no to because I'm looking for the right balance in this next quarter. Okay. So yes, it will help me to decide which things are necessary, what things can wait, what things need to go. Yeah, yeah. So now, yeah. So with that, let's create an intentional action plan. Because that's important. Once you get your values clear and you decide, okay, I'm going to start making these decisions. They're easier now because I have my values and they are clear. So let's talk about turning your clarity into action because reflection without action doesn't create change. And your action plan, get this, it doesn't need to be overwhelming. In fact, it shouldn't be overwhelming. Okay. I said one of my values is balance. That's not overwhelming, it's just a fact. It's simple. So now that one of my values is clear, and now I have to decide my priorities. I have to decide what my priorities are, right? So your action plan doesn't need to be overwhelming. It should not be overwhelming. Okay. And so take your priorities and then ask yourself this question. Hmm. What are a few intentional steps I can take over the next thirty to ninety days? The next quarter. What are a few intentional steps I can take over the next thirty to ninety days? And what that might look like is blocking time on your calendar for focused work, not just appointments after appointments back to back to back. I'm speaking to myself. Blocking time on your calendar for focused work. Uh-huh. Yeah. And then setting boundaries around your availability. You can't be available all the time to everybody. We've talked about this before, guys. Uh-huh. Yeah. Okay. So what else might be an intentional step you can take over the next 30 to 90 days? Maybe invest in a support, coaching, or some form of development. Investing in support, coaching, or development. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe it's picking up that project that you started and completing it. Uh-huh. Yeah. Or maybe it's something you've been putting off and you need to go ahead and start it. So start it or complete it. It's a key project that you maybe even just thought about. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And then keep it simple. Yeah. Keep it simple. Keep it clear. Keep it clear.

unknown 21:24

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 21:25

And keep it aligned. Okay? Because the goal is not to do more. The goal is to do what matters on purpose. The goal is to do what matters on purpose. Uh-huh. Yeah. Yeah. So before we close today, I want you to sit with this. Okay. You don't need to rush into your next season.

SPEAKER_02 21:59

You don't. Need to rush into your next season.

SPEAKER_01 22:05

Take your time and enter into it with intention. Enter into your next season. Enter into this next quarter with intention. The quarterly reset is your opportunity to one acknowledge your growth. Two, learn from your experiences, three, release what no longer fits. And four, move forward with clarity. Uh-huh. Yeah. So here's your reflection and your homework. As if I haven't given you enough already. Think about these things as well, okay? What am I proud of from this past season? What am I proud of from this past season? What is one lesson I'm taking with me into the next season or quarter? Okay.

SPEAKER_02 23:15

And then what needs to shift before I move forward?

SPEAKER_01 23:24

What needs to shift before I move forward? I'm going to repeat those again. I want you to think about these things, okay? These are reflection questions for you as you move forward into the next uh quarter. What am I proud of from this past season? What is one lesson I'm taking with me? And what needs to shift before I move forward? Okay. Your next level doesn't require more pressure. It requires more alignment. And alignment begins with this moment. Right here and right now, where you choose to pause, reflect, and move forward with intention. Yes. Reset, reflect, and recalibrate.

SPEAKER_02 24:33

Uh-huh. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 24:34

Well, guys, that's our show for today. Until next time, be encouraged, enlightened, and empowered. I am C Renee McLean. Thank you for joining us today.

SPEAKER_00 24:51

Thank you for tuning in to the Purpose and the Pivot. If today's episode encouraged or inspired you, be sure to follow the show and share it with another woman who's navigating her own transition. For coaching support or to connect with C. Renee McLean directly, visit McLean Career and Life Coaching or schedule a consultation using the link in the show notes. Remember, your purpose evolves and you have permission to pivot. Until next time.