735. What to Do When You’re in Two Different Seasons

What do you do when you and someone close to you – a friend, a business partner, a spouse – are in two different seasons? Sometimes you’re going to find yourself working closely with someone who’s in a different mode of life than you, so you’ve got to learn how to make the most of it.

First and foremost: honor whatever season you’re in. Whether you’re in a season of resting or a season of pushing, you are only going to hurt yourself if you fight against it. Those seasons are not going to last forever, so just remember that the best thing you can do for your success is to take care of what you need in the moment.

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. Tying back to that first point, if someone asks for something from you that would require you to dishonor your needs, you need to make that clear. In return, ask for what you need. Find some common ground, make your needs clear, and be willing to take different approaches to get where you want to go.

You need to make sure that you’re communicating your long-term goals. When you see the overall vision and know that you’re both working towards it, you’ll be more forgiving of the ebb and flow it takes to get there.

You also should find other people in the same season as you. It can get lonely when all of the people near you seem to be in another mode, so seek out those going through the same thing so that you can fuel each other up however you need to.

When you find yourself in different seasons with friends, a romantic partner, or a business partner, it can actually lead to great things. Follow these tips and you can accelerate your season, creating a win-win situation for everyone.