During the calendar year, there are two periods I have coined as “excuse times” where people simply have a more difficult time getting things done. The first is from Memorial Day to Labor Day and the second starts the second week in November and runs through the first week of January.

During these two periods of time, my clients notice that their clients are difficult to schedule. They see people pushing off their appointments, wanting to meet less or asking to delay; partly because they also aren’t getting as much done.

While it’s easy to become frustrated with this, remember that excuse time isn’t just for your clients – it’s also excuse time for all the people with whom they interact. Even if your clients want to move forward, it’s possible that they’re having a tough time getting what they need.

Because of all this, excuse time is a good time to be proactive and have a design conversation around it. Sit down with your client and say, “If you want to push this off, how will that affect us?” Create a plan in advance that takes into account the fact that things might be slowing down rather than working against the fact that things are slowing down.

This is a good time for you, as a coach, to work on things that don’t require other people and honor the holiday flow such as strategic planning, curriculum and your web presence.

Look for more ways you can go with the flow during excuse time and plan for it. I always take off the 4^th of July week because 90% of my clients do, too. I also take off the week between Christmas and New Years because most of my clients take off that week, too.

This week, look ahead to November and think of ways you can best use that “excuse time” period and how you can go with the flow instead of against it.

With Appreciation,