Tomorrow is October 1st, the fourth quarter.

You're either thinking "Fresh start - let's finish strong" or you're looking at the calendar thinking "I already blew the first three quarters, what's the point now?"

Here's the thing: That same all-or-nothing thinking? It's probably how you're treating your days, too.

I know because I lived it for years.

The Donut Spiral

Late twenties. Pre-Compete Every Day. I'd wake up with the best intentions.

Morning workout? Check. Egg whites and fruit for breakfast? Check. Feeling unstoppable walking into my client's office.

Then I'd see them.

Donuts in the break room. My favorite kind.

"One won't hurt," I'd think. And honestly? One probably wouldn't.

But that one donut triggered something in my head: Well, you already blew it. Might as well get pizza for lunch instead of that salad you planned.

You'll start fresh tomorrow.

By dinner, I'd convinced myself the entire day was shot. "Tomorrow" became my perpetual starting line.

My old roommate noticed the pattern. He'd joke about hiding the Oreos in our apartment because I couldn't eat just one - I'd demolish half the package. He'd laugh about rationing them, but then one day he stopped joking.

That question hit different.

The very next day, I'm at happy hour with a group. Two beers in. Standing in front of the menu, deciding between wings and grilled chicken.

I could hear his voice in my head.

Let the one mistake be a one.

The beers were already done. That was one quarter. But the food choice? That was the NEXT opportunity.

I ordered the grilled chicken.

And something shifted - I realized my day wasn't ruined. Just one quarter was off. I still had three more to play.

Your Day Has Four Quarters

Here's what changed everything: I stopped treating my day like one long game I could either win or lose.

I started treating it like football - four quarters, each one a fresh start.

Miss your morning workout? You didn't blow the day. You lost Q1. Win Q2 by nailing that client meeting.

Terrible lunch decision? That's one quarter. Win Q3 by getting back to your planned dinner.

Bad client call tanks your afternoon? Win Q4 by showing up for your kid's soccer practice instead of bringing that frustration home.

Tom Brady was once asked about his favorite Super Bowl memory. His answer?

"The next one."

Not the ones he'd won. Not the ones he'd lost. The next one.

Because the next quarter is the only quarter you control.

Here's How This Works

Your day has four quarters - but they're not the same as mine.

If you're a parent with young kids:

• Q1: Before they wake (5-7am)
• Q2: Morning chaos (7-9am)
• Q3: Work window (9am-3pm)
• Q4: Family evening (3pm-bedtime)

If you're in sales:

• Q1: Power morning (6-9am)
• Q2: Prime selling time (9am-1pm)
• Q3: Afternoon push (1-5pm)
• Q4: Evening recovery (5pm-bed)

The point? Your quarters are determined by YOUR life season, YOUR role, YOUR natural energy.

Map yours based on:

• When do you have the most energy?
• When do obligations cluster?
• When are you most likely to slip?
• When do you need recovery?

Then define what "winning" each quarter looks like.

Not perfect. Not flawless execution.

Just WIN.

For me right now? My weak quarters are lunch (1-3pm when I start to fade) and late night (when I'm craving sweets).

Do I still blow these quarters sometimes? Absolutely. Maybe 1-2 times per quarter, I'll spiral into a box of Girl Scout cookies at 10pm (thin mints from the freezer, of course).

But 99% of the time, I catch it and reset.

Not because I'm perfect - because I have a system.

When I blow a quarter, I change something physical: Move to a different chair. Swap television for a book. If it's a late weekend afternoon and I've had a couple beers watching football, I'll go for a run (doesn't always feel great, but it gets me back on track).

The environmental shift breaks the spiral.

This Week's Challenge

The fourth quarter of the year is about to start - and it's the perfect time to implement Q4 thinking into every single day.

Here's what I want you to do:

1. Map your four quarters - What are they based on YOUR schedule?
2. Define what "winning" looks like for each quarter (be specific)
3. Identify your weakest quarter - Which one do you most consistently blow?
4. Plan ONE reset move for that quarter this week

Examples of reset moves:

• Afternoon energy fade? 15-minute walk at 2pm
• Late-night sweets? Brush teeth right after dinner
• Midday meal slip? Pre-pack lunch Monday night
• Morning workout skip? Gym clothes laid out before bed

You don't need to win all four quarters every day.

You just need to win the next one.

Your past is a place for lessons, not living.

What matters most is what you do next.

I'm cheering for you, Reader,

Say hi 👋 on Instagram or LinkedIn​

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P.S. This 'in-the-moment' reset is one reason I created our Win Your Next daily journal. I needed a tool that could help me ensure I never let one bad day turn into two - or one bad quarter turn into a losing streak.

You can save 15% off the journal here with code JTWYN15.

Competitor Reflection:

When you blow a quarter, what's the story you tell yourself that turns one mistake into a full day spiral - and what would the "win the next" version of that story sound like?