How time moves so fast! It’s really hard to believe that the year 2013, which started almost yesterday has already reached this far. Indeed time runs so fast that if we don’t race against it we may never catch up with it. I remember writing about having a new approach to goal-setting in our New Year’s resolutions under this column in January and it feels like last month.

Well, September is here and as an optimist there’s every reason why I believe that you and I can make it the best month irrespective of how the year has been.

First, the word ‘September’ sounds like ‘gutemba’ in our vernacular, which means climbing. So, every time I hear the word ‘September’, what comes to my mind is climbing higher on the ladder of success. Thus, to me, September is a month of moving from one level to another. It’s a moth or promotion, increase and expansion. It’s a month of rising from the valleys of fear, despair, lack, misery and failure to the plateau of plenty, hope, inspiration and victory. Basically, for me it’s a month of moving forward and upwards.

Secondly, by entering September, it means we are done with two-thirds of 2013; we are left with one third. To me this sounds like we have heard enough time to achieve the goals that we set at the beginning of the year but also enough time ahead to correct our messes in the past months as well as accomplish the pending projects we started. So this is a perfect moment for self-evaluation in order to see what we have or have not done well. Don’t wait to evaluate yourself at the end of the year when you have no time left. 

As you evaluate yourself, where you find you succeeded, congratulate yourself and resolve to even do more in that areas; where you failed, forgive yourself and give yourself another chance. Give it another shot, with all that you have, so that by December you will be celebrating your success. The remaining months are enough for you to turn a failure into a success, a curse into a blessing. You can turn yourself from a victim into a victor. All you need is to make a decision to do all it takes to succeed.

I would love to leave you with the words W. ZIEGE who says that nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal and nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. Once you have the right attitude you are unstoppable. So I encourage you to live through this month with optimism. Personally I take SEPTEMBER to stand for S-Success; E-Expansion; P-Progress; T-Testimony; E-Excellence; M-Multiplication; B-Breakthrough; E-Expansion; and R-Restoration. 

Pin this acronym in your office or home so that you won’t forget that this is your month to prosper. Then in December, don’t forget to invite us for jubilation. Till next week, stay inspired not expired, blessed not stressed.