This Summer Habit Is Your Career’s Secret Weapon, and You Can Start Right Now

THE EDIT™ | INSIGHTS BY KANIKA M. WATSON

Jul 1

Build Momentum While Others Hit Pause

For many of us, July is when everything starts to slow down. Meeting invites taper off, inboxes are quieter, and many of us mentally and physically check out. This seasonal pause doesn't have to stall your progress. It’s the perfect time to adopt one powerful habit: using the summer slowdown to reflect and refocus your career.

Last month, we explored how a mid-year pivot can help you reconnect with your values and realign your vision. Now, July offers space to turn those insights into action before the fall rush begins.

While the world relaxes, ambitious professionals are quietly building momentum. If you're reading this, you're likely one of them. So, let's talk about how this simple reflection habit can become your secret weapon this season, and three smart ways to practice it.

The Summer Myth and What Leaders Are Really Doing

There's a common belief that summer is "off-limits" for meaningful career development, but seasoned leaders and executive coaches know better. I tell my clients all the time: if you make just one bold move this summer, use the slowdown to reassess your goals and level up while others power down. This is your career's secret weapon.

Whether you're stepping into a new leadership role, rebounding after a setback, or pivoting your path entirely, now is your moment. July and August are when companies make key decisions. Many begin scheduling interviews, assessing team needs, and planning internal promotions well before the fall rush begins.

The bottom line? The summer myth is real, and it could be holding you back.

Three Bold Career Moves You Can Make This Month

Here's how to turn July into your most powerful month yet:

1. Revisit Your Vision While You Recharge

You deserve rest, and you also deserve a vision that excites you. Take some time for yourself, but also carve out space to reflect on where you're headed. If you've set mid-year goals, pull them out. If not, grab your favorite notebook or my free Bold Career Reset Workbook and reflect honestly:

What did I set out to do this year?
Where am I in alignment?
Where do I feel stuck, misaligned, or uninspired?

Bold Reset Tip: As you are rewriting your goals, capture them as if they've already happened. For example: "I stepped into a new leadership role aligned with my values and strengths." Notice how different that feels.

2. Invest in a Skill, Framework, or Strategy

Release the pressure to do it all. Instead, focus on one intentional upgrade that will move you forward. Maybe it's time to refresh your career story, résumé, or LinkedIn headline. Or perhaps explore how truly effective executive presence can be. Alternatively, you might join a live training, an intensive program, or an empowering community that challenges your thinking and creativity. Micro-moves are power moves, too.

3. Design Your Pivot or Promotion Path

This is also an ideal time to reflect on where you are and plan for your future. Are you actively positioning yourself for that raise, seat at the table, or career shift? Use this quieter season to get clear on your strategy, refine your narrative, and prepare for the momentum that fall brings, on your own terms.

Why July Is the Smartest Time to Join the Career Accelerator Intensive

If you're ready to take action, this is your moment. The Career Accelerator Intensive: Founders Circle is enrolling now. It's a high-impact, 6-week program designed for ambitious professionals, especially women of color, who are ready to elevate their brand, leadership, and impact.

Why launch in July? While most people are waiting for fall, ambitious professionals prepare in the summer. If you've been thinking about a bold career move, this is your built-in runway. By September, you'll be ready, confident, and ahead of the curve.

Your Mid-Year Invitation

If you've been: