The Dog Days of Summer (and Fall)

Posted on by Malcolm Munro in Motivate You, Professional Development

It’s official.  Summer is moving into its final month we’re getting close to the first part of the work year.  The Dog Days of Summer are here.  That’s an interesting term isn’t it?

Most people believe the phrase is in reference to the conspicuous laziness of domesticated dogs (who are in danger of overheating with too much exercise) during the hottest days of the summer. When speaking of Dog Days there seems to be a connotation of lying or “dogging” around, or being “dog tired” on these hot and humid days.  I find that to be the case not only with dogs, but of people in general, particularly in the DC/Metro area where I live.  Nobody is hiring.  Nobody wants to do business. People mentally and physically check out. As a business owner, it’s extremely frustrating to me.

Interestingly enough, the origins of Dog Days originally came from the ancient Greeks and Romans.  They were the days when Sirius, the Dog Star, rose just before or at the same time as sunrise.  The Romans sacrificed a brown dog at the beginning of the Dog Days to appease the rage of Sirius, believing that the star was the cause of the hot, sultry weather. Dog Days were popularly believed to be an evil time “when the seas boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad, and all creatures became languid, causing to man burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies” according to Brady’s Clavis Calendarium.

I’d like you to consider a new term, based somewhat on the legends you just read:  The Dog Days of Fall. Yes the legends paint a bleak picture, but why not put the “boiling seas” and “mad dog” mentality into your work ethic?  I think it’s time we all turn up the heat on our own goals and objectives.

This next four months presents a wide range of opportunities if you simply look for them.  Think about these four months as harvest time (if you pushed yourself during the Summer) and if not, think of them now as four months of sowing.  This means it’s time to get busy!  Here are some suggestions:

• Refocus that business plan
• Reengage your networks. Start making some phone calls and reconnecting.
• Follow up on all those job leads you were given.  Call those hiring managers back (yes, even the ones that won’t return your calls)
• Go back and reenergize those business leads that dropped off during the Summer.
• Start (or restart) that diet and exercise plan you gave up on over the past few months.

Get your mind and body back in gear!  Quit counting down the days until next Summer.  Work hard now so you can really enjoy that vacation next August!

The Dog Days of Fall will pass you by if you let them.  Already the Halloween decorations are pushing into the back-to-school supplies at the Wal-Mart.  In about a month or so (if not sooner), you’ll see the Christmas decorations out.  If you’re not careful, this next few months will be a blur and you’ll wake up in January not knowing what happened or where the time went.

I’m ready for a break-out year and I hope you are too.  It won’t happen on its own.  Let’s push hard so we can enjoy the fruits of our labor!

Related posts:

1. These are the Good Old Days!