For when you don't want to waste what's left

And just like that, we're at the 100-day mark (or we will be, in a few days.)

I've always loved this time of year—not because of pumpkin spice or football season, though those are nice too—but because right around now we hit that point where there are exactly 100 days left in the year.

For me, that's always been a natural pause. 

A time to stop, take a breath, and ask: "Okay, how do I want to finish this thing?"

I've been doing quarterly sprints for more than a decade now—breaking my year into three-month chunks, setting goals, and then creating monthly, weekly, and daily plans to bring those goals to life. 

It's not glamorous, but it works. Honestly, it's the secret behind most of the "big" things I've managed to pull off that once felt impossible.

But this year feels different.

Part of that is just life—summer was crazy, with travel and trying to get back into a rhythm. 

But it's also because this past week has been heavy. Really heavy.

I shared my thoughts about Charlie Kirk’s assasination on Instagram HERE a few days ago, and I honestly don’t know what more I could say in this newsletter that hasn’t already been said.

But I will say that in watching the aftermath, seeing clip after clip of him speaking with such purpose and conviction about his faith, it's shaken me in ways I didn't expect. 

But it has been clarifying too.

Mostly it has reminded me that life is a precious gift, and I don't want to waste mine on things that don't matter. I want to show up differently. I want to finish this year with purpose, not just busyness.

That's part of why I'm more fired up about these next 100 days than I've been in a long time.

This quarter, I actually created a custom GPT to walk me through my reflection process—asking me all the hard questions about what's working, what's not, and where I really want to focus. 

It was the same set of questions I use every quarter, but being able to actually talk through it with ChatGPT was incredibly eye-opening. I feel so crystal clear about what my priorities are, and what I want to accomplish before this year is over.

But there’s something else that has me really excited about this particular quarter: I'm not keeping this process to myself this time.

I've created something I've never done before—The Finish Strong Project.

It's a 90-day experiment where I'm pulling back the curtain on my entire system. I'll be sharing my own goals for this quarter—both business and personal—and then walking you through exactly how I break them down into action steps you can actually take. You'll see the wins, the setbacks, and everything in between. Real life, in real time.

But here's the coolest part: I'm not doing it alone. 

Since I announced it yesterday, hundreds of people have already joined and are already sharing their goals. Some are health related. Some are business goals. Others are focused on personal relationships or learning new skills.

The goals are all different. But the process—the commitment to finish strong—is the same.

Because let's be real—it's so easy to drift through these last few months. To get caught up in back-to-school chaos and holiday prep and all the things that feel urgent but aren't important. To let these 100 days slip away without ever stopping to think about what we really want to accomplish.

But what if we didn't do that this time?

John Maxwell once said, "You'll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of success is found in your daily routine." Along those same lines, someone wise once noted that "the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."

In other words? Purpose doesn't just happen. It's built one small decision at a time.

And so, my challenge for you this week is simple: Don't drift into the end of the year. Don't let these last 100 days disappear in a blur of Netflix and mindless scrolling.

Decide how you want to finish. Then take action.

And if you want support, accountability, and a community of people cheering you on, I'd love for you to join me in The Finish Strong Project.

Live with purpose, friend, and have a joy-filled week!

xoxo, Ruth

P.S. We've already got hundreds of people inside, setting powerful goals and sharing their journeys. The energy is incredible. You can join us HERE.

This week’s podcast episodes…

What’s cooking in my kitchen…

The latest from my Instagram…

Instagram is my jam! If you’re there too, I’d love to connect with you—find me at @RuthSoukup or @ruthsoukupbiz for online business tips!

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