Header Logo
Services
Newsletter
Subscribe Read Past Issues
Media About Contact
Log In
← Back to all posts

She had to pivot (fast)

Jul 15, 2026
Connect

Happy summer! 

I know, I know—we're right in the thick of July, so you're probably thinking, “Dawn, girl, we've been here...get caught up.”

But we just kicked off the third quarter, and let’s be honest: Q3 landing smack in the middle of summer is a perfect storm.

If you have kids, they’re home from school or running off to camps.

You’re unpacking from one vacation or frantically packing for the next.

And that nagging realization that the new school year is around the corner is starting to creep in.

(And if you don’t have kids, you work with people who do, so you still get the ripple effects.)

Without fail, this season brings a storm of personal and professional chaos. AC units need servicing, cars break down, and life just happens.

I was talking recently to one of my business consulting clients. She's at a pivotal growth point in her business—scaling wonderfully—when a key team member gave notice they were leaving.

To top it off, she caught that dreaded summer cold. The kind that turns into something more and forces you to find time for urgent care, sandwiched right between two family vacations.

Talk about a need to pivot!

Despite all this, I got the most amazing Vox from her. She said:

⬇️ Btw, watch instead of reading, or read on below.

She had to pivot (fast)

“Hey, I am so grateful for this master planning worksheet and my play-by-play weeks, so I know exactly where I need to be focused.

Because when things come at me, and I’m feeling under the weather, and there's lots of things happening, and I’m trying to pack to leave town, I'm so grateful I have this to fall back on.

I can look at it and be like "What did I say I was gonna do?" And I know exactly what to focus on and prioritize.”

So how did she navigate all that without throwing her hands up in defeat? She C.O.P.E.'d

It's a simple, practical tool you can use today, even if you’re feeling completely overwhelmed:

  • C - Collect: Get it out of your head. Write down everything that is pulling at your attention, personally and professionally.
  • O - Organize: Put it in one place where you can see it clearly. Ask yourself: Who owns this? What needs to happen? How long will it take?
  • P - Prioritize: Ruthlessly prioritize. What has to happen before vacation? What can wait until you return? What gets kicked into a future week?
  • E - Energize | Engage | Execute: Once the noise is cleared and you know what actually matters, you can take action with decisive, focused energy.

This isn't about rigid perfection. It's about giving you a safety net to fall back on when real life gets messy...like the chaos of summertime.

It makes my heart so happy to see clients living in the freedom of the fruit that grew from seeds they planted weeks ago—before things went sideways.

Even if you don’t have our actual worksheets, you can still apply this. Take 10 minutes, write it all down, and give yourself some clarity and breathing room.

So tell me—what are you most excited about in this season? Or let me know if you need to apply the C.O.P.E. acronym to something today.

Thanks for doing life with me,

Dawn

P.S. Our next Momentum Reset is coming up in September. I know that feels far away, but we only have 30 spots in the room, and they're already going fast.

So if you're ready to stop the start-stop cycle and build a plan that holds up when life gets chaotic, grab your early-bird ticket here to secure your spot.

Responses

Join the conversation
t("newsletters.loading")
Loading...
Why I needed a nap on Monday
  BLUF The Reality: Draining days happen when things out of your zone of genius fill your plate...instead of work that fills your cup The Action Step: When you're drained, do a quick brain dump of what you did that day, so you can recognize what's zapping your energy BLUF = Bottom Line Up Front I had one of those "Mondayest" Mondays this week. It was kind of a free day. Filled mostly with a...
Keeping clarity in tough conversations
Have you ever seen Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical Hamilton? There’s a line where Aaron Burr gives Alexander Hamilton a piece of advice: "Talk less and smile more." That phrase pops into my head frequently—especially when I’m watching things start to come undone in meetings and conversations. It makes me wonder: is quiet, curious listening an art we’ve lost? When tensions run high or we...
This could be what you need
Time sure has a way of sneaking up on us. Here we are, heading into the last quarter of 2026. So as we step into this final stretch, I want check in with you: Are you excited? Do you feel accomplished? Looking back over the last nine months, did you check off (or at least take major ground) on all the things you set out to do this year? If your answer is "not quite," please hear me: It happens....

Do Life Together

I’d love to link arms with you. I send weekly stories and real-talk guidance to help you build a life you love, whatever the season.
Footer Logo
Media About Contact
Services
© 2026 Cornerstone

Stay Connected


Join my mailing list to receive free weekly tips and insights!