The weather in Upstate New York is predictable to the extent that it is, in fact, unpredictable. You never really know how long spring will hang on or when summer will fully take hold. But in the years when we do get a true spring, like this one, it’s amazing. The cool air lingers, the rain comes in bursts, and slowly, almost stubbornly, life returns after a long winter.
This morning, as I’m driving through a light mist on a beautiful spring morning in Central New York, I’m reminded once again how much I love living here. It’s just about 50 degrees, the air is damp, and I’m looking out at the lush green grass with trees just starting to pop. Some leaves are almost all the way out, and the rest aren’t far behind. Spring has finally arrived.
After nearly 30 years of living here, I’ve learned to appreciate the changing seasons. When we actually have a spring, I love it. Summer is great too, especially since being farther north means more daylight. Fall? Always a favorite because it’s hoodie season—cool, crisp mornings, and a more active time for my family and friends. And winter? While some find it bleak, I’ve come to value how it shifts our pace and changes the landscape—both physically and mentally.
It’s interesting to think about how different this experience is from that of some of my friends around the country and the world. One lives in a temperate climate across the ocean, where a cold morning might be 45 degrees and a hot day hits 110. Seasons for him are more about the intensity of the heat and the shift from rain to dry spells. Another friend in the southwest desert sees winter less as cold and more as wind—sand whipping around, tumbleweeds rolling, and that distinct feeling when you step into a gust. For them, it’s not about the temperature dropping but how the environment itself transforms.
Seasons in life and business aren’t so different. Where you are and what you do shape your experience. Some people move from one phase to the next without much change—like living near the equator. For others, like those of us in Central New York, each season is distinct, and we learn to appreciate them for what they are.
In my career, I’ve gone through my own seasons. Early on, it was like spring—I thought I knew a lot but quickly realized how little I understood. It was a time of growth, learning, and sometimes feeling lost. Then came summer—a time when I found my rhythm, built momentum, and started to see results. That’s where I feel I am now: in the summer of my career, where hard work has paid off enough to enjoy the longer days and steady progress.
Eventually, fall will come—a time to transition, to reflect on what’s been built, and to plan for what’s next. Winter? That might be further down the road, but when it comes, it won’t mean stopping. It’ll just mean shifting how I do things, slowing down a bit, and appreciating what’s been accomplished.
Talking with friends from different places—or even different industries—reminds me that not everyone experiences these clear transitions. Some move from operation to monetization without much of a shift. Their seasons are more like an on/off switch, while ours here are a gradual progression.
As I continue down the road this morning, I think about how that perspective influences my business and my life. Am I making the most of this season, or am I pushing too hard to get to the next one? Seasons come whether you’re ready or not and making the most of each one while preparing for the next is something worth thinking about.
So, where are you in your stage of life? Where are you in your business journey? Are you in the hopeful, ambitious spring, the energetic, productive summer, the thoughtful, planning fall, or the reflective, quieter winter? Wherever you are, take advantage of the season. Enjoy the good days, learn from the bad ones, and always keep an eye on what’s coming next.
That’s what I’m thinking about today as I drive through this misty spring morning in Central New York. Seasons change—how are you preparing for yours?
Mark J Modzeleski, CFS, CLTC, AIF
President, Legacy Wealth Advisors of NY