Six Months Down, Six More to Go

The 4^th of July weekend always has a way of making me feel like a kid. I love watching fireworks, hanging out on a boat, eating potato salad, loading on the sunscreen or bug-spray, and noticing how all the kids, nieces and nephews have all grown up. Some even have kids of their own now.

Yet after the final rocket’s red glare, after the bonfires have all burned out, and after the last S’mores are eaten, I start to realize something – the year is now officially half over.

That’s right, say it again, the year is now half over. Where are you with your business and personal plans? How are your goals shaping up? Are you on track and focused to accomplish everything you set out to this year?

These next few months of summer, in my opinion, are extremely important if you plan to be successful for the remainder of the year. This is the time to put the pedal to the metal. Many of your competitors are slacking off right now, thinking about vacations, leaving the office a bit early, and scheduling tee times. I agree you should also be doing some of the same things. I also want you to remember this is a great time to reach out to some of those contacts on your list that you haven’t spoken to in a while.

Schedule those appointments, agendas, projects and important items for those holes in you calendar now. If you’re thinking about waiting until August, before you know it they will be tossing footballs around and scheduling fantasy drafts.

Some of you will be scrambling to get the kids ready to get back into school or off to college. If you think you don’t have any time now, what will your life look like once all that starts again?

Now is the time to focus on your agenda, your goals, and your most important tasks. Get clear on what is going to propel you forward in the coming months. Come September you want to be firing on all cylinders, not whimpering into the fall.

Take some time today to write out your goals for the next 6 weeks:

1. What are the most important business goals you have between now and mid-August?

2. Who are the most important contacts you are going to schedule time to meet with during that time frame?

3. If you have planned some time off, how are you preparing yourself and your business to be productive prior to and once you return from your vacation, and while you’re away?

4. What projects can you really gain some traction on this month so that come September you are ready to finish out the year strong?

5. What course corrections are you going to make this week to stay on track or get yourself back on track?

6. Who is holding you accountable? I know a good coach if you are having trouble in this area. 🙂

Thoughts for the week:

“If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it.” – Olin Miller

“A year from now you may wish you had started today.” – Karen Lamb

“If you don’t pay appropriate attention to what has your attention, it will take more of your attention than it deserves.” – David Allen

“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” – Napoleon Hill

“Nothing is less productive than to make more efficient what should not be done at all.” – Peter Drucker

“To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing.” – Eva Young

“How soon ‘not now’ becomes ‘never.’” – Martin Luther