May Busch* has advice for those who have reached the middle of the year and still see a long and daunting slog ahead to achieve what they set out to do in January.
We have just marked the mid-point of the year, which can be an unsettling time — especially when you’re an achiever.
For some, the rest of the year can’t come quickly enough so we can see the fruits of our efforts.
For others, mid-year can feel like the middle of a long slog without an end in sight.
However, as an achiever, you’re geared toward accomplishing goals and achieving success and there is still time to accomplish what you set out to do in January.
The great thing about the middle of the year is that there’s still time to achieve your goals for the year.
Here are some ways you can set yourself up for a great second half.
Celebrate your wins
It’s natural to think of all your shortcomings, like the things you’ve procrastinated on or the things you have done that haven’t gone as well as you’d like.
However, that won’t serve you well.
Taking a moment to celebrate your accomplishments so far this year — no matter if they’re big or small — is essential to having a great rest of the year.
Appreciate the people in your life
As you look back, think about all the people who have helped you along the way.
These are the people who have stood by you, given you support or advice, and advocated for you.
They’re also the people who have done the work that needed doing whether in the office or at home.
Let them know you appreciate them and share why you do.
People matter. Relationships matter. When you’re good to people, it’ll come around.
Identify your second-half wins
Looking ahead to the rest of the year, think about ways to approach it with positivity.
A great way to do that is to identify the three wins you want to have in the second half of the year.
When you’re identifying these wins, fast-forward to December when you’re looking back on the year and tap into what would make you feel great if you had done those things.
Maybe these future wins you identify relate to building relationships.
Or they could be specific projects you want to get off the ground. Perhaps it’s setting yourself up for promotion to the next level, or developing an exercise habit.
There are no universally right answers; it’s just what will make a difference for you.
Create the conditions for your success
Having identified your future wins, it’s then about creating the conditions for your success.
This means doing the planning and preparation now to make it easy for you to execute later.
Maybe it’s simply cleaning up your workspace, your desk or office.
Or reconnecting with people you haven’t contacted in a while, but who could be instrumental in your next steps and vice versa.
Or it could be signing up for some training or arranging for coaching or mentoring that will help you hit the ground running for your next phase.
Show up as your best self
The final piece of having a great second half is about you — that unique and extraordinary person who is about to have an awesome second half of the year.
Think about how you want to show up in the world. Think about who you are when you’re at your best.
Really tap into that best version of yourself. What are you doing and saying? What environment brings that out? Who are you with (and who are you not with)?
Get in touch with what it would it take to be your best self more of the time. Then make two lists.
The first list is what you want to do or say more of.
Maybe it’s celebrating small wins and appreciating the people around you (both things I forget to do and am working on).
Perhaps it’s encouraging your fellow team members by saying “yes, and…” instead of “no, but…”
It could also be creating a habit of drinking more water every day or speaking up in meetings.
The second list is what you want to do or say less of.
Maybe it’s finally getting rid of those “ums” and “likes” that are making you sound less professional than you really are.
Or judging and blaming yourself as well as others, which makes for an unpleasant experience for everyone involved.
Perhaps it’s to stop making assumptions or jumping to conclusions without checking the facts.
These are your lists and you get to choose what goes on them and how many items there are.
Resist the urge to make too long a list. Remember, you’re setting yourself up for success, not disappointment.
No matter how the first half of your year has gone, you owe it to yourself to set yourself up for success and finish the year strong.
*May Busch’s mission is to help leaders and their organisations achieve their full potential. She can be contacted at [email protected].
This article first appeared at maybusch.com.
