6 Actions to Help You Strategize & Execute Your List of Objectives in the Last Six Months of the Year  

With summer in full bloom, we’re at the halfway point of the year. While you may have started the year with strong momentum and strategy to kickstart your personal and business goals, by now, most people are experiencing some form of burnout, uncertainty and blurred vision. But no matter what you did (or did not) accomplish in the first or second quarter of the year, the good news is that you have a full six months to make up for lost time—and even get a head start on next year’s goals.

Here are six keys to maximize your halftime and get ahead in the game during the final two quarters of the year!

Review your Written Goals
Whether you use a notebook by the bedside, your cell phone recording app, or you took the time to create a fancy, colorful vision board, block out some time to simply review what you said you wanted to accomplish. Check off those things that you’ve already accomplished. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Even if it’s two things out of a list of twenty, celebrate the small successes. Sometimes, we can be so busy working with our heads down that we never take the time to celebrate the successes and the mountains we’ve moved along the way. Self-reflection is the best driver of confidence and encouragement to complete the tasks that remain.

Be Realistic 
You only have six months left in the year. Realistically, you can’t build a Fortune 500 company in that timeframe. So be realistic about your goals. When you review your list or vision board, highlight those things that can be accomplished in the next six months, along with a plan of action. Table anything else on the list until the next year—or beyond. Some of your goals may require multiple years of work before you see the finished product. Therefore, consider breaking the large goal down into small success points so you can celebrate along the way. You’ll feel a greater sense of accomplishment and you won’t feel like winning a prize is so far out of reach.

Set Systems and Strategies in Place
Without a plan, you pretty much can plan to fail. If you don’t set a date, or a target dollar amount for your goal, or a solid measurable metric, you’re liable to be caught with your head in the clouds this time next year—with nothing to show for your dreams. So be strategic about your marketing. Be strategic about connecting with people in your industry with whom (you already know!) you need to partner to move forward. Be strategic about the meetings and conferences you attend, the phone calls you make, and the time you spend working toward your particular goals. In fact, schedule strategy sessions with yourself—just as you would an important doctor’s appointment. Turn off the TV. Log off social media. Leave your phone on the charger in another room. Be strategic about minimizing distractions. One thing is for sure: As soon as you set your mind to complete something, distractions of all shapes and sizes will miraculously disappear. You can live without a cell phone and social media for a few hours if it means you’re closer to generating millions once you finish that witty invention or project.

Decorate to Inspire 
I may not be the greatest at interior decorating, but I know motivational, inspirational pieces when I see them. The smallest things can pack a huge punch to getting you over a place of stagnation. Burn your favorite Yankee Candle scent while you work. Place a vase of fresh flowers in front of your workspace. Plug in to your favorite upbeat artist and dance for five minutes. Frame your favorite quote and sit it near your laptop. Hang inspirational pictures and quotes on the wall. Place your vision boards from past years around your workspace. What you see, smell and hear has the power to totally transform your mood and help you get the job done—without it feeling like work.

Meditate and Reflect
No matter what religion you believe in or practice, meditation and prayer is always in order. Take time to sit quietly and reflect. Decipher whether your goals are purpose-driven or if you’re trying to do these things to please people. It’s important to know your why. If the goals you’ve set don’t line up with your passion, your purpose or your destiny, cease fire. Creating a product or service to get accolades from people alone will leave you dry and hopeless because people’s opinions of you change the way the seasons change: you never know what you’re going to get!  So let go of seeking a fixed opinion from outsiders, and listen to yourself.

Execute!
Let’s be honest. The vision boards are powerful. The desk trinkets and wall décor is cute. But it doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t move. When it’s all said and done, you have to do something. In fact, you have to do a whole lot if you want to see tangible results. So:

• • • Once you have clarity on where you’re going and what you need to produce in the next six months, schedule daily, weekly and even monthly goals in your calendar.
    • Set alerts to go off on your phone to remind you of what you should be tackling for the day.
    • Get an accountability partner or a whole accountability team. If you’re going to maximize these last six months, you need someone who will call, text or inbox you daily to find out where you are in your goal execution phase and how they can help. These are not the people who will tell you everything you want to hear. They’re going to challenge you and push you when you feel you have nothing left to give. Trust me. You’ll thank them in the end.

It’s not over. All is not lost. You’ve still got six months to make up for lost time, gain some traction, complete something epic, and celebrate the holidays and your success by December 31. But don’t blink. This year will be over before you know it, and you don’t want to be caught with a list of regrets going into next year! It’s halftime! Get your head in the game! There’s still plenty of time left to win!