Here we are in the middle of 2016 already. How did that happen?

When I think of mid year goals, I always remember the scene in The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy and her cohorts fall asleep in the field of poppies. In North America, where I live, July means summer, so the image is appropriate. Everything seems to slow down. People are away from the office, taking vacations, etc. It’s like we are all drugged and moving in slow motion.
Well, unless you planned for a major slowdown in summer (and if you have, I applaud you!), you’re probably like most business owners and watching the end of the year coming up really fast!

It’s time to reset your clocks and hop to it.

The good news? Mid year is a great time to take a look at your goals again. Yes, there’s still time to meet them! If you’re feeling the squeeze, here are a few tips for getting back on track.

1. First, recognize your wins. Assess where you’ve hit some milestones, celebrate any surprise successes that put you ahead of the game, and with eyes wide open, acknowledge where you slipped, and why.

2. Hold a mid year team meeting. Reiterate important goals for each department and infuse that meeting with encouragement. Make sure each persona feels that they have the support and tools they need to make the second half of the year strong.

3. Maybe your goals have changed since you first made them back in January. That’s OK. New opportunities come up, and we learn new things about our customers and our industry all the time. If something’s not working as you expected, don’t bully your way through something that’s not showing the promise you expected. It’s OK to change tack.

4. If you’ve accomplished some January goals more easily or sooner than you expected, then you might even want to set your aim higher for the next six months. Were you thinking too small? Take stock of where you are now, and envision where you want to be at the end of the year based on your current position.

5. Consider your financial situation. If goals have changed, do you have the funds to support your new activities? Track your taxes and other annual expenses now. Make sure you’re all set, so you’re not hit with any surprises at the end of the year. Financial peace of mind will fuel your confidence to finish 2016 strong.

6. Now let’s talk about time, the gorilla in the room, right? Do you have time to meet your goals now, or have you lost some ground? You may need to adjust some milestones and put some more ambitious goals in place. You may also need to re-chunk down each project or goal into realistic steps so that you can manage each goal and make sure your team hits the mark.

7. Finally, get all this in writing and keep it handy! If you haven’t written down your goals from January, now’s the time.  

As we head toward summer’s end and into the beginning of the school year, you’ll have an edge to meet your goals by year’s end. Fall is typically a time when people are ready to get back to it after their lazy nap in the poppy field.

If you’re ready to hit it hard, and you have a written plan, I know you can crush your goals! Ready? Reset. Go!

If you’re not so sure you will meet your goals for the year, or just need a little help to get you out of the slump, feel free to call me at 972-892-3385.