Are you a half-full or half-empty kind of thinker? Instead of worrying about being behind for the year at the half-way point, think about all you can accomplish in the second half of 2025. July is the perfect time to reflect, revise your plans, and focus again for a great rest of the year.

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The steps are simple, but they do require both desire and a commitment to making the necessary changes to step up our outcomes. As Jim Rohn reminds us, "to have more, we must first become more." So let's dive in:

1. Review and reflect

The first step is to make an honest assessment of your year so far. If you prepared written goals, review those and then note where you met or missed those so far.

Consider the surprises in terms of both events and environments as well as your own experiences. What was easier than expected and what was harder? What did you worry about without benefit and what did you achieve unexpectedly?

Walk through your calendar. Look through the photos on your phone. Did you travel? How might you summarize the experiences?

Be honest about your progress, but consider with a bit of detachment. Don't be too hard on yourself for anything that disappoints you. Finish with a focus on the best moments.

• Block out an hour to review the year so far
• Take note of the highlights and opportunities for improvement
• Identify what you want to build on
• Reflect especially on the highlights

2. Choose your word

This is a concept that I've found especially helpful in recent years. Pick a word for your next six months. That word should be an idea or a characteristic you'd most like to embody. If someone were to use a single word to describe you over this next period of time, what would they choose?

Start with a brainstorm list of ideas. You might think about the attitude you wish to reflect, some physical or mental trait you want to develop, or an emotion you want to embrace. Take enough time to identify at least 10-20 single words.

Now, choose three that if you could only match those you'd be happy for a successful year. Then finally, pick the one from those that is most urgent and will have the most impact on you when fully embraced.

This is your word. Contemplate it each day. It should motivate you every morning to keep your commitment to yourself through the end of the year.

• Brainstorm your list
• Choose the three most significant for right now
• Pick the one that you decide is utterly essential
• Reflect on that word each morning for the rest of the year and use it as motivation

3. Make a plan

As I've written about before, the best system I've found for making steady project progress over time is the 12 Week Year planning method. This kind of thinking in twelve-week units instead of longer periods is that it's enough time to make meaningful progress while still able to absorb short term disruptions to plans while not so long as to be able to tune out and abandon plans altogether.

Take your word decided above and let it power you to your focused goal. Use the twelve week year to plan out three milestones and then weekly targets. Leave time for known disruptions like vacations or travel.

Be realistic in making your plan and then relentless about staying on track.

Nothing matters so much as consistency in building positive habits and making steady progress.

• Start with your single word
• Focus on your priority goal
• Use the 12 Week Year method to make your plan
• Build positive habits on the way

4. Get started

Sometimes the obvious still needs to be said: none of this matters if your don't take action.

Start!

Break that initial friction. Crash through the resistance. Nothing will be as hard as taking the first step. You must begin or else the rest is wasted.

Every good new thing in your life is on the other side of that first bit of action.

• Without a step over the starting line, nothing is possible
• Every bit of your work is just as valuable as the one that pushes you over the finish line
• Embrace the challenge and celebrate once you begin

Action Summary

We're keeping it simple. Because achievement is simple. It requires only focus combined with consistent action. Review these few steps to first find yourself on the map, choose your next stop, and then move to that new achievement.

• Reflect on the year so far
• Choose your word for the rest of 2025
• Make your plan
• Start (no really, start now. Right now. You will never feel as motivated as you do this very second to get started. So do it!)

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What do you think? What's your destination for December? Reply to this email and let me know.

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To your success,

Christopher

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P.S. Like this one? You'll probably want to check out this earlier Wednesday Win essay on streamlined time management, too.

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