Recently, Chelsea played against Manchester City and won the UEFA Champions League in one of the highest-rated finals in the last 6 years. The match drew at least 31 million viewers across the world.

Now, imagine how the halftime scene in the locker rooms looked like. Sure, the winning goal had already been scored in the first half of the game, but I can imagine the coaches exhorting the 2 teams and telling them that they could still make a difference and that the game was not over. Why? Because there is still a 2^nd half coming up and both teams would get an opportunity to play again and have a shot at the UEFA League trophy. In other words, the sportspeople across the board use the half-time to recalibrate and re-strategize and in the second half, the team does not focus on the results of the first half of the game. Their focus is on their goal, which is to win the game.

Now, you might not be a soccer fan but I’m sure you can agree with me that your career, your life is the game worth playing.

We are in the second half of 2021. How is your game going so far?

Maybe your new year resolutions did not get past the month of March or even February and now you are far behind than you anticipated, and you need to catch up. Or maybe you are ahead of the game but have the fear that the next 2 quarters will be very difficult.

Whatever the case, now is the opportunity to take a step back to not only reflect on the first half of the year but also strategically plan for the second half of the year. It is time to take action and get back on track where necessary. It is also time to make the second half of the year count!

2020-2021 made it very clear to us that the only constant is change. Therefore, success is a combination of strategy with well-executed tactics. Here are a few Monday Business Motivation tips on how to make the second-half count;

1. Create space for reflection

Reflection enables you to understand your current position and how you can move forward. The second half of the year is a good time to pause and carefully review the progress you have made so far. It is impossible to forge forward if you do not understand where you currently stand. There is growth in reflecting, allowing yourself to learn, dream and do. As you clearly look at the past, you can be able to create the future you want. It is time to get focused and make necessary adjustments to ensure you end 2021 on the right track and are able to blast into the new year with powerful momentum.

2. Focus on solutions, not problems.

Whatever you focus on, expands. Have you ever noticed that when you encounter dead-end problems, focusing on them, almost always produces more problems? Ensure that as you look ahead, your focus is on identifying and creating solutions other than exclusively focusing on what did not work. Remember it is possible to suffocate solutions when you relentlessly focus on problems. This is the transformational difference between solution creation and problem-solving.

3. Evaluate results based on your goals

Look back at the goals that you set in January 2021. What worked? What did not? Where can you tweak? What’s producing the results that you want? What are you ramping up?”

Think about it; Do your actions support or counter progress to those goals? For example, if your target is to bring in business worth Sh X million by the end of 2021, do your choices reflect that? Do you have a niche market? Are you networking? Are you talking to the right people? Are your key contacts always thinking about you? Are you aware of your surroundings; upcoming or ongoing projects in your area? Are your decisions based on your goals? How often do you plan your days, weeks, and months with your goals in mind?

Be honest with yourself.

If your goal is to be financially independent by the end of 2021, ask yourself the following;

• Where am I today? What have I achieved vis a vis my goal?
• What resources do I have to work with?
• Where do I want to be by the end of 2021? (you may have to recalibrate your current goal)
• How long is it going to take to reach this goal based on my progress and the resources available?
• What do I need to do to get there?

4. Recalibrate your plan

After your moments of reflection, make the necessary changes in your plan so that you can achieve your goals by the end of 2021. Remember to be gracious enough to create a new plan if the current one is not working for you. Quantify what success looks like for you. Be very specific. Be creative and innovative also. Learn to think outside the box when drafting or recalibrating the framework for your second half of the year. Remember to plan and also make provision for the potential obstacles that you are likely to encounter, for example, busyness, status quo, unforeseen life changes, among other factors.

5. Everything is Figureoutable

I recently read Marie Forleo’s, Everything is figureoutable, which is a literal self-help book that quickly became a #1 New York Times Bestseller because it is for anybody who wants to face their fears, fulfill their dreams, and find a better way forward. My best read in 2021 so far, Marie, a self-made entrepreneur who has managed to build a digital empire against all odds and was named a thought leader for the next generation by Oprah says, “Nothing in life is that complicated. You can do whatever you set your mind to, if you just roll up your sleeves, get in there and do it. Everything is figureoutable.” This is not just a fun phrase but a conviction that you can figure out everything and rise above fear. It is possible to live a transcendent life that literally transcends your wildest dreams and imaginations. Start today. Cast aside the fear and get to work!

6. Look forward to 2022 and beyond.

Write a letter to yourself dated one year from now. See yourself one year from now, What are you celebrating? What milestones have you achieved? Which results mean something to you? How is this fueling greater, longer-term goals? Who do you need in our corner or have access to in order to get ‘there’? What did you achieve? Where can you improve?

7. Get into the second half as if it’s the first half of the year

The first time I heard this, I thought it was not possible. That it is possible to start over in the middle of the year but now, I am a convert. Remember the Chelsea Vs Man City UEFA final example? Remember how the halftime scene in the locker rooms looked like and the coaches exhorting the 2 teams and telling them that they could still make a difference and that the game was not over? Why not do the same with your goals? Shift your focus and see just how far you can go in the second half of the year! Remember to focus on the goal, whatever that looks like for you, and not the results of the first half of the game. You can do it! All the best!!

Happy Second Half of 2021!!