We’re halfway through 2024
Each new year has a sneaky way of passing by.
As of this week, we’re halfway through 2024. Can you believe that?
Heading into Q3 (the 3rd quarter of the year), I like to do a quick check-in to see where I’m at with my goals, priorities, and barriers.
- Am I 50% of the way to my New Year’s goals?
- Have I kept up with what I said I would?
- Am I content with the path I’m currently on?
- What barriers am I currently facing?
Setting lofty New Year’s resolutions always feels exciting on January 1st, but keeping up with them feels nearly impossible at times.
Instead of getting down about the (potential) lack of execution this year, I like to reframe my thinking to enter the second half of the year with optimism.
Let’s dive into how to make that happen.
Actions, Not Numbers
2024 was the first year that I didn’t set “normal” goals.
Previously, my yearly goals often looked like this:
- “Make X number of dollars
- Hit X number of followers
- Visit X number of states
- Workout X number of times”
And guess what? Every single year I failed to hit those numbers. The problem is that I was focused on numbers, not actions.
I was focused on things that, in the grand scheme of things, really didn’t matter.
So many of us fall into the toxic belief that once I achieve X, then I’ll be happy. Then I’ll be content. Then I’ll take that vacation. Then I’ll start chasing my real dreams. Then life will be good.
But what if we focused more on our:
- Actions
- Community
- Contentment
- Joy
- Impact
- Service
Shifting my frame of thinking away from numbers has allowed me to be more content, make more progress, and ironically enough – achieve the numeric goals I would have set.
My goals shifted from:
Hitting X number of followers → Uploading a weekly YouTube video & newsletter
Making X number of dollars → Launching my first product
Visit X number of states → Move to a state I love
Workout X number of times → Walk daily, bike ride weekly, hike as often as possible
See the difference?
6 Months Down, 6 Months to Go
There’s still time.
If you’ve fallen short of what you hoped to do this year, don’t fall into the belief that you’re not good enough.
Now is still a great time to shift your goals from numbers → actions. Numbers lead to negativity. Actions lead to achievement.
Reverse-engineer your numeric goals, and ask yourself:
- What action(s) lead to this outcome?
- What are people who have achieved this goal doing to get there?
This is a great place to start.
And Remember…
Good things take time.
Just because you set a goal doesn’t mean you’re required to achieve it. Plans change. Goals change. People change. Dreams change.
Give yourself grace and remember to focus on what matters to you in the moment. There’s no point in holding on to an old goal if it’s no longer serving you.
Continue to seek your stoke – wherever that may lead you.
I’d encourage you to take 5-10 minutes out of your week and reflect on the first half of this year, so you can be better aligned to achieve more joy as we finish out the year!
–Eric Pfohl