Are You Still Headed Toward Your Goals?
“You get what you inspect, not what you expect.”
That quote has echoed in my mind as we cross into the second half of 2025. June 30 marked the unofficial halftime of the year—and just like a coach heads into the locker room to make adjustments, leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals should do the same. The good news? You’ve still got time. The better news? You don’t have to finish this year the way you started it.
Now’s the moment to step back, reflect, and recalibrate. Whether you’re running a business, leading a team, or managing personal goals, this is the season for intentional course correction. So let me share four powerful principles I taught in my most recent leadership training, designed to help you reset and refocus without shame.
1. Don’t Wait for December to Reflect
If you only look at your progress at the end of the year, you’re not leading—you’re reporting. Leaders inspect what matters consistently, and they don’t wait until the scoreboard tells the whole story. Mid-year is a perfect opportunity to see what’s working, what’s not, and where you still have time to win.
2. Ask the Right Questions
Reflection isn’t just about looking backward—it’s about gaining clarity for moving forward. Ask yourself:
What has hindered my progress so far?
Is this goal still meaningful and attainable?
Do I need to adjust my timeline, increase my effort, or shift my priorities?
Adjustments aren’t failure. They’re wisdom in action. Real leaders know how to adapt without abandoning the mission.
3. Break Big Goals Into Manageable Timeframes
Most of us overestimate what we can do in a week and underestimate what we can do in six months. So break it down:
One Day: What action can I take today to restart momentum?
One Week: What can I commit to accomplishing by next Monday?
One Month: What milestone would put me back on track by July 31?
Three Months: Where do I want to be by the end of Q3?
Six Months: What result do I want to celebrate on December 31?
Chunking your timeline like this transforms overwhelming goals into bite-sized commitments.
4. Reset Without Shame
Maybe you’re behind. Maybe the year threw some curveballs. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re human. Use this moment to reset—not out of guilt, but out of purpose. You can still finish this year strong. You can still rewrite the story. But you’ve got to start with honesty and a willingness to realign.
Take a Few Minutes to Reflect
Here’s a question I encourage every reader to sit with—maybe even journal it out:
What goal did I set earlier this year that still matters deeply to me?
If the answer comes quickly, you already know where to focus. If it takes a moment, that’s okay too. The clarity is worth the pause.
As we move through July, let’s remember that halftime isn’t the end. It’s just a checkpoint. Leaders don’t just set goals—they course-correct, realign, and finish strong. Whether you’re leading a business, a team, or just yourself, the second half of 2025 is unwritten. You’ve got time, tools, and the ability to make it count.
Let’s get to it.
David A. Specht Jr. is the publisher of BIZ Magazine and president of Specht Newspapers, Inc.