With the Fourth of July starting the second half, make sure to regain your focus and passion quickly — no summer head in 2004, plan a vacation if you like, but you’re not a student any more, you work in the summer months, so get over it and keep your mind on business.

In your first half post mortem, compare your results to your goals — this presupposes that you have goals to compare to, and if not, then that must change immediately. Write your second half goals today, on paper, and commit to looking at them each day so you keep them in mind. It’s a ritual that will come back to reward you many times over.

If you compare your results and your goals, and you have achieved what you set out to do, celebrate! Attach pleasure to your victories, so you pursue even greater ones.

If not, then be careful — don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. You probably accomplished some of your objectives, and you can build on that. Don’t hide from the weaker areas that persist — address them with vigor. Just keep your self-talk and you attitude in check, so you preserve your energy to invest more wisely.

If you find yourself not hitting any of the milestones you set, than you must examine closely — are your expectations out of balance with your time frame? Have you been willing to make the kinds of changes necessary to realize that kind of growth? Look honestly, and seek help from those who have been there and done that — it’s a sign of intelligence to get the support you need. It’s only halftime, there’s plenty of game left, but you have to correct your course and push hard.