Break time’s over, get back to work!

We’ve got one week of August left, the summer holiday period is coming to an end, and we’re well into the second half of the year. Are you on course to hit your targets for the year, are you miles behind, do you even know where you are?

For Leanne and I, plus all of our top team, we set big goals at the start of the year, and as the saying goes; “what gets measured, gets managed”…so we keep a close eye on progress. When we sit down together in December to review our performance, before planning for the next year, we leave nothing to chance. We’re serious about our goals and our team are expected to deliver.

The Summer can be a frustrating time for many trying to get ahead, especially when your business support services are on what feels like extended leave. In the past we’ve been caught out when our advisors took a 4-week holiday, so we now work with the biggest firms ensuring continuity across the months, though the other side often hasn’t found a solution to the same problem, and things can’t progress because their advisors are off. We still come across people who love to talk about the deals rather than get them done. Sure, sitting by the pool talking shop whilst knocking back the drinks sounds fun, but it doesn’t get the job done…we celebrate when the deal’s done!

We’ve been through the annual cycle plenty of times to know how best to use our time to maximum impact. We make progress regardless of whether others are off, and ensure any delays are not caused by us, or our side. For me, it’s about having the discipline to keep focussed, when people around you aren’t.

For Leanne and I, who hold each other to account, and push each other to be better, we never want to let the other one down by putting in a half-arsed effort. Our inboxes are starting to expand again, as people return from their holidays, and we’ve got a clear plan for the remainder of the year. We know what needs to happen to hit all of our goals come December, and what we need to do to get that done, and it’s going to be a frantic end to the year.

If you’ve taken time off, well, that’s up to you. Remember, you’ve only got 5 months to get it done, so make it count. Re-focus, review your progress so far, and think about that session at the end of the year. Are you going to be ashamed or proud of your performance? Will your colleagues and team think you’ve pulled your weight? Will this year be a success or a failure in terms of your goals? Or are you already thinking up excuses?

We’re in the business end of the year now, it’s time to get it done. I’m doubling down on my efforts, and pushing those around me to do the same. I’m looking at where certain deals are, and if their not happening, I’m cutting them, we’ve not got time for bullshit, I want to get things done.

Break time’s over, get back to work!