Effective Mid-Year Review

I’ve been thinking about how to share a familiar message—"there’s immense benefit in doing a personal review every quarter"—without repeating myself from three months ago. Ultimately, I decided to keep the "How to Put This Into Practice" section exactly the same for two key reasons: First, only half of you actually open each email (plus, subscribers have nearly doubled - thanks!). Second, quarterly reviews are a genuine part of my routine, and I want to keep it real for you to try.

Many content creators prioritize quantity (sharing various frameworks), but I often wonder how many of those they actually practice themselves. I believe my edge is that I strive to remain relatable by sharing strategies that have genuinely worked for me and others in similar positions. My goal is that after spending 2-3 minutes reading the text below, you’ll think, “If he can do it, so can I.”

THE THEORY

When you log back in to work on Monday it will already be the third quarter of the year. Yes, time flies! Some of you may have meticulously planned annual goals, so it is important to reflect on our progress thus far. If you don’t have any goals, this is also the right time to set some up for the second half of the year. This serves as a gentle reminder to revisit the concepts discussed in previous posts regarding annual retrospectives and planning your year, should you wish to refresh your memory.

If you feel like you’re falling behind on your goals, develop a Plan B or C instead of sticking to the original plan. Sahil Bloom's ABC Goal System, inspired by marathon training advice, emphasizes the benefit of having multiple goals to ensure progress even when things don't go perfectly. By creating achievable backup plans, you can maintain momentum and avoid discouragement from a total lack of progress. Adapt, reassess, and keep moving forward. Even small gains still compound.

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS

Try not to get discouraged. As you'll see in the P.S. section, my goals range from easily attainable to very ambitious, with some marked in green and others in red. I try to keep my themes consistent year after year, aiming to make progress in all areas. Progress can be slow, but I always strive to move forward. It's okay to change or drop a goal if needed. Stay flexible to avoid discouragement. Remember, a year is just a manmade construct - nothing stops you from setting goals with different time horizons.

HOW TO PUT THIS INTO PRACTICE
[See my personal example below]

Step 1: Reflect. As mentioned in this article, begin by dedicating time for reflection, a crucial step in effective planning. In just 12 minutes, you can kickstart this process:

1. Open your Calendar, Photo app, and Excel, and create a table with columns labeled "Weeks" (13 rows), "High," and "Low."

2. Conduct a one-minute audit per week of your calendar and photos. Document positives and negatives.

3. Celebrate positives and identify common themes.

4. Reflect on negatives, analyze common themes (anything to avoid or get better at?), and extract key learnings.

5. Continuously improve by strategizing how to amplify positives, mitigate negatives, and set realistic goals for the future.

Step 2: Evaluate yourself. If you've set annual goals, perform a Traffic Light (or RAG) status report for each:

• Green: On track to achieve the goal. Consider stretching these further.

• Amber: Uncertain; adjustments may be needed.

• Red: Off track; reconsider the goal or your approach.

Step 3: Adjust for Next Quarter. For goals in the amber or red zone, or for those without set annual goals, consider these options:

• Adjust expectations: Account for the "Planning Fallacy" by recalibrating your goals.

• Remove (or lower) goals: Don't feel ashamed. Be realistic about what's achievable. Reaching your Plan B or C is fine too.

• Review systems: Ensure your systems effectively translate goals into daily actions. A Weekly Review is highly recommended.

• You still don’t have goals? Start by creating one right now (you can see my personal examples below for inspiration). It doesn’t need to be anything too fancy, just go get started with something small!

Bonus Step: Involve others. Extend this exercise to partners - engage your team at work and your spouse or significant other at home. Inclusion fosters appreciation for shared goals and incentivizes others to help with your progress.

Think of this review as a quick pit stop before continuing on your journey.

Yours Quarterly,

Jorge Luis Pando