A hallmark of running a successful business is to continually reposition and adjust with the changing business climate and conditions. Implementing new strategies, assessing the current actions and aligning with the intended outcome are part of the course corrections your business may need half way through the year.

Have you looked to see if you are on course? The year is half gone. Are you 50% or better towards your goals for the year?

When working with my coaching clients, we do a quarterly review. Here are the questions I ask, adjusted for a six month assessment:

What have you accomplished in the last six months?
This would include production numbers, but also would include growth in systems, skills, techniques, knowledge and the amount of life balance and fun you are having.

What should you let go of?
Clutter is often in the way of new growth. Don't be afraid to throw out the old. It makes room for the fresh and the new. This pertains to your physical surroundings as well as your mental attitudes. Doing a clean sweep with your files and the office surroundings can attract new business. Is your file cabinent too full to get another file in?

What opportunities exist in the coming six months?
Perhaps the market has changed since to created your business plan for the year. What new strategies could give you a higher payoff? Take a look at your marketing plan and determine where the best return on dollar spent is coming from. Course correct, if necessary, dropping the money suckers and increasing the budget where you are getting the best return.

Should you be planning a fall event for your sphere of influence? Should you finally get serious about your website? What new market or niche can you establish yourself in before there is competition for it?

What is the most important need to get met in the second half of the year?
We are driven by our unmet needs. Your awareness of what is really important to you allows more joy and satisfaction to be present. Otherwise, your accomplishments often feel like they are going into a black hole that requires you to keep doing more and more---more production, harder work. Your personal life balance may be taking a back seat if you are trying to get unmet needs met fully from your business accomplishments. Are you enjoying each day?

What is the most important value for you to express in the next six months?
Another way of asking this is: what is really important to you and are you spending time and energy to include this in your daily, weekly and monthly plans? If money were not an issue, what would you be doing with your life? Are you doing some of that in some way today? How could you do more?

What are the 3 Top Business Priorities for the next six months?
Choose three areas of your business to focus on. What would make the biggest difference in taking you to the next level? Do you need to revamp your listing presentation? Set some boundaries and raise some standards with buyers? Bring some part of your business up to speed technologically? Develop the timeline and plan to implement.

What are the 3 Top Personal Priorities for the next six months?
Think personal evolution vs. personal growth. It's not just about learning new information, it's about the person you can become by shifting your focus, awareness and priorities. How can you be more in the next 6 months rather than do more? You are not a human doing machine. You are a human being.

Margaret Young says, "Often people attempt to live their lives backwards; They try to have more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want."

Whether you are on course or not, the second half of the year is a wide open horizon in front of you. By taking the readings of your current position and making adjustments now, you can are in control of the direction. Set your sights on the destination, making sure to enjoy the journey.

Published: July 19, 1999

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Joeann Fossland ePRO, GRI, MCC, PMN, SRS is a dynamic, international speaker and business coach. She personally coaches a small number of extraordinary agents who want to leverage their production results and have a life they love! She was recognized as one of the 25 Most Influential Women in Real Estate in 2008 by Stephan Swanapoel. Subscribe to her free Tuesday Tips, attend Fossland's Forums, free monthly tele-seminars, and find out about classes delivered by email and personal coaching by visiting Joeann.com or email her at . You can also connect at Facebook and Twitter.