Personal Strategy Compass Newsletter: June 2025
Navigating your success your way, one quarter at a time
Personal Strategy Compass
Navigating your success your way, one quarter at a time
Issue 7: June 2025
The Halftime PQO: Reviewing the First Half to Win the Second
In This Issue (June 2025):
Introduction: Welcome to Your "Halftime PQO"
Lead Article: Your Halftime PQO: How to Review the First Half and Win the Second
Practical Application: Your Halftime Locker Room Session: Key Questions for Your PQO
Personal Reflection: The Halftime Adjustment from "More" to "Rest"
AI Strategy Corner: Using AI as Your Assistant Coach
AMA Section: "What if my first half was a disaster?"
Recommended Resources: Books and tools for your mid-year review.
Wrapping Up
Introduction
Greetings, Personal Strategy Compass Readers,
It's mid-June, the official halftime of 2025. Before you rush back onto the field for the second half, it's time to head to the locker room for a break and a deliberate, strategic review with gameplan adjustments.
Too often, we treat the year as one long, breathless marathon, only realizing we're off course when it's too late. The June Personal Quarterly Offsite is our chance to reject that approach. It's the designated time to pause, analyze our performance, assess how the field has changed, and draw up a smarter, more effective game plan for a strong finish. And it’s one of my favorite PQOs each year. You might agree after you try it.
This month, we're focusing entirely on the "Halftime PQO." We'll guide you through a structured process to analyze your "game tape" from the first half, assess changing conditions, and draw up a winning game plan for a successful second half of the year.
Lead Article: Your Halftime PQO: How to Review the First Half and Win the Second
Your professional year is a game of two halves, and the June PQO is your strategic halftime. An effective halftime lets you catch your breath and make the critical adjustments that lead to victory. Here's how to structure your review.
Part 1: Reviewing the Game Tape (Q1 & Q2) Effective adjustments can only come from an honest review of your performance. Look back with an analytical, not judgmental, eye. Gather crucial data without blaming yourself.
The Highlight Reel: What were your biggest wins and successes? Where did you build unexpected momentum? Did you successfully complete a quarterly "Major"? Celebrate what worked and understand why it worked.
Analyzing the Fumbles: Where did you drop the ball or miss an opportunity? What planned initiatives stalled or failed to launch? What's the key lesson from these moments? Acknowledging what didn't work is essential for crafting a plan that does.
Checking the Scoreboard: How are you objectively tracking against your major annual goals? If you set a revenue target, a client development goal, or a skill acquisition goal in January, what does the scoreboard say now?
Part 2: Scouting Report on Changed Conditions The game is rarely the same in the second half. The field conditions have changed. Since January, has a new technology (I’m looking at you, AI) created new opportunities or threats? Are rumors of layoffs occupying your mind space? Has a personal circumstance altered your capacity or priorities? Acknowledging this new reality is vital before drawing up new plays.
Part 3: Drawing Up the Second-Half Game Plan (Q3 & Q4) With your review complete, it's time to plan your adjustments.
Making Key Adjustments: Based on your review, what specific pivots are needed? Do you need to focus more on offense (e.g., upskilling) or defense (e.g., shoring up internal systems)? Do you double down on what's working or cut what's failing?
Setting the Q3 Plays: Now, translate those strategic adjustments into a concrete quarterly plan. What are the immediate, high-leverage goals for Q3 that will build momentum for the rest of the year? This becomes the core of your PQO plan.
Leave your Halftime PQO not just rested, but with a clear, adjusted game plan designed to win the second half of the year.