Remember New Year’s Eve six months ago? Do you remember what was foremost on your mind and in your dreams that formed the basis for your New Year’s resolutions? Where are those thoughts and dreams today?

Some may be in the dustbin of recent history—great ideas that had little structure or support to see them through. Some may still be lurking in the recesses of your heart and mind, waiting for the right alignment of stars to come true. Some may have changed a bit from what they were then to what you hope they can be now in light of challenging circumstances.

It’s June. Halftime in the year 2009. If you’re a sports fan, you know that halftime is when the team retreats from the playing field to huddle in the locker room to discuss what happened during the first half. This discussion is both objective and optimistic. What happened in the first half is history; a clear-eyed assessment of how it came to be is important. The second half is still to be played and the outcome is anybody’s guess. Here optimism, built on objective understanding, fuels new effort.

Great plays may have been made in the first half; great blunders, too. Helping individuals on the team come to grips with their successes or disappointments creates the opportunity to change their focus, interaction, and results in the second half. Coaches are critical in helping players see both mistakes and opportunities to improve.

Here’s the best thing about halftime: It doesn’t matter what the other team is thinking! The focus is on improving your team’s performance and adjusting to the talent and energy levels of the day.

How did you play the first half of 2009? Did you have a clear objective or set of goals when the year started? Were you serious about them or did you wait to see how things would shape up? What has worked to your satisfaction so far? What surprises did you encounter?

June is a happy month in Wisconsin. Summer arrives with its season of barbecues, baseball, beach parties, and a more relaxed way of living thanks to brighter sunshine and longer, warmer days. What a wonderful opportunity to take some time to reflect on the first half of 2009 and adjust as needed to make yourself a winner in the second half.

Here’s a suggestion for your halftime review. Take a look at your calendar over the past six months. Note where you invested your time. Who were you with? What activities did you undertake? What results have you seen so far?

Are there certain people or events that could be added to your social or business mix to help you gain ground? If so, make appointments to include them. Are there others to be limited or eliminated entirely? It can be difficult to reduce time with certain people, especially if you have given it freely in the past, but making these kinds of choices is an important step in building success over time.

Consider carefully whether your allocation of time and attention supports or diminishes your goals. Talk to a trusted colleague, friend, or mentor who can help you see clearly and who may have additional ideas or resources to offer. With first half results and objective input, you may discover that some adjustments are necessary.

Make these adjustments with confidence and a sense of anticipation. The second half of the year is beginning and anything can happen! Set it up to give yourself every chance of winning. Then go play with commitment and enthusiasm. The ‘score’ will be the score when the year draws to a close. Remember, you win some and you lose some. But the way you played can be a rich source of satisfaction, no matter the outcome.

So use your halftime wisely. Reflect deeply, get your game plan fixed in your mind, and take a deep breath. Now go get ‘em!