5 questions that could change your next six months
Read time: 6 minutes
Today is my birthday, and for the past few years I've used it as a natural point in the year to stop, take a breath and review.
It's easy to spend six months racing from one thing to the next without stopping to ask whether you're still heading in the right direction.
So this week, I've been reflecting on what's worked, what hasn't, and what I want the second half of 2026 to look like.
I've found that asking yourself good questions creates a lot more clarity than trying to find the perfect answers.
Here are five I've been asking myself.
1. Which goals still matter — and which don't?
Not every goal you set in January is still relevant. Priorities change. Some goals become less important, others more so.
For me, visibility falls into the second category. Posting consistently, reaching out to people, putting myself forward. It never feels urgent, so it's easy to delay or deprioritise. But it's nearly always the thing that creates opportunities later.
Action: Look back at the goals you set at the start of the year. Which ones genuinely no longer matter? And which ones deserve more attention?
If becoming more visible is one of your priorities for the second half of 2026, reply with the word VISIBILITY. Depending on the response, I may run something practical to help...
2. What gave you energy, and what drained it?
One thing I've become good at is noticing what makes me feel energised vs what leaves me feeling drained.
It's almost never related to how difficult something is: two things can take the same amount of time, but one leaves me motivated while the other leaves me exhausted.
I've learnt not to ignore those signals; it helps me figure out what to double down on and what to potentially outsource.
Action: Make two lists: what energises you and what drains you. Then look for one small change you could make over the next few weeks.
3. Where did you create the most impact in H1?
It's easy to move from one month to the next without noticing what actually made a difference. And often, our biggest contribution isn't an "obvious" win. It's solving a difficult problem, helping someone move forward, or just following through on something that mattered.
One of my proudest moments this year wasn't particularly visible. It was following through on a promise I'd made to myself in January.
Action: List your three biggest contributions this year. Then ask yourself what made them effective, and how you can do more of that in H2.
4. Where did you grow the most, and what did that growth cost?
Growth almost never feels like growth while you're actually in it.
This year has stretched me in ways I would never have expected. It's been a season that has felt messy, uncertain and, at times, very uncomfortable.
Looking back, though, I can see how much it's taught me. The lessons I value most almost never come from the easy periods.
Action: Write down one way you've grown over the past six months, and what it took to get there. How might that help you in the next 6 months?
5. What do you want the second half of the year to feel like?
I used to think goals were purely about outcomes. Now I also think about them in terms of feeling and identity.
Do you want the next six months to feel calmer? More focussed? More ambitious? More creative? I find choosing one word for the season ahead makes decision-making much easier.
Action: Choose one word that describes how you want the second half of the year to feel. Use it to filter your priorities and decisions.
The takeaway
A mid-year review doesn't have to be complicated. Just 20 minutes, a notebook, and a few thoughtful questions can totally reset your direction.
Sometimes the biggest progress comes not from working harder, but from stepping back long enough to make sure you're still heading where you want to go.
Here's to a strong second half!
Speak soon,
Dupé
