What Is Your Story?

Reading time: 3 minutes

Perhaps the most striking moment for me last week occurred on Monday when I suddenly realised we had already entered the second half of the year.

For the past six months, my husband and I have been completely absorbed by the logistics of buying, renovating, and furnishing a home in Italy. This personal project branched out into countless small tasks, consuming every moment of our "free time" and obscuring our perspective of the months ahead. While we felt happiness and gratitude for achieving this milestone in our lives, we were also weary from dealing with numerous unknowns, adjusting to very relaxed contractual and project management practices, and practising letting go of the control we knew while exercising patience.

Everything snapped into clear focus during a discovery call with a senior manager who wanted to explore how coaching might support him. Despite his maturity, experience, and professionalism, he found himself held back by unseen barriers. At the start of 2025, he had a clear aspiration and pushed hard to pursue it. However, six months later, he had less patience, fewer resources, increased frustration, and a sense of drifting even further from his goal.

He asked simply, "How can I make this happen?"

In that moment, his struggle echoed my own, signalling to me that it was time to pause, step back, and redefine the story we were each telling ourselves about this year.

**********

The Central Question

What's your story of the first semester? What narrative have you been weaving about your journey through these first 26 weeks?

This question invites you to step out of autopilot and closely examine the plot you have been crafting each day. It calls you to notice the recurring themes in your successes and setbacks, the expectations you carry, and the surprises you never anticipated.

Many managers arrive at midyear burdened by relentless pressure. They feel the need to continuously prove themselves, outperform their peers, and be seen, heard, and taken seriously by teams and stakeholders. Beneath this lies a constant hum of anxiety, a very subtle and persistent belief that they’re never doing enough: not securing enough deals, not motivating their teams effectively, or not innovating quickly enough.

Under pressure, uncertainty creeps in. Managers begin to believe there must be a magic bullet or shortcut that will effortlessly propel them toward their year-end targets.

Yet reality rarely unfolds this way. Success is seldom a straight line; rather, it resembles a winding road filled with detours, dead ends, and unexpected partnerships. What appears to be a missed opportunity today might become tomorrow's breakthrough. What seems like failure today could turn into your most valuable lesson tomorrow.

So, what's your story so far? What narrative have you constructed over these first 26 weeks?

Perhaps you've stalled because you can't clearly define what success looks like. If your vision remains vague, you'll never truly know when you've arrived. Imagine navigating a journey without a map or a clear destination. Without a concrete goal, you might endlessly debate definitions, chase lofty aspirations, and never set foot on solid ground.

Even when you define a vision, uncertainty about the path ahead can paralyse you. Unable to see how each step connects, you linger in "planning mode," endlessly rearranging priorities and seeking certainty that rarely comes.

A third barrier is undervaluing small steps because they seem insignificant. Believing only substantial leaps matter, you overlook the importance of consistent minor achievements. Every fifteen-minute burst of productive work or reflective moment can seem too trivial to celebrate.

These patterns combine into a powerful barrier:

• You stall when you can't clearly define your goal.
• You hesitate when you can't see the path ahead.
• You pause when you dismiss small progress as irrelevant.

This leaves you in a waiting mode. Procrastination fills the gap left by hesitation. You distract yourself with endless emails, research, and urgent yet low-impact tasks. To feel productive, you may enrol in yet another course, listen to podcasts, or read countless books hoping for inspiration. Or perhaps you promise to start tomorrow, believing that clarity will come. But tomorrow turns into next week, then next quarter.

To break free, start by naming these traps clearly:

• Notice when you hesitate because the finish line is unclear.
• Observe when you avoid starting because the road ahead isn't visible.
• Celebrate every small win - even just five minutes of meaningful action - and use this energy to fuel your momentum. 

Only by naming these patterns will your narrative shift from delay to deliberate, purposeful progress.

**********

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step"

This Japanese proverb reminds us that no matter how far the destination, progress always starts with lifting one foot. Each major achievement in history - from ancient roadways to today’s breakthrough startups - began with a first, often tiny, action. Your journey is no different. Visualise the summit, then focus on placing that first toe over the edge.

Key Relaunch Questions

Where do I want to be on December 31st?
Describe your year-end vision in two vivid sentences. Picture the project completed, the team fully aligned or the skill you have mastered. Make it concrete enough that you’ll recognise it when you arrive.

What can I stop doing?
Identify one or two tasks or habits that consume time without moving you closer to your goal. Perhaps it’s that recurring meeting with little purpose or the urge to refresh email every hour. Decide what to delegate, defer or drop altogether.

What is the smallest step I can take today?
Choose an action you can complete in no more than fifteen minutes. It might be drafting an outline, sending a single email or sketching a rough timeline. Set a timer, give it your full attention and then celebrate having begun.

With your year-end objective in mind, can you name one concrete milestone for August?
Practice a bit of reverse engineering by breaking your big goal into smaller checkpoints. What should be accomplished by the end of next month to keep you on track? Writing down that mid-summer target turns an abstract vision into a practical waypoint.

Momentum grows through repetition more than bursts of effort. By defining your destination, clearing away distractions, taking a brief daily action and setting a near-term milestone, you turn hesitation into deliberate forward motion. Pause now to answer these four questions in writing. Keep your notes visible and then take that first step; your August milestone is waiting.

**********

Three Mindsets for 2nd Semester  

One small, clear step instead of giant leaps that demotivate

When you notice yourself staring at a mountain of work, choose to zoom in on the very next action. For example, if your goal is to get your PMP certification, decide to study daily only 10 pages of the PMBOK. Advancing at this pace will feel tangible, will give you time to reflect and check on how what you study is applied in your projects, and will build confidence for the next step.

Curiosity over self-criticism. Ask “What can I learn?” instead of “Why am I failing?”

Whenever you feel disappointment creeping in, pause and jot down one question that starts with “What can I learn…?” For instance, if a presentation did not land as you hoped, ask, “What can I learn about my audience’s needs?” That shift turns a setback into fresh insight.

Active acceptance: Acknowledge your progress and be gentle with yourself when you slip up

When you catch yourself ruminating on a missed deadline, stop and list three things you did accomplish this day, week or month, no matter how small. Recognising those wins reminds you that perfection is not the point. If you miss a target, accept it as part of the journey, then refocus on the next micro-step.

Practising these mindsets reshapes your inner dialogue from pressure to possibility, from paralysis to progress. Keep a sticky note with each prompt on your desk so you can choose a healthier response in real-time.

**********

We are all characters in a story still under construction. How you tell your story matters deeply because it influences whether you demoralise or motivate yourself. The barriers - unclear goals, uncertainty about the path, and undervaluing small steps - can stall your progress and leave you stuck. To move forward, clearly define your vision, map out specific milestones, and celebrate each incremental step along the way.

Remember, while the destination is important, each action you take on your journey shapes your ultimate success. Pause, reflect, and consciously remove the barriers holding you back. Choose clarity, curiosity, and acceptance to fuel steady momentum.

Thank you for journeying with me in the first half of 2025. Six months ago, I was encouraging you to take your year-end review and plan for this year. Six months into 2025, I invite you to follow the same exercise and give a push to your progress in 2025 as opposed to just drifting into holiday mode. Keep noticing your progress, celebrating your small victories, and intentionally charting your next moves. I eagerly await hearing about your August milestones and the new story you are creating.

If this article speaks to you, I’d love to hear your story. Where are you on your map, and where do you want to be by the end of 2025?  Write me back and share your story. Remember, if you have already spent 6 months working on your goals and nothing has changed, perhaps it is the right time to give attention to your mindset.

If you are someone who wants to work on their mindset, book a free discovery session with me. It will help you see what is possible and discover your immediate directions for personal growth, allowing you to reach your next level of performance in your career and in life. And to make an informed choice whether coaching is the right personal development tool for you.

I am looking forward to continuing this conversation with you.

Until next time, keep thriving!

Alina Florea

Your Management Performance Coach

How can I support you?

Growth Mindset for New Managers - Your online autonomy training is designed to catalyse your personal growth and ensure your fast transition to your first management role.

The Manager Mindset: One-on-one coaching designed to boost your performance and enhance your sense of fulfilment and satisfaction in life.

Master Your Resilience - Group coaching that helps you navigate life's challenges with greater ease and flow, empowering you to thrive through adversity.

Complimentary Strategy Call (FREE) - Let’s craft your personalised roadmap for transformation. Discover where coaching can take you in just 6 months with a free, strategic call to set your path toward success.