Welcome to summer.

As we enter the summer months, some leaders are tempted to kick back and operate at a slower pace.

While it’s OK to take a vacation, it’s also a great time to build your recruiting plan for the second haIf of the year.

When you have a solid plan, you’re able to work hard and play hard.

Wondering where to start?

In Up in Your Business, Mark Johnson suggests asking yourself these five questions to start building your plan:

What are the most important lessons you learned about yourself and your business so far this year?

As a result, what is your plan to course correct and close stronger than you started?

What new disciplines do you need to start NOW and master to create the most successful close to the year, and who will hold you accountable?

What new skills will you need to master to compete in the next 90 days (e.g., tactics for creating more appointments, more consistent and effective follow-up with your pipeline, better closing skills, etc.)?

What new technology will you master to bring your business to a new level?

Jotting down answers to these questions will help get some ideas flowing, but don’t stop there.

Create an action plan with measurable benchmarks and deadlines.

Then create forcing functions to make it difficult and painful if you don’t follow-through.

By nature, recruiting will be ignored and pushed to the bottom of your priority list unless you have a plan and force yourself to work it.