Dark Horse Notes #24
A Mid-Year Experiment Worth Trying
Personal Note from Lisa
Hi friends,
As we approach the halfway point of the year, I found myself taking a closer look at something I don't always stop to evaluate—how I'm actually operating day to day.
One of my coaches recently challenged our group to think about a mid-year reset. Not a reset of our goals, but a reset of our systems. To examine our daily routines and ask ourselves a few important questions:
Is this helping me focus?
Is this the best use of my energy?
Am I doing things this way because it works, or simply because it's become a habit?
That challenge resonated with me.
This week, I decided to experiment a little. I moved my desk to another area of the property, rearranged my workspace, and reconsidered how I was approaching my workdays. Almost immediately, I noticed an increase in my productivity.
A small workspace shift that brought fresh focus and momentum. |
It reminded me that sometimes we don't need a complete overhaul to create momentum. Sometimes we simply need something different. Even a small change can help us see things with fresh eyes. |
Our brains are wired to notice change. Even small shifts—a different desk arrangement, working from a new location, changing the order of our morning routine, or adjusting when we tackle certain tasks—can provide just enough stimulation to help us refocus and re-engage.
We often spend a lot of time trying to optimize our tools, our calendars, or our to-do lists, but we don't always think about optimizing ourselves and the environments we work within.
So perhaps this is a good question to ask as we move into the second half of the year:
What is one small change you could make to the way you operate each day that might give you more focus, energy, or momentum?
It doesn't have to be permanent. Think of it as an experiment.
Try moving your desk.
Take a different route on your morning walk.
Change where you sit for meetings.
Block your day differently.
Start with the task you've been avoiding.
You might be surprised by how much a small change can influence the way you think, feel, and show up.
As for me, I'll be continuing to test and refine my own systems. If nothing else, this week's experiment was a good reminder that growth isn't always about adding more. Sometimes it's simply about changing our perspective and giving ourselves permission to try something new.
Wishing you a productive and intentional second half of the year.
— Lisa C.
Project Pulse
Work continues behind the scenes at The Dark Horse Project as we refine systems, improve workflows, and strengthen the foundation for what's ahead. While much of this work happens out of sight, we're making great progress and are excited about the direction things are heading.
We're also beginning to plan our very first DHP Group Meetup.
The goal is simple: create an opportunity for members to connect, share what they're working on, and get to know one another a little better.
It's still in the early planning stages, but we're excited to bring this gathering to life.
Keep an eye on future editions of Dark Horse Notes for more details in the coming weeks.
Empowering Thought
Progress Happens in Iterations
We often imagine progress as a straight line—set a goal, create a plan, execute perfectly, and arrive exactly where we intended. But in reality, most meaningful growth happens through a series of adjustments, refinements, and experiments.
Designers prototype. Writers revise. Athletes modify their training plans. Entrepreneurs test ideas before making major investments. They don't expect perfection on the first attempt—they expect to learn, gather feedback, and improve.
Iteration removes the pressure of getting everything right.
Instead of asking, What if this doesn't work? we can ask a more empowering question:
What might I learn from trying?
This shift in perspective changes how we approach challenges. A result that doesn't meet our expectations is no longer a failure—it's simply information. It tells us what to keep, what to discard, and what to adjust before taking the next step.
The same principle applies to our habits, routines, projects, and even our long-term visions. We don't need to commit to a system forever in order to benefit from it. Sometimes the most effective approach is to test something for a week, evaluate the results, and decide whether it's worth continuing.
Progress is rarely built from one perfect decision. More often, it is the outcome of dozens of small refinements made over time. Each adjustment helps us become more aligned with how we work best, where we create the most value, and what truly supports our goals.
As we move into the second half of the year, consider adopting an iterative mindset.
Is there a process you could simplify?
A habit you could approach differently?
A project that needs a small adjustment rather than a complete overhaul?
Give yourself permission to experiment. Observe what happens. Keep what works, release what doesn't, and continue moving forward.
Growth doesn't require that we have all the answers.
It simply asks that we remain willing to learn, adapt, and take the next step.
Resources
Resource of the Week: GrowthDay
|
GrowthDay continues to be one of our favorite tools for personal and professional growth. Created by Brendon Burchard and his team, the app brings together daily mindset coaching, journaling tools, high-performance training, courses, and guidance from some of the leading voices in personal development. |
|
Whether you're working toward a major goal, building better habits, or simply looking for a little encouragement each day, GrowthDay offers a wealth of resources to support your journey.
If you decide to join through our affiliate link, you'll also be helping support The Dark Horse Project and our mission to empower visions, foster collaboration, and build a thriving community of creators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers.
Wrapping Up!
Thank you for spending part of your week with us.
If this edition resonated with you, consider sharing it with a friend who might benefit from a small reset of their own.
You can invite them to subscribe here: newsletter.dhpcolab.com
See you next week,
~The DHP Team
© 2026 The Dark Horse Project. All rights reserved.
Dark Horse Notes #24
A Mid-Year Experiment Worth Trying
Personal Note from Lisa
Hi friends,
As we approach the halfway point of the year, I found myself taking a closer look at something I don't always stop to evaluate—how I'm actually operating day to day.
One of my coaches recently challenged our group to think about a mid-year reset. Not a reset of our goals, but a reset of our systems. To examine our daily routines and ask ourselves a few important questions:
Is this helping me focus?
Is this the best use of my energy?
Am I doing things this way because it works, or simply because it's become a habit?
That challenge resonated with me.
This week, I decided to experiment a little. I moved my desk to another area of the property, rearranged my workspace, and reconsidered how I was approaching my workdays. Almost immediately, I noticed an increase in my productivity.
|
A small workspace shift that brought fresh focus and momentum. |
It reminded me that sometimes we don't need a complete overhaul to create momentum. Sometimes we simply need something different. Even a small change can help us see things with fresh eyes. |
Our brains are wired to notice change. Even small shifts—a different desk arrangement, working from a new location, changing the order of our morning routine, or adjusting when we tackle certain tasks—can provide just enough stimulation to help us refocus and re-engage.
We often spend a lot of time trying to optimize our tools, our calendars, or our to-do lists, but we don't always think about optimizing ourselves and the environments we work within.
So perhaps this is a good question to ask as we move into the second half of the year:
What is one small change you could make to the way you operate each day that might give you more focus, energy, or momentum?
It doesn't have to be permanent. Think of it as an experiment.
Try moving your desk.
Take a different route on your morning walk.
Change where you sit for meetings.
Block your day differently.
Start with the task you've been avoiding.
You might be surprised by how much a small change can influence the way you think, feel, and show up.
As for me, I'll be continuing to test and refine my own systems. If nothing else, this week's experiment was a good reminder that growth isn't always about adding more. Sometimes it's simply about changing our perspective and giving ourselves permission to try something new.
Wishing you a productive and intentional second half of the year.
— Lisa C.
Project Pulse
Work continues behind the scenes at The Dark Horse Project as we refine systems, improve workflows, and strengthen the foundation for what's ahead. While much of this work happens out of sight, we're making great progress and are excited about the direction things are heading.
We're also beginning to plan our very first DHP Group Meetup.
The goal is simple: create an opportunity for members to connect, share what they're working on, and get to know one another a little better.
It's still in the early planning stages, but we're excited to bring this gathering to life.
Keep an eye on future editions of Dark Horse Notes for more details in the coming weeks.
Empowering Thought
Progress Happens in Iterations
We often imagine progress as a straight line—set a goal, create a plan, execute perfectly, and arrive exactly where we intended. But in reality, most meaningful growth happens through a series of adjustments, refinements, and experiments.
Designers prototype. Writers revise. Athletes modify their training plans. Entrepreneurs test ideas before making major investments. They don't expect perfection on the first attempt—they expect to learn, gather feedback, and improve.
Iteration removes the pressure of getting everything right.
Instead of asking, What if this doesn't work? we can ask a more empowering question:
What might I learn from trying?
This shift in perspective changes how we approach challenges. A result that doesn't meet our expectations is no longer a failure—it's simply information. It tells us what to keep, what to discard, and what to adjust before taking the next step.
The same principle applies to our habits, routines, projects, and even our long-term visions. We don't need to commit to a system forever in order to benefit from it. Sometimes the most effective approach is to test something for a week, evaluate the results, and decide whether it's worth continuing.
Progress is rarely built from one perfect decision. More often, it is the outcome of dozens of small refinements made over time. Each adjustment helps us become more aligned with how we work best, where we create the most value, and what truly supports our goals.
As we move into the second half of the year, consider adopting an iterative mindset.
Is there a process you could simplify?
A habit you could approach differently?
A project that needs a small adjustment rather than a complete overhaul?
Give yourself permission to experiment. Observe what happens. Keep what works, release what doesn't, and continue moving forward.
Growth doesn't require that we have all the answers.
It simply asks that we remain willing to learn, adapt, and take the next step.
Resources
Resource of the Week: GrowthDay
|
GrowthDay continues to be one of our favorite tools for personal and professional growth. Created by Brendon Burchard and his team, the app brings together daily mindset coaching, journaling tools, high-performance training, courses, and guidance from some of the leading voices in personal development. |
|
Whether you're working toward a major goal, building better habits, or simply looking for a little encouragement each day, GrowthDay offers a wealth of resources to support your journey.
If you decide to join through our affiliate link, you'll also be helping support The Dark Horse Project and our mission to empower visions, foster collaboration, and build a thriving community of creators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers.
Wrapping Up!
Thank you for spending part of your week with us.
If this edition resonated with you, consider sharing it with a friend who might benefit from a small reset of their own.
You can invite them to subscribe here: newsletter.dhpcolab.com
See you next week,
~The DHP Team
© 2026 The Dark Horse Project. All rights reserved.
