Courage & Clarity – Episode 186: “Q2 Reset: Why You’re Not Behind & How to Hit Your Goals”

Host: Steph Crowder
Date: April 6, 2026

Episode Overview

In this energizing walk-and-talk episode, Steph Crowder invites listeners to embrace Q2 as a time for fresh starts and renewed momentum in their businesses. Steph tackles the all-too-common feeling of being "behind" after Q1, debunks the idea that your progress must be linear, and encourages listeners never to lower their goals out of frustration or self-doubt. Drawing from personal anecdotes, client experiences, and cultural reframes, Steph outlines practical mindset and strategy shifts to help entrepreneurs rediscover inspiration and take creative, bold action in the months to come.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Treating Q2 as a Fresh Start [02:00]

• Q2 is Undervalued: Steph observes that the second quarter is often overlooked and easily squandered amidst spring distractions like longer days, kids’ activities, and spring breaks.
• Letting Go of Q1 Disappointments: Many experience a rocky Q1 due to disruptions (“a lot of 52 card pickup…throwing a deck of cards in the air and then having to pick up all the pieces” – 03:50).
• Reframe: “Just because a quarter of the year has gone by, 25% of the year has gone by, does not mean that you are behind if you have not hit 25% of your goal, okay?” (08:17)

2. The “You’re Not Behind” Philosophy [08:00]

• Progress is Nonlinear: Goals are rarely achieved evenly across each quarter. Major breakthroughs can happen unexpectedly.
• Anecdotes: Steph references friends who hit big milestones (e.g., million-dollar revenue years) after slow or disappointing first quarters.
• Notable Insight: “There is no such thing as behind. There just isn’t.” (09:15)

3. Catching and Cleaning Up Disempowering Thoughts [11:00]

• Mindset Audit: Steph advises listeners to watch for sneaky beliefs like “I’m behind” or “maybe I should lower my goal.”
• No Shame, Just Notice: “No shame if you’re having any of these thoughts, but it’s just so important to catch…” (12:45)
• Cultural Reframe: For many cultures, spring is the true beginning of the year—“the year is just beginning in so many ways.” (13:30)

4. Never Lower Your Goal—Raise It Instead [15:00]

• Steph’s Principle: Lowering your goal after a tough start sends a message to your brain that lowering expectations is the default response to adversity.
• Memorable Quote: “Don’t you dare lower the goal on yourself. If you don’t like where you are right now, if anything, raise it…Maybe the goal you set isn’t asking you to reinvent and get creative enough.” (14:44)
• Parenting Analogy: Lowering expectations mid-way (“maybe Bs are fine for you”) signals disbelief in the person’s capacity. (17:10)

5. The “Impossible Goal” Mindset [17:30]

• Embrace Disappointment: Big goals come with the possibility of “failure,” but the real reward is in who you become and what your company transforms into in the pursuit.
• Personal Example: Steph’s million-dollar year goal—she says even “failing” at $700k or $800k would be a massive leap forward.
• Quote: “If I shoot for the moon and sort of land among the stars, right? It’s not just about hitting that one target.” (19:11)

6. Setting April as the “New January” [22:00]

• Intentional Re-invention: Steph sets the intention to treat Q2 with the same energy, creativity, and strategic focus as a brand new year.
• Quote: “I’m setting the intention that Q2, like April, is the new January. April gets to be the same quality as a January.” (22:40)

7. Celebration & Preview of What’s Next [24:00]

• Recent Wins: Steph celebrates the success of her sold-out Fail System Summit (over 400 registrants) and surpassing goals by 50% for her Mastermind group program.
• What’s Next: Upcoming episodes will take listeners behind the scenes of Steph’s summit and launches, with honest insights on what worked and what didn’t.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There is so much opportunity ahead of you, and so I’d really like to encourage you right now to take a hard look at the thoughts that you’re having about your year so far.”
  — Steph Crowder (10:30)

• “What happens when we lower our goals at the first sign of resistance is it completes a loop in your brain that says, when it gets hard, I can just back down.”
  — Steph Crowder (16:13)

• “It’s a hundred percent true that we don’t know how the story goes.”
  — Steph Crowder (23:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:00 – 06:30: Setting the stage for Q2, springtime perspective, distractions
• 08:00 – 10:45: The myth of being behind & progress is nonlinear
• 11:00 – 13:45: Auditing mental narratives, cultural reframes for fresh starts
• 14:44 – 17:30: Don’t lower your goals—the case for doubling down
• 19:00 – 21:00: “Impossible goal” thinking and embracing leaps
• 22:00 – 24:30: April as “the new January”; new intentions for Q2
• 24:30 – 27:00: Celebration of recent successes & teaser for behind-the-scenes content

Episode Closing Thoughts

Steph’s natural, upbeat, and honest tone offers not just tactical advice but also a strong permission slip to treat any point in the year as a new beginning. Listeners are encouraged to ditch defeatist narratives, keep their goals bold, and see fresh possibility in Q2. The episode wraps by promising future deep dives into recent behind-the-scenes launches, and, true to Steph’s walk-and-talk style, a final nudge to move your body and keep your courage and clarity at the forefront.

If you need an inspiring, practical reset—especially if Q1 didn’t go as planned—this episode is a must-listen.