You for the Win!
I recently had a nice win in my business that I shared with my coach, and she asked what I was going to do to celebrate it.
“Oh,” I said. “I didn’t think about that.”
She pointed out that too often as entrepreneurs we hit one goal, fly past it and say, “ok what’s next?” But if we want the inspiration, motivation and resilience to keep hitting goals, we need to stop and celebrate, “feel” the milestones, and honor the accomplishments.
This set off my radar with my own clients. During the first week of my new Accountability Group, I asked everyone to think about what they will do to celebrate their wins when we complete this 12-week run, and all the hard work it will take to achieve the goals they set. And there were some blank stares.
I realized that not everyone is conscious of when their wins happen. In fact, very few are in touch with this. One client told me at the beginning of a recent call how discouraged she was, but then recited a litany of things she had accomplished since our last call. I asked her how she could feel so discouraged when she had had so many wonderful wins? So we stopped and basked in that for a while as I asked for the details.
Wins can be big or small and the celebrations can be, too. When you stop to recognize what you’ve done you can soak in how meaningful your progress really is.
How accountability helps
Accountability is a buzzword in the entrepreneur world these days. We tend to associate it with being accountable for what we don’t do. And sadly, being our own worst critic is a reaction that comes a little too naturally. But it’s just as important to be accountable for what you do accomplish when it’s something you committed to.
• It tells you what is and isn’t working.
• It shows what you’re good at and what you might consider delegating.
• It reminds you of why you’re doing this thing in the first place.
• It demonstrates which wins are easy to claim and which ones need more attention.
For instance, you might not enjoy one on one calls but know they are the best way to make connections for your business. Because they are not your favorite thing to do, after you’ve done a few you don’t clearly see it as a win or a reason to celebrate. But that actually makes it a bigger win, and this type of win should get extra cake and ice cream.
So how can you create a “win collection” habit?
You will have to get in the habit of noticing your wins. A good strategy is choosing daily check-in times, like on a coffee or lunch break, when you’re winding down at the end of the day, or first thing in the morning when you’re recapping the day before. Then choose a designated spot, preferably a visible one, where you can log your running list of wins.
Think of it as like collecting tickets at the game room or carnival as a kid. When you have enough, you claim the prize you want, unless you (or your parents) run out of money first.
If that doesn’t resonate, think of small, organized piles of rocks, or cairns, you may have seen in the woods. Together those rocks make beautiful structures. But the important piece is how they have been consciously placed and require balance to remain steady and not fall over.
It’s the same balance you are creating by working hard, acknowledging your work, and then rewarding yourself.
I have spots in my next two Action Planning Accountability groups. If you’d like to hear more about reaching your goals and celebrating the achievements along the way, schedule a call with me today.
P.S. Ready to stop spinning in place and get to the other side of your goals? Here are several ways I can help:
Download my free weekly planning guide - it will help you become more intentional with your time, develop a clear action plan for your week, and ensure that you are focusing on activities that will move your business forward - Download Now
Join our next CEO Power Planning Session and spend two and a half hours ON your business. During this facilitated workshop, you’ll set and prioritize your next 12-week goals, break them down into an executable action plan and create a resource plan - Join the Wait List
Apply for the next Close the Gap Program and stay on track to achieve your most important goals. 1:1 support and guidance on prioritizing goals, creating a plan and putting structure and routines in place. Then 12 weeks of group support around execution - Apply today