I have a client who decided recently that she would put on a huge event. Her goal was to sell out her event, retain some fantastic speakers and fill her sponsorship target. I watched her work like a mad woman towards accomplishing this result.
I shared a cup of coffee with her a few days ago and she was unnervingly calm and happy. I had to ask what was going on, and here is what she said:
“Nina, I was getting so caught up in all my “doing” that I stopped seeing what I had already achieved along the way. I have always strived to set and achieve my goals, and when accomplished….. I focus on the next one, and the next one. For me it was always about the finish line, never the journey. I realized how unhappy and empty this made me feel and that I was looking to the next achievement to make me feel complete. I failed to acknowledge all that I have already achieved and how incredible that is in itself. So I decided to make a list of all my accomplishments and realized that it didn’t matter if my venue sold out, or the sponsors didn’t come in droves or my speakers didn’t pan out; I was already successful.”
As a business owner I got that. Or did I? Do we consistently work to achieve Goals? We must set goals to achieve, right? Isn’t that what takes us to the next level, that defines our success?
And so I challenge you to not wait until you achieve your next goal or complete a project before you stop to acknowledge your accomplishments. Do it each and every step of the way.
And so I asked my friend; how did the event go? It was perfect, she told me. Once my perspective shifted, everything fell into place easily and effortlessly. I sold out and had more sponsors then I had hoped for.
What do you focus all your time on…your next goal, or your daily accomplishments?
