When you start out (and even when you’ve created a well established business) it’s so easy to continue slogging on. To keep pushing forward because each goal we reach means it wasn’t ambitious enough or we don’t want to get complacent because we have bigger goals to reach so there’s no time to acknowledge the small achievements.
We continually look for the next target, the next challenge, the next problem. We get so immersed in our own bubble that we only see the hurdles ahead of us and it can start to take a toll.
Particularly, if you have friends and peers who are secure in their big company jobs and don’t understand the “I don’t have a salary or set work hours" concept that you’re living everyday.
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If something goes wrong or a client doesn’t land. It can be devastating. You’ve worked so hard to be where you are and you still don’t feel out of the woods.
Even when things are going well, someone will ask how the business is and you answer, “It’s good at the moment, but … ” You half want to relax and half want to run faster. So you choose the latter to be safe.
But you must remember to take stock of what you have done already and what you’ve achieved. What your successes are and why you’re doing it.
Not only will it motivate you on your down days but it will also refocus your aims and ambitions. Remember when the business was just a dream? When that mountain seemed so steep? Well now you’re halfway up it. When did that happen? How did that happen?
You made it happen. You took the necessary steps one at a time and now, all of a sudden, you’ve climbed higher than you thought possible. Fancy that!
Putting the metaphors aside, it is good business practice to look back at your achievements and to celebrate them (however small).
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The pandemic has certainly made us more contemplative. Reflecting gives us time to learn and to apply these learnings into our practices and skills.
We’re human and also our own worst critics so remind yourself why you started out, what you were good at, how you pivoted and adapted DESPITE the challenges. It will reboot that confidence and may mean you run faster next time but with more determined focus.
Reflection gives you the opportunity to rework, reapply and return higher than before.
So look back and ask yourself,
What progress have I made?
What worked?
What didn't?
What did customers like?
What made you do a little jump of excitement?
What have you learned?
What needs to be updated
What have you implemented from your lessons?
What can you improve?
What can you change?
And congratulate yourself on how far you’ve come. You deserve it.
What are your tips and tricks for reflection? Do you celebrate all the little things or wait for that one big achievement? Let us know in the comments.