Why It's Important to Own Your Wins

“Celebrate what you’ve accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed.”

~ Mia Hamm

Whether you accept it or not, you’ve achieved a lot this year. Every big, medium or micro win took you a step closer to accomplishing whatever you’ve been working on. It all counts, so don’t discount. Celebrate those accomplishments, and look toward next knowing you’re capable of doing great things.

I don’t know how this happened, but there’s less than 3 weeks left in 2019. Where does the time go? At the end of 2016 I set what at the time felt like a lofty goal, to create one video a week through 2017, all about recharging work and life …(You can see the origin of that idea in this video). The video below was the second to last in that year-long project. As I re-watched it and reflected on that year, I can say now that I was proud of what I did… which I could do as easily back then, and it provides a good reminder, even 2 years later, about the importance of owning your victories.

Watch the 2017 video reboot below, or read the transcript that follows, and head into the holidays owning all you’ve accomplished this year.

Hey, Michelle Cederberg here with your weekly Work-Life Recharge, pondering goal completion, and reflecting on the whole experience. First off, I hope you’ve enjoyed coming on this journey with me. I’d be curious to know which messages resonated most with you, what changes you’ve made, and what you’ve learned along the way.

I’ll tell you honestly, it’s been a roller-coaster ride for me. At times I’ve beat myself up thinking “It’s not what I expected. I’m not creating what I thought I would. I should have more views or more followers or better content.” Blah blah blah. YES, even motivational speakers get hit with self-doubt from time to time.

And then last week I was at my annual speaker’s convention, reconnecting with so many of my speaker buddies who had heard me proclaim this goal from the mainstage – a video a week in 2017 – and I wondered what they might be thinking about how it’s gone.

And do you know what they said to me when they saw me? “YOU DID IT!” “Congratulations” “You stuck it out.” “Well done!” Not a critical word among them.

My speaker buddies helped remind me to simply celebrate the goal, and be proud of what I accomplished without dwelling on how it could have been better.

Have YOU ever accomplished a significant goal and allowed your inner critic to rob you of the celebration?

“Sure, I finished the race, but my time wasn’t as fast as I wanted it to be.”

“Yeah, I completed the course, but my marks weren’t where they should have been.”

“Yes, I got the certification, but it took me longer than I said it would.”

“Sure, I had a good year, but it could have been better.”

GAH! If you’re guilty of this kind of success discounting, make a pact with me to stop doing it. There is power in acknowledging completion. Period. You did what you said you would, and you no doubt learned from it.

This video project has been challenging at times yes. And I’ve been full of self-doubt many times over the year, but I’ve learned so much – about the video process, about time management, about discipline and how hard I’m capable of working if I set my mind to it.

And, perhaps most importantly I’ve learned how to get over perfection and just do the freakin’ work NO MATTER WHAT… even when I don’t feel like it. Especially when I don’t.

We learn more by doing imperfectly than we ever will by sitting in the safety of self-doubt.

So, today as you wind down into holiday mode, I have two questions for you:

First, what are you celebrating this year? What are you proud of? What are your personal or professional successes – small, large and everything in between – connected to what you’ve learned here, or not! Share them in the comments below or connect with me via michellecederberg.com.

Second, what have those wins (and the hard work that went with them) taught you; About yourself, about your capabilities, and about what’s possible from here?

As I come to the end of this project, I can tell you I’m not done. I can’t tell you yet what “next” will look like, but as I ponder these questions for myself, I’m certain the answers will come, and it will no doubt be fun.

And I know that whatever I decide to do, I’ll go into it with less fear, and more belief in my ability to do the freakin’ work. Let the same be true for you. I look forward to your answers to my two questions (share them below), and the clarity and confidence they will bring you.

Connect with me here next week, for another message and an opportunity to throw your eyes to the horizon and dream up what’s next. Until then, enjoy your holidays in whatever magical way you plan to spend them.

I’m Michelle Cederberg helping you transform your work and life, one recharge AND CELEBRATION at a time.

Michelle Cederberg, CSP, MKin, BA Psyc
CEP, CPCC, ORSC

Empowering today’s dreamers, leaders and go-getters to create the life and career they want.

www.michellecederberg.com
403-850-5589