Hand-made cards by Carrie-Ann Coupe www.cacoupe.co.uk
This blog post is written by The Design Trust partner Liz Wren from Through the Forest Coaching Mentoring.
“Many creatives have a mindset that keeps them constantly thriving for more and better challenges. Often, they forget to actually stand still for a moment, and take the time out to celebrate.
In case you need some persuading, here are some ways you can make the most of your achievements:
1. Get comfortable to celebrate!
What is about the British that make us so unassuming? When I speak with my creative business clients I’m consistently reminded how resourceful, creative, and dynamic they are. Yet sometimes it is very hard for them to say “I’ve achieved this”.
Now is the time to put aside the ‘but, …’, ‘however’, ‘everybody can do that’, and the ‘if only’ – pat yourself on the back!
2. Look at the small steps, not just the giant leaps
It’s often the small changes that can make all the difference. We only notice these when we look back over an extended period of time. So thinking about where you were a year ago is a good way of pinpointing all those evolutionary changes.
I recently met with a group of workshop colleagues from early in the year and it was a great way to notice and give feedback to one another’s evolution.
3. Ask someone else
It’s amazing what we forget or what we undervalue! What did you achieve in the last 12 months? Ask someone else to remind you of what they think you accomplished. It will be more than you think.
PS this is a great exercise to do at the end of the year, or when you are celebrating an anniversary.
4. Celebrate the tangibles … and the intangibles
The easy-to-measure achievements are often the ones at the top of the list. But more meaningful to most of us is the learning and the growth we go through as individuals. Understanding ourselves, and our relationships with others, often makes the difference in our business, and indeed is more important in the final reckoning.
How have you grown over the year?
How have you experimented, developed your powers of judgement or confidence?
What are you most proud of?
5. Share!
Celebrating in a group is a great way to get feedback and let others reflect back what was achieved. So remember to tell your team!
If you don’t have a team, share your achievements with your family and friends. I get my clients to ask friends about their own strengths, and a common surprise is always how supportive, articulate and positive these friends are.
This is a great opportunity to say ‘thank you’ for the support you receive through the year, not (just) through presents or bonuses, but by a few heartfelt words.
You are amazing!”
Do you celebrate getting a new client, overcoming difficulties, finishing your tax return or your 5th anniversary? When and how do you celebrate? Share your tips and suggestions below.
