Celebrate every step forward

WE live in a world that is obsessed with instant success and gratification.

Changing Perspectives

Rutendo Gwatidzo

Social media is full of people who are seemingly doing amazing things, and this makes it easy to feel like you are being left behind.

Many people live under a great deal of pressure because they measure their success based on what they see others doing.

But most people tend to tell stories of their victories only in part and avoid mentioning the struggles they would have encountered on their journey to success. For example, some people who are eventually awarded the businessperson of the year award would have spent years nurturing their struggling businesses.

The business may have suffered losses and high employee turnover, among many other challenges.

Because people often focus on the finishing line, those who are halfway through may feel like they are losing.

The key to happiness and success is not always about reaching the finishing line as quickly as possible. What if the key is found in celebrating every step forward, no matter how small?

Small victories pave the way for big successes.

Organisational status

Many employees suffer unhealthy competition and this eventually kills their potential. For example, a banker who joins a particular bank today may feel pressured to own a house just because a colleague who joined the same bank ten years ago owns a house.

Sometimes one only needs to focus on celebrating having been employed by the bank; then everything else will follow. Unhealthy competition can cause unproductivity if not addressed.

Celebrating small victories comes with many benefits, which include:

Morale boost: Acknowledging your own progress, no matter how small, gives you a sense of accomplishment and motivates you to keep going.

Building confidence: Seeing that you are capable of making progress even in small ways can help you believe in yourself and your ability to achieve set goals.

Making the journey worthwhile:  Good things do not come on a silver platter. Celebrating small victories along the way will make the journey enjoyable and less stressful.

Inspiring others: When you celebrate your own success, you inspire others to do the same, hence it creates a positive ripple effect that benefits everyone.

There are no hard-and-fast rules about how to celebrate your own success. The most important thing is to find what works for you.

Some ideas on how to celebrate every step forward include the following:

Appreciate yourself: Reflect on your progress and how you have reached the point you are today.

Treat yourself to something special:  Sometimes, celebrating your success doesn’t cost you more than what you already have. You can celebrate yourself by having a hot water treat in the tub at home or you can simply have quality time with people who matter to you the most. This makes you feel energised to go after the next goal.

Share your success story with others: Their support and joy for you can be a great motivator.

Write down your story: Create a journal about your journey, thoughts or feelings. It will help you track your progress and appreciate how far you have come.

Create a victory jar: Every time you achieve something, write it down and put it in a jar. When you are feeling down, take a few pieces of paper and remind yourself of all things you have accomplished. These are few easy examples of the many ways to celebrate yourself.

Do not wait until you reach the finishing line. What if you never reach the finishing line?

I am reminded of the story of my uncle. He started building a house in one of Harare’s medium-density suburbs.

The project took several years to complete. I remember that for more than three years his family literally suffered because he would save every cent for the project. He even drove a very problematic Mazda 323 during that time.

When the house had reached the window level stage, we tried to convince him to celebrate that but to no avail.

He only wanted to celebrate once the project had been completed.

When the house reached roof level, my uncle got sick and we soon lost him.

His death was very painful for his family and friends who knew how determined he was to complete his house.

Sadly, the house was never completed because the breadwinner had passed on. The family ended up selling the incomplete house and bought one in the high-density suburbs.

Be challenged, inspired and encouraged to celebrate every step forward.

Rutendo Gwatidzo is managing consultant at The HUB HR Consultancy. She is a multi-award-winning consultant, speaker and mentor. She is also author of the books: Born to Fight and Breaking the Silence. Contacts: +263 714 575 805/ [email protected]/ Facebook: Rutendo Gwatidzo_Official.