If you follow trends on Social Media (mostly Twitter and Instagram), you’ll notice people posting side by side pictures of themselves in 2009 and 2019. I think it’s great to look back and appreciate one’s journey and progress over time, but more important to look forward to the future.
Most Sales Professionals I know focus on what’s next – the next opportunity, the next deal, the next promotion, etc. – but few take time to appreciate accomplishments along the way. Recognizing and acknowledging successes have many benefits including:
- Appreciating the journey: Taking a moment to acknowledge your progress, growth, accomplishments and wins along the way is a sure way to enjoy the journey.
- Grounding self in tough times: Tough times may come while on your journey. Being able to count your many successes helps keep you focused during those though times and provides the necessary self-motivation to keep moving forward.
- Elevating self for the journey ahead: Knowing that you’ve come so far and accomplished so much, you’ll be in a position to brace yourself for the remainder of the journey ahead.
While those benefits are huge, the focus should be on making sure the future, or next 10 years, are better than the present. It’s easy to stay in what’s comfortable or secure, aka coast, for the next 10 years. I meet people who have been in a situation they don’t like for long periods of time and have refused to do anything about it. If that’s what you want, fine. Just don’t complain.
If you want to change, start by taking small, incremental and consistent actions to change the situation. This can be applied to anything – fitness, career, relationships. Start taking action now to be sure that the future will be different. Before you know it, it will be 10 years from today!
Today marks the beginning of the next 10 years. What would you do today to make sure when you look back, you are proud of and satisfied with the progress you’ve made?
Share your thoughts.