» Do You Celebrate? - Jan Janzen Daily

The other day, I was looking at a very long To-Do list on my desk. It seems
these days like the things that need to be done to run this company I am
President of are about as long as a dark winter night. It was then that our CEO suggested that we make an Accomplishment List of what we had done in the last five months. Pretty soon, we had a list that was as long as a hot summer day.

As we went over that list, it was a fabulous feeling. We had done a lot! We had
come a long ways. We had all contributed to the incredible company that is
developing.

What about you? When was the last time you celebrated yourself? When was
the last time you celebrated your achievements as an entrepreneur? If you can’t remember the last time, it’s probably time to make your own Accomplishment List!

It’s very easy to beat yourself up, feel like you are spinning your wheels, going nowhere fast or headed down a slippery slope. It’s normal to focus on the negative, what hasn’t been done, what is still missing, undone or not achieved.

How does it make you feel when you focus on the long list that needs to be
done? Probably not very empowered or powerful. Am I right? On the other
hand, recalling your achievements, what has gone right, what you have done well, what miracles manifested in your life feels pretty darn good. Wouldn’t you agree?

So if it feels lousy to beat ourselves up, and great to celebrate ourselves, why do most entrepreneurs spend so much time dwelling on the negative?

Perhaps you aren’t clear on where you are headed so you aren’t sure there is
anything to celebrate. Second of all, you aren’t accustomed to celebrating
yourselves. It isn’t something most parents encouraged as we grew up. My
mom used to say, “don’t pat yourself on the back Jan. You’ll break your arm!” How’s that for a positive influence to feel good about myself? Many parents said something similar or instilled that belief in us.

Thirdly, if you haven’t got to what you feel is the “end of the road”, the “pot of gold at the end of the rainbow”, then you don’t feel like you deserve to celebrate.

Does any of this sound familiar in your life? And as one of my coaches used to say, “how’s it working for you?” It’s probably not as empowering or inspiring as you would like your life to be. How can you change that?

I suggest you start celebrating! What does that really look like?

1. Go back over your daytimer or calendar for the past 6 months and notice
good things that have happened. An important meeting, a workshop you
taught or attended. Note the great people you met along the way. Write it
all down.
2. Look at your bank account for the past 6 months and focus on the
deposits you made. Add them up and write that amount down.
3. Look at the bills you have paid and write down that you paid 25 bills for
example over the past 6 months.
4. Did you get any testimonials about your business during that time? Did
anybody write you an email of appreciation for what you did that made a
difference in their life?
5. Did you accomplish anything with regards to your health, relationships or
home? For example, you may have started drinking more water instead of
coffee at work. You may have fired that client that drained you of your
energy. You may have cleaned out the filing cabinet or the office closet.
6. Did you have some quality time off for a family vacation or a weekend
completely away from work? Write it down.

Get the idea. There are LOTS of good things that happened to you over the last six months. I guarantee you!

Make it a long list. Then read that list out loud. Stand up as you read it. Share it with a friend, business associate or partner. Feel your emotions as you read what you have accomplished.

How does that feel? I bet you it feels pretty amazing!

Yes, there is a list of things still to be done. That’s good because when the list is done of what I want to accomplish in my life, I’m dead. So unless you’re ready for the cemetery, celebrate that you have a list of things to do and the energy to do them.

My partner’s mother is going to be 97 on December 11th. She is coming to
Mexico with Greg and I next month. She told him last week that she was bored and was going to get a job. Then she realized quite sadly, that she can’t do everything she wants anymore. But Jeannette still planted tomatoes this summer and was making muffins this past weekend. I celebrate this amazing woman I get to spend 7 months with. She still has her list of things to do.

So don’t despair over what needs to be done. Celebrate that too! It means
you’re planning, you’re thinking, you’re preparing. It means you’re alive! And celebrate all the good things you have done over the past six months. Feel how good that feels and then celebrate that too!

To Your Outrageous Success!

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