Being the owner of a small business is one of the loneliest jobs in the world. As owners, you have no one to complain to, and you are constantly solving problems, often other people’s problems. It’s easy to get discouraged and frustrated with a sale you loose to a low-ball offer, mounting paperwork and escalating costs.
When something good does happen, it often gets overlooked because there are so many other things left to do and pressures to cope with. As an owner it is easy to focus on those things that aren’t going well with your business and overlook what is going right. Just like raising a child, it’s a lot easier to snap at them when they do something wrong, rather than praise them when they do good.
But celebrating victories, however small, is important because it helps you keep perspective on the reasons you started in business in the first place, what your vision is and gives you a chance to recognize others. Celebrating generates positive energy, both physically and mentally, and this translates into more successes. Everyone wants to be a part of a winning team, so show your employees (if you have some, or yourself if you don’t) that successes are important and everyone’s contribution to these victories is appreciated.
I am sure you can think of some small victories that you have had that SHOULD have been celebrated a bit more at the time. Too late for those, but keep your radar on for more opportunities, for example:
- New employee hire
- Positive testimonial received from a happy customer
- New admin system installed and running well
- No accidents or mistakes last month
Plus of course the obvious ones around a new project secured or sales goals achieved.
Small business owners don’t take enough time to celebrate the little victories that happen each and every day. This month, make a commitment to yourself and to your company to celebrate and acknowledge the little victories in your business.
If you have something you’d like to share, please email me at andy@tradescoach.co.nz I’d love to hear it.
(Based on an article by Tom Dorr, the Centre of Economic Vitality – Washington Universtity – 2010)
Andy Burrows