J Davies & Associates.com

I’m sure most of you have heard of a To-Do list and many of you probably keep one. One mark of an achiever is to set goals. Complex goals get broken down into action steps and action steps are tracked and measured with due dates. A daily To-Do list helps you to stay on top of the specific activities and the steps you need to take each day to stay on track. This keeps you moving toward your goals. It also can help you to recognize time wasters or those activities that require a lot of effort but bring little satisfaction.

So, we know what a “To-Do” is, now……what is a “Ta-Da”? Research shows that achievers also know how to track and measure their success by keeping a record of those things which have been accomplished……those are their Ta-Das! Not only do folks who succeed track their accomplishments, they also have learned to CELEBRATE SUCCESS!! Are those habits that you have developed? When you reach your goal, do you take a moment to savor the success? Do you ever do anything to celebrate a job well done? Many people are so busy charging on toward the next goal that they take no time to enjoy what they have already accomplished. That can be a recipe for burnout and can eventually have a negative impact on your motivation and productivity.

If you are a manager or supervisor, do you take the time to recognize accomplishments of those on your team? Do you ever do anything to celebrate a significant achievement? If someone really goes out of his/her way to help you, do you take a moment to send a thank you note, or even give a small gift to show your appreciation? (You don’t have to be a manager to initiate these activities J. )

Some day, when you’re feeling overwhelmed or like you are just spinning your wheels, try making a Ta-Da list! What is that? It’s a list of all the things you HAVE accomplished. It can be very satisfying to see that you have been putting your time to good use.

Now, what can you do to celebrate your successes? It doesn’t have to be something major, just a little reward or acknowledgement that you have accomplished what you set out to do. When you’ve worked hard, take the time to ENJOY what you have achieved. You earned it! And, you’ll be surprised at how that little pat on the back will enable you continue to Reach Higher.

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