You have achieved several things in your life. But do you really take stock in all the things you have done? If you are like some, you probably don’t or you marginalize those achievements. If that sounds like you, now is the time to stop, take stock and start honoring the things you have accomplished in your lifetime. By doing so you will set your self up for greater achievements, you will recognize that even the little things you have done can make a BIG difference in your life (and the lives of those you touch).
- Why shouldn’t you celebrate your own lifetime achievement?
It’s a big deal for anyone in Hollywood to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. They celebrate it as an event, publicize it, and film it for all to see. Just because you aren’t famous, doesn’t mean you haven’t accomplished anything. Be proud of what you have accomplished. - The next time someone recognizes an achievement of yours, don’t shrug it off as no big deal.
Thank them, and consider yourself lucky that someone noticed. Also, write down the event any time it happens. This will show you that your achievements are worth it. Whenever someone notices something I have done and says so with a compliment, I retort with “may I quote you?” It gets a laugh and acknowledges that I appreciate the recognition. Little do they know that I really mean it when I say “May I quote you?’ Everyone always says ‘YES’ and i have gone so far as to write it down and use their very words. - Appreciate the achievements of others.
One way to get people to recognize your achievements is to congratulate them on theirs. Be genuine in your praise. If you are just doing it to try and win points, this will be seen as shallow, and people will know you are not genuine. - If you are feeling a bit light on the achievement scale, try to figure out why that is.
It could be that you need to be more detailed and succinct in defining your goals. Start with high-level goals and break them down into tasks and sub-goals. - One achievement that people overlook is helping others.
This doesn’t have to be through volunteering. It can be helping a neighbor or somebody at work. Of course, you can choose to volunteer as well. When you help others achieve something, that in and of itself is an achievement. It also feels great knowing that you made a difference in someone else’s life. One of my favorite quotes is:
“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”
- Read about the achievements of others.
The reason biographies of successful people continue to be published is that they help people learn the circumstances of these successful people., the back story. You can see that they were just like everyone else. It’s the classic, if they can do it so can you. Most successful people came from humble beginnings. Reading about these people may inspire you to even more greatness. I read several books per month, consistently. Some are biographies and others are books by people I admire. I also like to read books that will give me a different perspective on what I believe. It helps me keep an open mind. Reading controversial subjects often helps me to change my own perspective on issues of the day. - Appreciate your achievements. But don’t rest on your laurels.
While there may still be much more you want achieve, make sure that you appreciate what you have done. This alone will motivate you on those days when you have no motivation to work your plan and achieve your goals.HERE ARE THREE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE RIGHT NOW!
- Write down all your achievements that you can remember. Try to think back as far as you can. Don’t limit yourself. If you had achievements in high school or college, put those down as well. This action will help show you everything you have achieved. It will give you confidence in your ability to accomplish anything you set your mind to.
- Create a blog about your achievements. First, it will get you to write about them and how you got to where you are. Second, by describing your experiences, you never know who you may inspire. When your blog becomes popular, it will motivate you to achieve more because you want to keep your editorial calendar as full as possible. This is one of the things my own coach taught me. Its how she became a coach in the first place. She stated the problem, showed people how she found solutions and coached her readers to do the same. Today she is a sought-after coach in business.
- Align your daily to-do lists with your overall goals. If you don’t have higher-level goals defined, start with these. To-do lists are good tools unless you are not performing the right tasks. High-level goals will help you determine what you need to be doing on your to-do lists.
RECOMMENDED READING
The Achievement Habit: Stop Wishing, Start Doing and Take Command of Your Life by Bernard Roth
Power of Appreciation: Re-Wire Your Brain for Mental, Spiritual, and Physical Success by Lorena Laughlin
The Vibrant Workplace: Overcoming the Obstacles to Building a Culture of Appreciation By Paul White