How do you measure your accomplishments?
Last week I shared about the importance of looking back at how far we have come. This week, I just finished a book suggested by a fellow coach. The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers’ Guide To Happiness, Confidence, and Success by Dan Sullivan and with Dr. Benjamin Hardy, accentuated the same ideas. I have already indicated that I fail to review how far I have come, and I would say many others are in the same boat. As I read this book I thought through how far I have come on my journey. As a school Administrator, the last 7 years ago I have learned a lot. Now, I have a better understanding of what it takes to be the best school administrator I can be. I still have lots to learn. Another example is this blog, this post that I am currently writing is my one hundredth post. Two years ago, I had the idea to share my voice in the form of a blog. I had no clue how to set up a website or what I was even going to share. This site and myself have evolved into something I could have never imagined. I have achieved a lot, and it’s time we all review how we measure up.
We often lose sight of the growth we have achieved because we only see the next steps of our potential achievements. We see the process and push ourselves to continue the chase. We often discuss the importance of reviewing how far we have come to achieving our goals. We create a mental review of all we have done, but that’s not good enough. We should commit ourselves to creating an achievement list in a physical format, rather than a mental list. When we have documented our achievements we then can review them when we need a reset. We all face those moments when we doubt ourselves or fear the next steps. Documented achievements give us a wake up call and revive our determination to continue on a path for achievement. Challenge yourself to take out a journal or a word document on your computer to list all the achievements you have reached.
One message repeated throughout the text of, The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers’ Guide To Happiness, Confidence, and Success; was to not compare yourself to others. We are surrounded by people in our individual professions that are amazing leaders. These people have been in their positions for many years and have great experiences to share. We can see ourselves as less then these great leaders and only wish we have their knowledge. This mindset can only hurt us. We might see our situation as similar but really it isn’t the same. Each of us have gifts and knowledge that help us achieve goals. We bring our own form of expertise, as our situation is much different than anyone else’s. Yes, these leaders are an awesome resource that we could use. We must also remind ourselves that we have a lot to offer as well.
At some point throughout our work-day, something went right or a goal was reached. Hardy and Sullivan shared the importance of recording daily wins. As an example, my current planner has daily targets I must list out as I plan my day. When targets are reached, that is a win for me. We might not always notice what goes right or when we knock out tasks throughout our day. We build upon tasks and momentum is created. This is when our confidence grows, at least for me. Once again, we get caught up in our daily process and never see how far we have come. It’s important to acknowledge when we win daily.
In my Maxwell Leadership training and in portions of this book accountability is referenced often. My blogs have shared the importance of having people in our lives who we go to, who are honest with us, and hold us accountable for our goals. We can solidify our achievements on our own, but having a person who assists us in our achievement is vital. Regularly meeting with our accountability friends is so important. Working with these individuals will help us see where we are and how far we have come on our achievement path.
Have you created a list of past accomplishments?
How are you comparing yourself to others in your field?
Where did you win today, last week, or last month?
Who holds you accountable and how often do you meet?
I absolutely loved the messages in this book and I highly recommend everyone go out and get it. This book is a must for every leader’s library. I enjoy sharing books I find valuable in my learning. Once again, thank you for looking in on my blog. When you measure your achievements this week, remember your reference point is the growth you have made.
Steven C. Bucks- Leading Conversations
Reference:
Sullivan, D. & Hardy, B. (2021). The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers’ Guide To Happiness, Confidence, And Success. HAY HOUSE BUSINESS.
