Harnessing Your Successes: Turning Past Wins into Future Growth

It was a chilly Tuesday morning, and there I was, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Let me tell you, it wasn’t pretty. The woman who once worked out for 286 days straight was now looking a little softer around the edges, and I’m not just talking about my waistline. The fire I’d felt, the drive that had kept me going day after day, had flickered out. And you know what? I had no idea why I stopped. One day I was unstoppable, and the next? Nada. Zilch. Just stopped. But here’s the kicker—that wasn’t even the real shock. The real surprise hit when I tried to start again.

So, what did I do? Oh, you know me, I went into full-on research mode. I bought every fitness book I could find, scoured the internet for new workout routines, and tried to discover the magic formula that would reignite that spark. But nothing clicked. I was spinning my wheels, getting frustrated, and feeling a bit like a failure, to be honest.

The Turning Point:

Then came the day I walked into my kickboxing class—y’all, I was dragging myself in there. The coach, the queen of keeping it real, looked at me with that “I know something you don’t” smile. “So, how’s it going?” she asked, like she didn’t already know. I sighed, “I’m stuck. I just can’t seem to get back into the groove.”

She paused, giving me that look like, “Girl, I’m about to drop some wisdom on you.” Then she said, “What did you do to be successful before?”

I looked at her, confused. “What do you mean?”

She leaned in, all Oprah-like, and said, “Well, you’ve done it before. You worked out consistently for almost 300 days. So, what worked for you then? Sometimes we overlook our past successes, forget what made them possible, and discount their value. But that’s where the answer lies—go back, take a look at what worked for you before.”

The Revelation:

I stood there, blinking, because, wow—she was right. I had been so busy searching for something new, something different, that I had completely overlooked everything I’d already achieved. My past successes were sitting there, like hidden treasures, just waiting for me to rediscover them. But I had been too caught up in my present frustration to see it.

That night, I did something I hadn’t done in a long time—I sat myself down and took inventory of my past successes. I asked myself, “What worked for me during those 286 days?” And you know what? The answer wasn’t in some newfangled workout plan or fancy diet. The answer was in what I had already done—the routines, the mindset, the strategies that had led to my success before.

Harnessing Your Successes:

That experience taught me a powerful lesson, not just about fitness but about life and leadership. We all have strengths, but sometimes, we’re so close to them that we don’t even recognize their value. We forget that the behaviors and habits that brought us success once can do so again. As leaders, it’s essential to take inventory of our successes, to chronicle the things we’ve accomplished, and to identify the patterns that made those successes possible.

Here’s how you can start harnessing your successes to fuel future growth:

1. Conduct a Success Inventory:

Sit yourself down, get comfortable, and take the time to list out your past wins. Go into detail—what did you achieve, and more importantly, how did you achieve it? Don’t rush this process. Reflect on each success, big or small, and consider what made it possible.

2. Identify Patterns:

As you review your successes, look for patterns. What strategies did you use repeatedly? What behaviors or mindsets contributed to your achievements? These patterns are the secret sauce, the magic formula that you can replicate to achieve future success.

3. Translate Past Successes into Future Opportunities:

Once you’ve identified what worked for you before, think about how you can apply these strategies to your current challenges. Success leaves clues, honey—use them to navigate your way forward.

4. The Role of Self-Reflection:

Self-reflection is crucial in recognizing and replicating successful behaviors. Make it a habit to regularly review your achievements and the methods that led to them. This practice not only keeps you grounded but also equips you with the tools to face new challenges with confidence.

That conversation with my coach was a game-changer, not just for getting back on track with my fitness, but in how I approach leadership and life. We all have strengths, successes, and experiences that have brought us to where we are today. But sometimes, we get so caught up in the pursuit of something new that we forget the power of what we’ve already accomplished.