The Positive Impact of Celebrating Your Progress

Hi there, welcome to Work Wise! My name’s Octavia Goredema.

I’m the CEO of Fire Memos , the author of Prep, Push, Pivot and the host of the Audible Original series How To Change Careers .

Every week I share insights and actionable steps to help you do your best work and achieve your career goals.

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How do you celebrate the moments that matter at work?

I’ve always been someone who gets excited about other people’s achievements. If you know me, and we’re having a conversation where you share something significant, one of my first questions will inevitably be: “how did you celebrate?”

Often when I pose the question, I hear this: “oh, just completing _____ is enough of a reward.” Or I hear this: “actually, I don’t know, I hadn’t thought about celebrating.”

In a world where we're often encouraged to work hard and keep on pushing, taking a moment to acknowledge our progress can feel like an afterthought.

But what if celebrating your momentum, as you go, could be the secret to keeping yourself motivated, focused, engaged and aligned with your career goals?

I’m a huge advocate of keeping track of your achievements at work. So much so that I assembled a team to build software to help you do that. I consistently witness the value in recording your wins as they happen.

But what happens as you start to document your progress?

Do you wait for a great performance review, or that big promotion, to celebrate?

Or, do you find ways to recognize and reward yourself along the way?

The Downside of a Milestone-Only Mindset

Let’s take a moment to imagine this particular scenario. You've been working tirelessly on a big presentation for weeks. You've put in extra hours, pulled together various components, gathered feedback, pulled the whole thing apart, edited and polished every slide, gone above and beyond, and finally, the deck is complete.

You’re momentarily elated. But now this beast of a project is done, you’ve got to catch up on the next item on your to-do list. Maybe at the next team meeting your efforts will be acknowledged, or perhaps you’ll get the chance to talk about it in your next one-on-one with your boss.

The thrill of completion will keep you going until you immerse yourself in the next thing you’re working on. Then the positive feeling often dissipates fast, as you start to push towards the next big milestone.

And let’s face it, real life happens between milestones.

The Power of Private Celebrations

Often, external recognition may occur a significant time after the real work is done. This is why it’s crucial to shift your mindset from celebrating only the big moments to also embracing the smaller, incremental wins.

One of the best-kept secrets to staying motivated and feeling fulfilled in your career lies in the power of private celebrations. These are the moments where you clap for yourself, even if no one else knows you are doing so.

So, what are some ways you can do this?

Acknowledge Weekly Wins

Start by recognizing the steps you are taking. At the end of the work week, think about what stands out for you. What did you learn? What did you complete? What problems did you solve? ?

At Fire Memos , we simplify the process by letting you pick a specific day each week to receive a reminder to capture your wins. Maintaining a dedicated space where you can record your wins enables you to witness your progress over time.

Create a Ritual for Self-Recognition

Create a ritual that resonates with you to celebrate your progress as you go. For example, while writing my first book, Prep, Push, Pivot , I knew the milestone moment of seeing it in a bookstore for the first time was a long way off.

To stay motivated, I quickly realized the importance of the unseen writing I was doing. So, I created a list of 10 mini-rewards and I chose one each time I completed a chapter. Chapter by chapter, this personal ritual became a valued source of fulfilment during the long book writing process.

Share the Joy of Mini Celebrations

It’s great to self-recognize your momentum, but don’t shy away from sharing your progress with others. Did you complete a major task or solve a complex problem? Share it with your team.

This can be done in a meeting, through a team chat, or even by sending a quick email update. By doing so, you’re not only celebrating your progress but also reinforcing a culture where achievements, no matter the size, are acknowledged.

Waiting for milestone moments to celebrate your progress means you are missing out on fully embracing your momentum. By finding ways to both privately and openly celebrate your ongoing achievements, you keep yourself motivated, build a positive work culture, and create a more fulfilling career journey. So, the next time you accomplish something that makes you smile, take a moment to celebrate. You deserve it.

-Octavia

How do you celebrate the moments that matter at work? I read and respond to every single comment, so if you have an insight to share, or a question for me, let me know below.

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