Image courtesy of careerealism.com
Career change is one of the main reasons people seek out a career coach like me. They need support and practical advice on how to make their ideal careers a reality. One such client, we’ll call him Gary, decided it was time for a change when his employer went through a merger.
Gary had always been a top performer but there wasn’t a space for him in the new organization. Rather than lament, Gary took it as a sign to pursue his dream of starting his own consulting practice. Given his years of experience and vast network, Gary was well positioned to be a successful entrepreneur.
A few months into his new business, Gary and I were talking. He told me of a long-term client contract he had recently secured; yet surprisingly, he wasn’t feeling very successful. His list of “to do’s” was still just as long as it was on day one and Gary couldn’t stop feeling anxious. He questioned whether he could really make it as an entrepreneur.
Having been down this road myself and with several of my clients, I knew just what would help Gary: celebrating success.
It may sound trite but too often we forget how much we’ve accomplished to get us to where we are today. To help Gary see this, I started listing all of the progress he had made from securing office space, to creating a clever business name and logo, to networking with countless contacts and not to mention landing a big client contract that would ensure income for the next year!
Gary’s mindset immediately shifted. He realized his to-do list was not as important as his “already done” list. He had a lot to feel great about including his ability to be a successful business owner.
Give yourself a round.
When was the last time you celebrated your accomplishments? Maybe it’s time to start your own “already done” list. Share your successes here and we can all celebrate together.
Maggie Mistal is a certified career & life purpose coach and the host of "Making a Living with Maggie," which airs every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Martha Stewart Living Radio, Sirius 112, XM 157. Please visit her website at MaggieMistal.com.
