I remember when I was a child and I was practicing piano, I would line up a row of Smarties on the edge of my music stand. If I played a piece correctly or learned a difficult new line of music, I would give myself one of the Smarties. In a way, I developed my own reward system to keep the work of practicing interesting and exciting. Owning your own business can be a lot like being a musician. There are times when you study and learn new things, and other times when you get to perform and share you new knowledge and talents with others. And sometimes, you need to give yourself Smarties!
I have always felt a childlike sense of glee when retained by a new client. I remember, about 7 years into having my company, a man I was dating asked, after seeing me jump for joy upon being retained by a new family, if I thought I would “always be this excited when I get a new client.” My response was a resounding, “Yes!” In fact, I added that if I lose this excitement, it would be time to do something else.
5 years later, and 12 years in, helping applicants to college and graduate school, owning my own business and getting new clients still thrill me. My work is incredibly rewarding and my own growth process has been exciting and edifying. But, there is something else that makes this whole thing a lot of fun: Celebrating success!
Celebrating your success can mean different things to different people. For me, it usually involves buying myself a present or taking my family out for a nice dinner – I’ve upgraded from the days of eating Smarties. I like to celebrate by reminding myself that, “I made this!” My hard work and effort are yielding great results and I want to enjoy that.
One major challenge of being your own boss is that you don’t get promotions or progress reports. You don’t get called into the CEO’s office for a pat on the back. You don’t get taken out to a ballgame or to a concert to celebrate that new account. So, we have to make these things happen for ourselves.
Sometimes the celebration simply involves jumping up and down in my office after a great phone call with a client or calling my mom to share the good news. Other times, I take myself down to the Il Bisonte store on Sullivan Street and buy myself a great new bag. Whatever your celebration is, do it without apology. Remember, if your boss told you that you were getting a promotion, you wouldn’t feel sheepish about it. You would stand on the rooftops and tell the world that your career was soaring.
So, don’t hold back. Honor your achievements and do something fun for yourself that says, “I earned this!” Whether you buy a new pair of shoes, take your friends out for drinks or indulge in your favorite candy, celebrate!
-Emily Wolper
E. Wolper Inc. Admissions Consulting
***This was Best Business Tip #10. Read the other 99 Best Business Tips.***
