Hello Ladies!
As I was thinking of what to write for my first official week of LWL blog contribution, I was struck with the dichotomy of beginnings and endings. Here you and I are initiating a dialogue so I want to start at the beginning, to set the foundation for consciously creating your business with joy and ease. At the same time, it is December, a time we usually consider to be an end. So in the spirit of new beginnings and end of year preparations, today we will be looking at celebrating your accomplishments for 2007!
As women leaders and entrepreneurs, being busy, taking it on, and charging ahead are a regular part of your day to day, but how often do you really stop to notice all you have done?
With new dreams always being created, new projects to launch, it is so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind. I always find it amazing how without proper attention and care, the very thing you launched, the very thing you love, can feel an awful lot like the rat race that you thought you had left behind.
One way to keep balance, focus and energy as you build your empire is to take time to stop and celebrate your accomplishments.
Whether you have just launched, are thinking about launching or you are in your fifth fabulous year, you have things to celebrate. The fact that you are an entrepreneur, a leader, a launcher, means you are unique and special. You are willing to take risks, go for your passion and follow your dreams. This in itself is remarkable.
So before you launch down a new path; before you run headlong into holiday preparations and dreaming for the New Year, let’s take a moment to celebrate what you have already created.
Action: Settle in, clear the schedule, grab a fuzzy blanket, get your favorite mug of coffee and let’s get started!
(One thing you will learn about me as we get to know each other is that I am huge on “setting the stage” for intention and enjoyment in everything you do. I will often invite you to surround yourself with the time, space, and environment to have a great experience. Some of my favorite accoutrements are anything fuzzy and the perfect mug with yummy tea or coffee. You find what works for you but the point is not just to get through it but to enjoy the ride!)
Write a list of your accomplishments from the past year, big and small:
• Celebrate accomplishments in business – goals achieved, milestones met, financial success (I once celebrated making my first $1.23 in residual income, a milestone for my business. If making your first $150 as an entrepreneur is a milestone for you, write it down! You get to decide what is worthy of celebrating!)
• Celebrate accomplishments in life – losing that 5 lbs, renovating the bathroom, setting one night a week as date night and keeping it, actually making it through a whole month of daily meditation. Remember, nothing is too silly or too small to celebrate.
• Celebrate moments of courage or extraordinary effort – as a launcher you know you have had moments this year where you pushed the envelope and stepped outside of your comfort zone. This is no small thing and it deserves to be celebrated.
• Celebrate the woman you have become – often our greatest accomplishments do not show up as something that we built or something that we did, but as something we are. Some of life’s biggest reasons to celebration come from the work we do on ourselves to become the person we imagined.
• Stop, breath, and let it all sink in. Yep, I knew it. YOU ROCK!
To get you going, here is a little excerpt from my list:
• Successfully did a 21 day cleanse!
• Somehow actually got my head around the idea of having a baby (Feb 2008 we go for it!)
• Was asked to be a monthly columnist for “Inspire” with Pure Romance, bringing inspiration and insight to 10,000 + female entrepreneurs each month.
• Invested in a sailing cruise line with Jeff (my husband).
• Found an awesome graphic designer for the LIVLOUD! Newsletter so I am really proud of each issue I send out.
• Created a spot in the sun for reading and meditating to support me through the dark, cold Cleveland Winter (dark and cold relative to AZ anyway.)
• Kitchen renovations complete! (12 months late but done done done!)
• Checked out Austin, TX, Los Angeles, CA and Sedona, AZ and decided none of them are quite the place for Coach Joelle to call home.
• Sent out the holiday party evite! (Planning the first real celebration since I moved to Cleveland is a huge step to making Cleveland Home.)
• Started painting again….
Alright Ladies! Have a blast celebrating yourself!
As a bonus: share your list in the comments below! We would love to help you celebrate!
Huzzha to you!
Coach Joelle
*Excellent* post!
2008 is the year of me (and you).
i know it.
i'm opting not to list mine here. my list is small but the depth of each accomplishment is just fine!
happy new year to all.
Posted by: supercw | December 11, 2007 at 07:16 PM
Hey Joelle -- I was also looking for a different way to fold 2007 AND to unfold 2008. So, within a very short time I assembled a new blog just for that purpose, the 31 Days of Self-Congratulations. Readers are challenged to name one positive thing about themselves every day between January 1 and January 31 and to post them in the comments section for all the world to see.
Putting everything in place for this blog (and it's companion) within a short period of time will definitely be one of my most savored accomplishments of 2007 on both a personal and a professional level.
Posted by: Melissa Grossman | December 12, 2007 at 01:08 PM
Awesome Melissa!
I think that is a wonderful challenge to put out to the world. Thank you for the difference you make.
Joelle
Posted by: Coach Joelle | December 12, 2007 at 02:09 PM
Fabulous! I am constantly making a to-do list... LOVE the idea of creating a "ta-dah" list!
Posted by: krista | December 20, 2007 at 12:19 AM