For me, the holidays have always been my favourite time of year. They signify the coming together of friends and family, and while the hustle and bustle of preparing for year-end in my business certainly keeps me busy, I always find a way to prioritize the things that matter. Pausing to show gratitude for all I have accumulated over the last year – and thanking those who have made it possible.
Over the course of the last 12-Week-Year installment, I have challenged you to harvest and cultivate your progress, to audit your business, and now – finally – I am tasking you with the responsibility of celebrating.
That’s right. It’s time to take a break from evaluating where you are and where you still need to be and just, enjoy the success. To focus on the small accomplishments and significant achievements that have carried you through the last calendar year.
For me, 2018 saw considerable growth both in the way I personally balance my work-life responsibilities but also for my company, Key Element Solutions, as a whole. Together, my team and I continue to spread the message and the vision of the 12-Week-Year, and I was honoured to host several workshops across Ontario which helped other entrepreneurs and business owners to implement this transformative methodology in their own operations. I have attended numerous conferences both as keynote speaker and facilitator, have spoken to groups of CEO’s and community leaders, and perhaps most importantly to me – have further my reach and contributions to the Monica Place association which has remained at the forefront of KES’ give-back initiatives.
For those of you who have transitioned your business into the 12-Week-Year, I trust that you are taking the time to relish in becoming four times more productive and successful this year – you’ve earned this through hard work, determination, and a willingness to go outside of the “traditional” – congratulations.
For those of you still operating on an annualized approach, I challenge you to overlook anything you weren’t quite able to achieve – for now (we will come back to it together, I promise) – and focus instead on what you HAVE gained. Do you have a better understanding of the total demands of your business and your time? Have you learned some lessons along the way that will help to better prepare you for 2019? These things deserve to be celebrated and embraced as much as any quantifiable achievement.
Whether your successes are based on sales, new or retained clients, brand exposure, event attendance, etc. remember that amongst the ‘monumental’ moments there have been a series of smaller successes which have led you to where you are today.
Pause to celebrate:
New members of your network, peers who you can turn to for advice or assistance
New members of your team, the people who are as passionate about the success of your business as you are.
New logos or colours, or any other branding, which you feel better represent the “you” you are today.
The organization of the “junk drawer” which once was such a point of annoyance or contention for you.
The completion of your first “CEO Day” which has provided you with increased clarity on your “why.”
The mistakes that turned into new processes, the lessons that shaped new projects.
As we move ahead into 2019, it’s critical that you gather all of these little triumphs together and embrace these moments. You did it, you made it through another year, that’s no small feat, and you deserve the recognition. Now, it’s time to rest – to relax and unwind and recharge for the challenges that lay just ahead.
Together, we can get focused on SUCCESS and start preparing to make 2019 the best yet! I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for being part of our success story in 2018, and I want to invite you to continue to be part of this journey in the new year.
Ready to achieve more in 12-weeks than most of your competitors will be able to in the whole of the 12 months of 2019? Email success@keyelement.ca today, we look forward to working with you soon.