Create Rewards and Celebrations – The Best Way to Avoid the Business Blues
We just completed another amazing Mastermind Intensive Weekend with my Platinum Tribe and one thing we did in the middle of this intense time was celebrate. During each intensive weekend I plan a fun night to celebrate and connect. We need to include rewards and celebrations into every aspect of our business, so I teach by example each time we meet together.
I learned this the hard way after my first triathlon in 2006. I came home from the event and I hadn’t planned any celebration. I was alone in my apartment. After spending such an inordinate amount of time training and preparing – everything felt like such a letdown. I broke down in tears.
The same thing happened the day after my first live event in my business. Again, I didn’t plan a celebration or reward and the whole day was filled with sadness.
Have you ever experienced what I call post event sadness disorder? It’s that feeling after a big event or big launch when everything feels a bit empty. And frankly, it doesn’t matter whether the event went well or not.
The same thing can happen at the end of a long busy week. You may want to curl up into a ball, even when it was the best week ever.
Have you ever noticed how much you love compliments about your work, so much so that you hold on to every word and play the out in your mind?
We need to celebrate and reward ourselves on a consistent basis and in a structured way. These celebrations remind us to take time off, to celebrate our work (no matter the result) and remind us about the fun and joyful aspects of our businesses and lives.
Here’s how to get started with structuring celebration and reward into your business:
1.Determine what truly makes your soul happy. During a relaxed moment of your day, make a list. Title your list: What truly makes me happy down to the deepest level of my soul. Do not judge this list. Do not write down what you “should” be doing. If watching an entire season of “Charmed” is the answer – then by golly write that (not that I know anything about that). If eating chocolate makes you happy, then write that.
Do pay attention to the things that seem to make your soul happy and may take some motivation on your part. For example, I’m always in a better mood after I go to the gym. But sometimes it takes a little motivation to get there…
2. Now that you know what your soul loves, you can use these ideas to plan rewards for yourself. Decide what events deserve rewards and celebrations. For example, in my business, I reward myself at the end of every month for keeping track of my revenue and making or getting close to my revenue goals. Note how I reward myself whether I make the goal or not. I do make a list of what to do differently next month, but I still celebrate having a result to learn from. Usually, this reward entails a massage or a fun outing with a friend.
Here’s some other examples of times that could merit rewards:
• At the end of the week
• When you sign a new client.
• When you fill your group program.
• When you finish writing a sales page, brochure or a new part of your website
• When you check off a particularly long to-do list
• The day after a live event
• The day after the launch of a product or group program
• The day after a major meeting or workshop you’ve been prepping for
• When you get through an emotional storm in your personal life and still manage to get some work done…
3. Plan out your reward or celebration ahead of time. Follow through on it, no matter what your results are. If you are on a budget, remember that a reward can be an afternoon at the park with a new novel.
If your reward is to go to the spa at the end of the month with your gals, then plan it out now. Pick the date, organize it and get it in the calendar.
If you intend to reward yourself with a professional massage, make the appointment and put it in your calendar.
That way no matter what happens – you are training yourself to appreciate and reward yourself.
4. Stick to your rewards, even when you don’t see the success you want. Here’s the thing – if you work 9 to 5 there is always someone there who can help you get through the worst of times – even if it’s just a random person who you complain to at the water cooler.
But when you work for yourself, you need to learn to plan encouragement on your own. And sometimes, just separating yourself from your business and planning a reward can be enough to remind you of how good things really are.
I also find that I get the best ideas on my rewards outings. Fresh ideas come when you aren’t trying to think so hard about everything.
So here’s to you! I toast a virtual glass of champagne to your rewards and celebrations. I’m sending each and every one of you a virtual gold star.
Share with me on my blog how you celebrate and reward yourself, we all might get some new ideas that we can use!
