Celebrate Accomplishments

Last night we went to Shogun to celebrate Sam’s (age 3) accomplishment of learning to ride a two wheeler without training wheels.  The day of this actual accomplishment was Monday March 8^th.  There was much rejoicing right then and there but Sam had bigger plans for celebrating.    There is little that is more exciting than the joy of accomplishment, but that joy is diminished when no one celebrates with you.   Think about it.  You make a hole in one or you beat your best score on a video game.  If no one is there to see it, it’s just not as exciting.

 As leaders, friends, parents, teachers etc, we must learn the often underdeveloped ability to support and celebrate other’s accomplishments. 

Oscar Wilde said “anybody can sympathize with the suffering of a friend, but it requires a very fine nature to sympathize with a friend’s success” 

There seems to be a natural inclination to sit at length and listen to someone’s problems and failures but when they want to tell you about their success we are often bored and uninterested and feel as if they are bragging.    If we were all honest with ourselves we would admit that it is often a feeling of envy or jealousy that prevents us from truly celebrating another’s success.   I know I have felt that way before….haven’t you?  For some another’s accomplishment makes them feel inadequate.   I can only speak for myself but the main thing behind this feeling for me is my competitive nature.  Everything is a contest….a race. There is also the tendency to diminish the accomplishment if you have already done it.  “Big deal…I’ve been riding a two wheeler for three years” 

Don’t get me wrong, I think a competitive nature is good, it keeps us driven.  But in the game of life one person’s win does not mean you have lost.  It means it can be done, and you can do it too.  So celebrate the accomplishment.  Be sincerely excited and impressed. Celebrate!!!  Not just with a 3 year old learning to ride his bike, but with adults reaching a new level in their business, getting the next degree, getting that promotion.  

From this time forward whenever someone I know reaches a goal I want to see them as I would my child or grandchild reaching that accomplishment.  I will not try to top their accomplishment by telling what it was like when I did that.  I will not steal their thunder.    I will be excited, celebrate and be proud…proud of my friend.   I will celebrate with them.  

If you are in the Louisville area join us Monday morning at Southeast Christian at 10am to talk about blogging and affiliate marketing:  http://www.meetup.com/Blogger-Afflilates-and-Internet-Marketers/  Our special guest this week is Shannon Denniston.  Come hear about the all important Auto Responder.