The past 12 months have been full of “those” days and weeks. You know the kind of week where Murphy’s Law was the rule. If it could go wrong, it did. Most of us have experienced those days, weeks, and months, especially in the last year. My point is, it’s even more important to share your victories when times are tough.

Fourteen years ago, I had one of those years until I figured out the workplace culture no longer was a match for me. It wasn’t a good fit. The answer to that situation was simple – I resigned. I didn’t say it was easy; it wasn’t. It was difficult. I had invested ten years and helped the organization grow and prosper.

Whether it was the business that had changed or me, it no longer was a rewarding experience, so it was a simple solution. The point I want to make is that it can be challenging to share your victories when it seems like there aren’t any. However, that’s not usually the case. There are always victories to share. They might be small, but they’re still wins. And regardless of their scope, it’s important to share your successes.

We All Have Bad Days

But what if you enjoy your job but just had a bad day? The answer isn’t quite as simple, but it’s close. I love my job. Most days, I start early. Today I got up at 5 AM and began writing by 6.

I’m writing this from home on a Saturday because the inspiration hit me, and I wanted to work, not because I felt obliged to do so. Does it get any better than that? However, as much as I love my job, it isn’t perfect, and nor am I. I still have those days and weeks where things just don’t go as planned. So, here’s what I do.

Identify Your Wins

Regardless of how bad things seem, there’s always something that went right. Usually, there are victories to be found in any outcome, and if you’re having trouble identifying a victory, turn your defeat into one. Use whatever went wrong as a lesson and map out how to avoid defeat in the future.

Celebrate and Share Your Victories 

I share wins with a friend. She tells me hers, and I talk about mine. Sometimes they’re big, but not always. A win is a win, and regardless of its scope, it feels good to share.

My wife routinely asks about my day. It used to be that I’d tell her about my problems, but for the last few years, I’ve primarily shared what went right, not what went wrong. It’s a lot more fun to share battles I’ve won rather than skirmishes I’ve lost.

You Can’t Win ‘Em All

No, you can’t win ’em all, but you can identify and share victories every day. If you look close enough, focus on the positive, and not worry about the size of the win, you’ll find your victories. And when you do, and then concentrate on what you did well, your attitude and focus will reflect your successes. You have a choice, wallow in and eventually become defeated by your losses or you can focus on your victories, learn from your defeats, and move forward. It’s up to you.

How Can I Help You?

I like to help people and organizations, but I have three criteria I consider before taking an assignment – I believe in what the organization stands for, I know I can help, and it looks like fun. If you have any questions, Contact Me. 

So, does your business have a management training plan? Because, if not, many organizations, large and small, use my book, The New Manager’s Workbook a crash course in effective management, as the basis for their leadership development program. Check it out. It might help you stop putting off what you want to do.

Photo by Xan Griffin on Unsplash