Celebrate in Shared Joy
July 4th is a time of celebration across the country – a reminder of the day when the Declaration of Independence was signed by thirteen united States of America. It’s critical that the country takes time each year for the Independence Day holiday. It gives us the opportunity to reflect on the rights and values that bind us as a nation, and – just as importantly – it allows us a moment of shared joy.
Just as we take time each year to observe many holidays together as a country, entrepreneurs should also take time to celebrate milestones, achievements, and even declarations. One of the most repeated traits of successful entrepreneurs is that they write down their goals. Writing goals is a process of clarification and intention. Whether or not those goals have yet been realized, pause on occasion to celebrate the work you’ve done towards your goals.
Positive Reinforcement
It’s simple: people who enjoy what they do tend to do better work than those who don’t. One way to buoy spirits is to create a company holiday. Even better than that, create a specific holiday for your employees. For example, I once worked a corporation where every employee got their birthday off. It was a small gesture by the company to add an extra holiday for each employee, and it was a big deal to my coworkers and me.
Another great option is to celebrate individual work toward a collective goal. In other words, if you notice an employee has done an exceptional job, give them something unique as recognition. If you spend most of your time out of the office, make a point to take the employee out to lunch or to a ball game. Show them a different side of you and create a greater bond.
Don’t Forget About Yourself
Don’t forget about yourself. Most entrepreneurs work tirelessly towards reaching their goals and sustaining or growing their businesses. Don’t forget to celebrate as your reach milestones or even along the journey to a milestone.
None of these ideas are original to me. They are taken from books by great entrepreneurs and amalgamated into my own philosophy on business. However, I know a great idea when I see it, and so did our forefathers. They didn’t invent the idea of a national holiday. They did remember it and use it to celebrate their own victories, milestones, and sometimes, just to mark a spot along the journey.
