How Celebration Generates Success

Published on November 20, 2017

Whenever I give a keynote or work with an executive team, and an audience member finishes a statement or an exercise, I urge the rest of the group to give that person a hearty round of applause. In my work as a Sales and Leadership expert, I’ve discovered that doing so changes the energy and dynamics of the group.

Try this right now, on your own. Clap your hands together repeatedly very softly for 30 seconds.  Done? Did you feel any change in your attitude or energy level? Probably not. Now clap your hands as loud as you can, and hoot and holler for 30 seconds. (Maybe do this in a place where people won’t think you have lost your mind.)  Did you feel any change in your attitude or energy this time?  Most people report feeling more alive.

The point is simple: We control our own destiny. We control our attitude and energy levels. We are the ones who decide whether someone’s rejection of us, unwillingness to forgive us, or simply overlooking us is going to ruin our day. We decide whether we will celebrate our victories to keep ourselves energized and our attitudes positive.

By victories I do not mean just the big wins. There are many smaller victories we achieve in a given day. Making your bed on a hectic morning can be a victory for some. Going to the gym when you are not motivated is a victory. Calling a prospect whom you have convinced yourself will say no to you before you even place the call is a victory.

Neuroscience reveals that crossing out your to-do items every day releases chemicals in the brain that make you more productive. When you celebrate your successes on a daily basis, you create an energy level that propels you forward to greater success.

I know because I have been doing this thanks to a great system developed by Susan Ford Collins. I urge you to read her book The Joy of Success: 10 Essential Skills for Getting the Success You Want and start using her success journal strategy. I am confident it will make as big of a difference in your life as it has in mine.

And look! For today, I am adding this to my success log:  Write blog—DONE!!!

It’s the holiday season, and not everyone feels happy or grateful about that. But I have some good news for you. You can use this same strategy to survive your Thanksgiving holiday when hanging out with those family members or others who steal your mojo and leave you flat. The idea is to look for some good things in them, things you appreciate about them and can celebrate. If you really try, you will find something. I have learned that just doing this one thing can change the entire interaction. You see, every action creates a reaction. If you want to change the reaction, change the action. Surprisingly, it doesn’t take two to change a relationship.

Go ahead and be the leader in your family and your life. Look for the good in all people you interact with, and celebrate it. Doing so will undoubtedly change some of your actions, which can lead to a whole new way of being with certain individuals.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!

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