Celebrate Your Big and Small Entrepreneurial Moments

Thursday Thoughts for Women Entrepreneurs, Female Business Owners

It was September 1996 on the aqua shore of Skaneateles Lake under a white tent rented to shade guests from rain or sunshine earlier in the day. Music spilled out of the big glass windows above the tent’s ceiling and laughter intermixed with the band adding its own chorus lines. The moon was out, sparkling on the water now, as I paused to catch a few silent moments of success before returning to check on my first big official client for my new event planning company.

I heard myself say, “You deserve it, Tracy. You did a wonderful job today. Take it in. Don’t rush away quite yet. This moment will soon be replaced.” So, I stood there allowing all five senses to enjoy the moment of success. This particular success was extremely important because the client was my husband’s boss and the wedding of his only daughter. If I failed at this very first event as a woman entrepreneur, not only would my new career be over, but perhaps my husbands too.

At the end of the night, the bride and groom rode off after watching brilliant fireworks display and the bride’s parents thanked me for a job well done. I rode off into the moonlight with wisdom that accompanied me from that starlit night until today, 27 years later. The lesson…..always relish your successes, no matter how big or small, especially if you are a solo entrepreneur, because it is up to you, and only you sometimes, to realize and acknowledge what you’ve accomplished.

Unlike a wedding crowd throwing birdseed or toasting to you with champagne, often entrepreneurship can be a lonely, hard-fought experience if no one is watching or there to cheer you on. Women don’t go into business for themselves for heaps of praise, but once in a while, they need it to sustain a rough period, after accomplishing a large risk, or if staff or advisors are lacking in quantity to notice.

Just like selfies are okay to take and post, so is patting yourself on the back, buying your own champagne, and toasting to yourself periodically for a job well done. If it is a really big success, don’t be afraid to throw yourself a party complete with fireworks with favorite customers, associates, and staff around to celebrate all you have done, and still plan on doing in the future; but don’t let those really special moments or milestones go by without noticing them.