Right now, you’re probably reflecting on the year:
The projects that went great.
The projects that…well, didn’t.
And all those times you swore, “Next year, I’ll finally figure out how to XYZ.”
Same here.
For me, this season has been full of pitching and selling books and keynotes.
And let me tell you, nothing humbles you faster than getting a dozen, ”Let’s circle back next year” emails.
It’s easy to focus on what didn’t go well—the hard stuff, the projects that missed the mark, or the times you fell short.
But that’s not where I want us to focus today.
The Problem
We let the hard moments steal the spotlight from the wins.
And those wins? They deserve their moment.
The Big Small Thing
Here’s my quick challenge for you:
Take 10 minutes to reflect on your year and write down 3 wins you’re most proud of.
Not sure where to start? Use this simple framework:
1️⃣ Role: What part did you play?
2️⃣ Objective: What were you aiming to do?
3️⃣ Impact: What did you accomplish?
For example:
“I led a team of 3 to address the top 25 customer troubleshooting issues (Role). Filed 5 bug and feature requests with Engineering to remove customer pain points (Objective). Two were implemented, leading to a 12% increase in customer satisfaction year-over-year (Impact).”
Bonus points if you say it out loud to your mirror with a confident, “Yep, I crushed it.”
And if you decide to share it with your boss in Q1? Even better. Let them know how awesome you are!
But even if you jot down something simpler just for you, the exercise is still worthwhile.
The simple version of mine is:
- Wrote an awesome book with Penguin Random House
- Left Google after 18 years to focus full-time on delivering value to you
- Cleaned my office after staring at piles for 6 months
(Note: This concept is straight out of the “Shameless” chapter of my new book. It’s all about owning your accomplishments—and the right way to share them with your boss.)
How This Helps You Chase What You Want
Celebrating your wins does 3 powerful things:
1️⃣ It boosts your confidence heading into the new year.
2️⃣ It helps you build a case for your contributions during performance reviews (if you decide to share).
3️⃣ And it reminds you of your impact—because you’ve accomplished more than you realize.
If celebrating your wins feels uncomfortable, here’s a mantra for you:
“It’s awesome to express pride in my work. It’s awesome to tell others what I’ve accomplished.”
If Harry Styles can jam out to his own albums (which he does), you can celebrate your wins too.
So grab a pen and write down those 3 things you’re most proud of.
Your future self will thank you.
Let’s do this,
