Take Time to Celebrate
Celebrate Like You Mean It (Or at Least Like You Mean to Try)
As I watched the end of the British Open this weekend, a commentator mentioned that Scottie Scheffler struggles to savor his wins primarily because he’s always too focused on the next big thing. And suddenly, I had an A-Ha moment. Not because I can swing a golf club (I absolutely cannot), but because I am Scottie Scheffler—in spirit, not skill. I, too, have a terrible habit of skipping the celebration and diving headfirst into the next task.
And it gets worse. While I under-celebrate the wins, I over-mourn the losses.
But I’ve decided, this needs to stop. And if you, too, are a serial under-celebrator and enthusiastic over-mourner, it’s time for a change. Here’s why:
1. You worked too hard not to party.
Remember that proposal you re-formatted eight times? The 17 contacts you chased just to get a meeting with the right person? The hours of research you did so you could pretend in an interview that the topic wasn’t brand new to you? That work matters. And when it pays off, take a beat—pop some bubbles, make a TikTok, call your mom, best friend, partner in crime. Reward reinforces effort.
2. If you don’t believe in your work, who will?
You’ve got a good product, a good service, a good something. If you’re not taking a minute to shine a light on it, no one else will. Celebrating reminds the world (and more importantly, you) that you're doing something worth noticing. I may not be doing something as important as others (no healing, no life changing here) but nevertheless it matters.
3. Celebrating is actually... fun.
And let’s be honest, a limp high-five in the hallway doesn’t count. You—and your team—deserve more. Whether it’s a cocktail, a cupcake, or an impromptu weekend getaway, take a moment and enjoy it. Your people feel the losses as much as you do; let them feel the wins, too. It fuels the next big push.
So, here’s to some recent wins. WindsorTurner was selected by Empire State Development as a pre-qualified real estate development and planning consultant this month. We have been invited to collaborate with talented, and much larger teams across New York on Brownfield Opportunity Area work and have helped move several small-but-mighty projects closer to reality for our smallest clients (let’s go Sattler Theatre).
And now? It’s 4:22PM. Instead of rehashing my to-do list or obsessing over a rejection email (which, yes, is still sitting in my inbox), I’m headed to JT’s with my girlfriends to raise a glass.
That rejection? I’ll deal with it tomorrow. Their loss anyway. (wink)