This ever happen to you?
You’re hiking up a trail to a scenic vista and at your first stop for a breather you turn around and, wow. Look how far up you’ve come already!
Bam! Your brain just got a hit of dopamine.
By stopping to see your progress you trigger the reward center of your brain. Which makes you feel good and encourages you to keep doing the activity that got you there.
Look, life is hard enough as it is. Not to mention if you’re also running your own business or heading up a team. Wouldn’t you like a hit o’ that dopamine encouragement? That clever little hormone that helps you keep going?
If you’re nodding yes then here’s what you have to do.
Stop and look up from your work.
How far have you come? For real, what mile markers have you hit on your way to what you’re working towards? Actually answer this question for yourself. You deserve to hear it.
Ok, now, even if you don’t feel like it, make two fists and raise them above your head in a victory pose and give me a woohoo!
Did you woo?
I wooed.
Definitely woo now if you didn’t woo already.
Or if the victory pose isn’t your thing, then take those same two fists and put your arms down at your side in a right-angle bend at your elbows and do a happy little wiggle.
However you choose to acknowledge progress, the important thing is that you’re acknowledging it. Even if it’s only thirty seconds, make time to recognize forward movement. Celebrate the ordinary. Enjoy the view.
It won’t make your journey to the top any faster.
But it will be a whole lot more fun.
– Zac Smith, VC
