Remember Scrooge McDuck? He was a wealthy duck tycoon with a vault overflowing with gold. He’d frequently dive into his gold coins and take a swim—enjoying the fruit of his labors. I’ve been doing a bit of the Scrooge McDuck lately.
No, I’m not swimming in gold. I don’t make that much money. But I have been keeping track of my successes and progress. I’ve been making lists of the advertisers and writers I’ve had the privilege of working with. It shocks me how long these lists are. And there are some really amazing names on that list.
I’ve been enjoying the fruit of my labors. And I think it’s important for each of us to do that from time to time. You should look back at your portfolio and enjoy your work. You should see the dollar amount of merchandise you’ve sold. You should look at your college transcript from time to time and remember the work you put in.
The point of this exercise is not to dwell on your success and get a big head. The goal of this is to encourage you and keep you moving.
Every single thing I’ve accomplished has come from consistently and faithfully doing my job. It came from taking small and calculated risks. And not all of my risks worked out, but I don’t focus on those. I focus on the successes. (My failures list would probably dwarf my success list.)
If I’ve been able to accomplish this, how much more can I accomplish in the future? Knowing the result of my risks, how much more likely am I to take more risks in the future?
Take stock of the things you done and keep moving. There are more things to add to the list in the future. You just have to go out and do them.
Note: The love of money is a very bad thing. I’d say the love of success is the same. If you’re seeking a vault full of successes, you’ll never be happy. But if you’re faithful doing the things God has for you, there’s nothing wrong with a little celebration now and then.
