You’ve Earned the Praise. Celebrate It.
Here’s a cool idea I picked up from Austin Kleon in his book Steal Like an Artist:
Keep a Praise File 
Here’s the idea…
“…down the road, I will have a dark day when I want to quit, when I wonder why the heck I even bother with this stuff.” Kleon writes. “That’s why I put every nice e-mail I get in a special folder… When those dark days roll around and I need a boost, I open that folder and read through a couple e-mails. Then I get back to work. Try it: Instead of keeping a rejection file, keep a praise file. Use it sparingly — don’t get lost in past glory — but keep it around for when you need a lift.”
I do something similar — with a twist. I practice something I call
“Earned Gratitude.”
Most nights, I grab my journal and reflect on my day’s activities. Like many others, I record things for which I’m grateful.
I also consider ways I’ve served others, things I’ve done for which I could have earned gratitude.
Then I write about it in my journal. Just a sentence or two…
…about the breakthrough I helped my client achieve or…
…the help I gave my mother-in-law when her computer froze or…
…the encouragement I gave a mastermind partner when she was stuck…
…or the 30% tip I gave the server who delivered fantastic service.
Maybe they thanked me. Maybe they didn’t. That doesn’t matter. I celebrate either way.
Austin Kleon’s on to something with the Praise File. I’m going to keep those nice e-mails and other mementos of praise.
But why wait until the “dark days” to celebrate YOU.
You do good work. You serve others. You earn gratitude.
Reflect on it and celebrate it every day.
It will motivate you and make you better.
Speaking of Austin Kleon…
…Steal Like an Artist (great book, highly recommended) is this month’s selection for the Mastermind Book Club. Each month, Ted Prodromou and I choose one book for the Club to read and discuss. On the fourth Thursday (4/25 this month), we meet live on Zoom to discuss the book.
The Club and meetings are free to attend. But you have to join the Club in advance to get the meeting notices and Zoom link.
Don't go away yet..
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