Where Are You Going? Look at Where You’ve Been.

This past Friday, April 10, marked the one year anniversary of Our Real Work.Cue the cake, champagne, and fireworks. Or something.Is one year of business a cause for celebration? What does one do to mark this kind of milestone? Why notice it at all?Milestones are useful check points. Often when we’re busy working toward a goal or simply moving forward through a process or period in our lives, it’s hard to see how far we’ve come. We get stuck in the murky middle of where we are or we look ahead at how far we have yet to go. Milestones give us an opportunity to pause and reflect, notice progress, get perspective.Celebrate and honor.So, Our Real Work is a year old. Looking at the day to day, I might judge my business by my current income or the number of human souls I serve. Is it where I want to be? Am I doing enough for others? What do I need to do better? What’s going okay?But pausing at this milestone, I have the chance to look at what I’ve accomplished: this website; this vibrant, thoughtful group; these offerings. I’m doing work I’m deeply connected with.And it’s not just business. Milestones crop up all through our lives—birthdays (just had one of those, too), anniversaries, first steps (and all those other baby book notables), graduation, the first holiday without a loved one, retirement . . .

Milestones can be markers along the path or transitional crossroads. Either way I believe in honoring these events. Maybe a party is in order. Or maybe just some quiet recognition.

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Look what I can do that I couldn’t do before.How far I’ve come.What I’ve accomplished.What I’ve survived.Take a deep breath.Acknowledge where you are. Look back to see how far you’ve come. Look ahead; check your course. Be honest about where you headed, what you need, what you know and don’t know. And then take the next step, toward that next milestone.While I’m paused here at my one-year milestone, I want to thank everyone who has been with me on this part of my journey—my business peeps who have supported me and helped me focus my ideas and bring them into being—and all of you who read my words, join in my conversations, and take steps with me to becoming more real.What milestones have you reached recently? How did you mark the occasion? I’d love to know (and celebrate with you) in the comments.