As a recruiter, do you celebrate your successes?

I am completely the wrong person to be writing this blog as I never celebrate any successes and instead think about ‘what’s next’, but I hear celebrating is supposed to be a good thing. So here goes with my hypocritical blog.

In all seriousness I can see the value in taking stock of one’s achievements. In this day and age where all we hear is negativity it can be difficult to actually get a grasp of your achievements as nothing ever seems to be good enough. I always feel that it is almost a sign of weakness and that it is important for me to stay focused and drive myself forward. When does it end? What will ever be good enough? In my case I am afraid nothing will as I will always want more. However I am starting to realise that I can celebrate in my own way and not limit my hunger.

Each day brings a new challenge and with it that doom and gloom that we are force fed by the media. If we do not take positives no matter how large or small from each day we will eventually succumb and only ever see failure.

If you have read any of my previous blogs or you are anything like me you are probably thinking he’s gone soft? Surely if you are driven to succeed you will never succumb to failure? True, but if we ‘driven’ people can find a way to make ourselves even more formidable then why not give it a go?

After all, we all want success, that’s why we work so hard and push ourselves to the limit. So at the end of today have a think about what went right and enjoy it, taste the success and make sure it is something you never let go of, let it drive you rather than scare you as a weakness. Don’t just think what went wrong (you can think about this after and make it right tomorrow).

I probably haven’t completely convinced myself, so it is unlikely I have convinced you. Either way let’s both give it a go, let’s live for success rather than die thinking our successes were failures.

Written by,

Sunjay Patel.

Twitter

Comment by Bonnie Skara on April 5, 2012 at 9:56am: I do a little dance in my head.....it's private and for myself....it makes me smile and it doesn't effect anyone else (ex. bragging)

Comment by Lipton Fleming on April 5, 2012 at 10:08am: Haha Bonnie the head dancer, nice. Maybe you should expand that on to the dance floor (in the middle of your office).

Comment by Bonnie Skara on April 5, 2012 at 10:12am: Oh my friend.....it has been done...on more than one occasion.....hahahaha...it's not pretty, hense why it is in my head!

Comment by Lipton Fleming on April 5, 2012 at 10:14am: Fair Fair.... :-)

Comment by Kyle Schafroth on April 5, 2012 at 11:06am: First off - +5 points for the pic, everything is better with a little Fonz.

I think it's a hard split between recognizing/'celebrating' the successes you've had/made and flaunting them. So often "it's about results and numbers" is what you hear so as a recruiter it can be hard not to point out your own metrics. I think it's really about sort of 'picking you battles' per se; I don't do a lap for high-fives with every job filled but at the end of a quarter when I can show that my hiring activity was within a certain time to fill range, we're had positive feedback on candidates, we've within/under budget on something...whatever it is - that is when I point out what I've done.

I'd rather point out and celebrate a pattern of success rather than a one off - would you rather be Sinead O'Connor or Nirvana in the 90's?

Comment by Amy Ala Miller on April 5, 2012 at 11:43am: One of my first bosses told me to buy myself something shiny with every commission check. In lean months it could be a $10 pair of earrings - my biggest check ever paid for my entire wedding and honeymoon (that's a lot of shiny). Now as a corporate recruiter I set mini goals for myself - one of the first was 30 hires in my first 90 days at my current company. Bought myself new shoes. :)

Comment by Lipton Fleming on April 5, 2012 at 12:01pm: Nice work....... I have to admit shiny things don't float my boat but I see the merit!! :-) Congrats on the wedding!

Comment by Betsy Park on April 5, 2012 at 12:12pm: In our office we have been more about celebrating each other's successes. Little things from Stand UP hi-fives, to indulging in afternoon Starbucks...I have even had a "victory lap" when a coworker ran me in my chair around the office to celebrate a BIG break with a client (we have a small office, and I am a petite gal). They may seem silly, but if someone in our office has had success, it boots morale and gives us all a chuckle..

Although, personally I am also on the shiny-train, just last week I gifted myself a mani-pedi with shiny nailpolish to celebrate a small, yet substantial success :)

Comment by Amy Ala Miller on April 5, 2012 at 12:26pm: I can't get enough shiny. :) Thanks... the wedding was several years ago lol but it was nice to not have to put anything on credit! I paid everything outright - dress, caterer, photographer, all of it with one month's earnings. It wasn't a HUGE wedding but still!

Back to the original point - yes. Celebrate everything. Even if it's only in your head. :)

Comment by Valentino Martinez on April 6, 2012 at 10:18am: Success is a relative term yet there is a natural tendency to want to celebrate success(s) in private or public ways--particularly if it's a team success. And like any accomplishment, even in recruitment, there is the watch-out that it may annoy others. Nevertheless, I say, “So be it.”

I always appreciated the flipside of “success” in the classic conundrum in the old ABC Sports promo – “The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat! The human drama of athletic competition.” This easily applies to recruitment because the competition is fierce and accomplishments are hard earned.

I feel when you succeed—be proud of it. Relish the moment. If it’s a fist-pump, partying with the team, receiving an honor…or going on a shopping spree…enjoy the moment and crow about it every now and then.

My plaques, checks, trophies, medals and ribbons inspire me to always strive to do even better. I value my oldest accomplishments as much as my most recent. So, celebrate your successes in your own special way.