Who doesn’t love a little praise? Just watch a puppy go crazy wagging his tail when you tell him he’s such a good boy for learning a new trick. And you probably reward him with a treat. Kids like to know that they spelled it correctly or crayoned something masterful. They love to see their project displayed, receive a round of applause at a concert, or enjoy a cupcake party simply to celebrate their birthday.
Adults like to hear that they solved the problem, lost the weight, nailed the promotion, jumped to the top of the leader board, made the bestseller list, beat the buzzer, closed the deal, sold out The Garden, or clinched the title. (Don’t we sound like the neediest ones of all?!) For adults there are celebratory dinners, or bottles of bubbly (bonus cash, fame, and recognition are all fantastic too). 👏
Sometimes the reward is the finish line itself– you’ve won your case, the client is thrilled and the matter is closed. Your bid was the highest, you’ve been chosen, and those coveted sneakers are on their way to your door.
When I trained for the New York City Marathon I had a strict running schedule. If the calendar said run 12 miles, I ran 12 miles. If the schedule said do 18, I did 18. Eating properly for the workouts became essential and food became fuel. So there were no treats given for the grueling runs, as that would have compromised my efforts. When I crossed the literal finish line, euphoria set in– but not only because of my strides on that warm November day. I was celebrating the ten months of training it took me to prepare, and the years prior to that when I casually jogged, but secretly dreamed of proudly running up First Avenue while the whole drunken block cheered me on. (And they did, by the way. How do you not absolutely ❤️ New York?)
My son even held up a sign that day saying, “My Mom is the fastest runner ever!” which was a complete lie, but his pride in me made me smile. When Matty saw the medal I had earned he asked me if I had won the race. I told him that everyone who ran that day won. (And of course we had a big family dinner to celebrate.)
We each make major sacrifices when we are grinding on a big project, studying for an exam, prepping for a big presentation, or trying to change a patterned behavior. A well-earned reward seems like a great idea when success is in hand. Right now I’m proud of myself for successfully getting out of bed so I rewarded myself with a shower! The passion to succeed, the hunger for achieving goals, and the discipline it takes to conquer difficult tasks reminds us that the transformation really happens during the journey– the finish line is just the last step. So if you’re absolutely killing it today, good for you! And if like me, you’ve managed to grab a shower, or have a little something to eat, or did more than one pushup, then good for you, too. Well done! Everyone gets a gold star today. ⭐️
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