Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.

The pressure of continuous performance improvement can be draining. To restore energy and enthusiasm and provide a sense of winning, stop periodically to:

• Review performance.
• Have fun.
• Celebrate success.
• Reflect on what's been accomplished and how far we've come.
• Re-establish direction towards vision and goals.

Getting feedback about performance is critical to success. If you don't know how you are doing, you can't improve. A major reason for failure is that many managers fail to periodically review and assess their performance. Who would set off on a long journey to a place that you've never been before, without stopping frequently to check the map?

Taking time to celebrate along the path helps restore the drive. Many managers are always looking forward to next quarter or next year as being 'better.' Take time to celebrate the successes of today, such as no accidents, meeting budget, an outstanding idea, achieving a business or career milestone.

Effective leaders find ways of breaking a long journey into a series of short exciting trips, finding a multitude of ways to show appreciation and recognition to teams and individuals along the way.

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