People are always saying things like look forward, don’t get trapped in the past, work for the future….and that’s all well and good, but I think it’s also important to remember our past, and the end of the year is a good time to do that. Especially when it comes to motivation and goal setting and well, just plain keeping on in this business.The reason I’m saying this today is because for the last couple of years, I’ve been constantly thinking about what to do next, what should the next step in my career be, what’s my plan…I’ve been concentrating a lot on the future, and where I want to go. But in the last month or so, I’ve been getting a lot of reader feedback about my backlist. First off, it’s unbelievably heartwarming to know readers are still enjoying those stories. Secondly, it’s very motivational to know that they want more.
Most importantly, looking back at those stories reminds me of what I’ve done, and what I can do, and how I learned something from each story I wrote. We all grow and learn as we move forward, and it’s good to focus on the future, but I also think it’s important to remember the past, so we know how far we’ve come, and to celebrate it. Too often we’re so focussed on what we want to do, what we need to do to value and celebrate the things we’ve done.
I think this is partly because as business people we always need to look to the future to stay relevant and keep the business going in the right direction, which is important. But it’s also important to not feel like you’re always behind the curve, or that you’re not working hard enough-which is typical of many writers. Looking back every now and then, and seeing what you’ve done, can help you stay sane, and positive, and motivated in a sometimes crazy world.
Give it a try, and don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back when you realize how much you’ve already accomplished.
Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing. — Harriet Braiker