What events are worth celebrating? Which celebrations can be customized by adding distinctive touches? Bringing a cowbell to a ski race is a borrowed ritual from Europe. Breaking out the super-sized cowbells for a FIS World Cup Finals elevates the celebration.
How might we have levels of celebration? Meeting a quarterly goal might not require the same response as honoring a retiring board member, which might not be the same as completing a generational capital campaign project.
How does it resonate if I celebrate running a marathon at the half-marathon mark? A half-marathon is an accomplishment, and on its own, the result would be worthy of sharing. However, in the context of a marathon, it is simply fifty percent of the work, and some suggest less than 50% of the mental and physical exertion. If we state the big goal, our progress bar is correlated to the total distance. Is it necessary to reach the finish line to celebrate the journey?
How might we understand the implications of announcing an ambitious goal? Is there significance in the effort if we do not reach the destination? Is exponential value delivered to those who complete the course versus those who commit to an effort and cease before crossing the line?
What makes for a celebration? Goal reached? Duration of commitment to a cause? Serendipity? Historical reverence? Gratitude for current conditions, such as freedoms and liberty?
What do you celebrate? Why do you take time to focus your intention on a specific moment/event? Is the celebration for you or to recognize others?
If we wait until the last moment to share our appreciation we might miss the opportunity to germinate generosity. Delaying gratitude until the gift is revealed is a risky proposition. If we have built trust and a connection, implied thanks might be sufficient but silence can easily be misconstrued and disappointment.
How might waiting until the final meeting of a board member’s term to say generous things change the course of their service? How might periodic illustrations of impact offer encouragement and refuel our collective purpose?
What is the right cadence for celebration and appreciation? What has worked well for your enterprise? What has been less ideal?
What-if-concepts 