Lesson 14
Celebrating Achievements
Great achievement is born of great sacrifice. This lesson teaches the importance of recognizing progress and milestones. Celebration sustains motivation over long journeys—and every day offers opportunities for small wins that build toward larger success.
Module Resources
In This Module
Recognize Progress
Learn to see and celebrate your milestones along the way
Small Wins Matter
Understand how daily achievements build momentum
Sustain Motivation
Use celebration to maintain energy over the long journey
The Power of Small Wins
Napoleon Hill wrote: "Happiness comes from the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best." When we celebrate achievements—even small ones—we reinforce the behaviors that lead to success.
In prison, where time moves slowly and release may seem distant, celebrating small wins becomes essential for maintaining motivation. Each book read, each course completed, each disciplinary-free month is an achievement worth recognizing.
Building Momentum
Success builds on success. When you celebrate an achievement, you:
- Reinforce the positive behavior
- Build confidence for the next challenge
- Create evidence of your progress
- Motivate yourself to continue
Like a snowball rolling downhill, small achievements gather size and momentum. Start with small goals you can achieve quickly, then build toward larger ones.
Documenting Achievements
Keep a record of your achievements:
- Education: Courses completed, certificates earned, books read
- Character development: New skills developed, habits changed
- Relationships: Connections maintained, support network built
- Service: People helped, contributions made
This record serves multiple purposes. It shows your growth to others—parole boards, family members, potential employers. It also reminds you of how far you've come when discouragement strikes.
The Ten-Ten-Ten Framework
Suzy Welch developed a decision-making framework that applies here. Before making any choice, consider:
- How will this decision affect me in ten minutes?
- How will this decision affect me in ten months?
- How will this decision affect me in ten years?
This framework helps you see how today's small achievements connect to long-term success. Each good decision today creates opportunities for celebration tomorrow.
Reflection Exercises
Write responses to the following questions in approximately ten minutes each.
Recent Achievements
What achievements have you made in the past month? How did they make you feel?
Celebrating Progress
How do you currently celebrate your achievements? How can you do this more effectively?
Upcoming Milestones
What milestones are you working toward? How will you celebrate when you reach them?
Achievement Record
How are you documenting your achievements? Create or refine your system for tracking progress.