Record your wins.

You won't remember. You never do.

You can't. It's not possible.

When you need encouragement the most, you are least able to recall your wins. Neuroscience blah blah blah you get it.

So, write it down in a place you can access.

I have seen:

• Folders where my friends insert their show programs, news clippings and awards
• Jars— my friends write down on pieces of papers a win every day and then put it in the jar
• Journals—Mine is handmade in Italy, with a waterproof cover.

Record your wins.

P.S. We teach this:

Your wins are your wins.

This is what I mean:

In November 1976, the film Rocky premiered. Cowritten by and starring 30 year old actor Sylvester Stallone, the film won Academy awards for best picture, best direction, and best film editing, and Mr. Stallone was nominated for best screenplay (written directly for the screen).

Spoiler alert: In the movie, Rocky doesn't win.

He didn't win the match.

That wasn't his goal.

His goal, as a nobody-nothin’, was to be taken seriously as a boxer, and to do that, he made it his goal to last all fifteen rounds against his opponent, Apollo Creed, who was the world heavyweight champion.

So when folks were cheering in the audience at the movie theater, they weren't cheering for the actual winner.

They were cheering for Rocky, who ended up not even winning the match.

You ended up cheering for “the loser” because he met his goal, and ended up getting the girl, too.

Be real with your wins, is my point. Your wins don't have to look like everybody else's.

• If your win today was you took a shower, note that. Sometimes it's like that.
• You didn't curse out your boss today. Win.
• You smiled at yourself for no reason…simply out of contentedness, and that’s new. Win.
• You had a sip of water, up from no sips yesterday. Win.
• You won the Noble Prize in chemistry. Win.
• You improvised that riff so well. Win.
• Your baby burped on the third pat on the back. Win.

We celebrate all wins—including and especially the ones that seem too small to mention to others.

If you're mentioning it at all, it's a win.

The foundation of success is not built on seismic waves in your life. It's built and strengthened by n.o.t.i.c.i.n.g., and then marveling right now. This is where all the action is happening, now. Where are you winning?

Record your wins.

P.P.S. The above flies under the banner of “health and wellness”, and yes, it's in that chapter of The Faculty Handbook.

But consider that I walked you through an analogy referencing an Academy award winning film made 50 years ago and you got it.

You felt it.

Saw it.

You already are figuring out how to use this information in your next lesson to encourage a student.

And there it is.

****************

We help professional musicians and first year music teachers become effective educators. We provide seminars, one-on-one consultations, professional development workshops, and keynote speaking.

The Faculty Handbook is my actual handbook that I developed over the years while running my own studio. It is available at Teachers Pay Teachers so that you have the option of multiple buyers.

Our signature service, The Audit, allows you to see your studio with fresh eyes and helps you set quantifiable short-term and long-term goals, including teacher retention, student enrollment, and overall morale.

For more information, email us at ThePianoInstructorConsulting@gmail.com or call us directly at +1.313.687.4433.