Too often we are so focused on where we are going, we forget how far we’ve come.  Today take a moment to look at your diary or calendar to see where you were a year ago, two years ago, and five years ago.

Several years ago I really felt I had hit a slump.  It felt like I’d made no progress and would never make progress.  I signed up for a Women in Film New Year’s workshop.

One of the assignments was to go though your calendar day-by-day and make a list of everything you’d done– every script mailed out, every meeting, every research session, every phone call!  When I tallied up the year I was amazed at what I have accomplished– progress I had completely forgotten about.

My career was moving forward!  The next assignment was to analyze what was the most effective use of my time.  What paid off and what seemed less productive.  Looking at that whole year day-by-day as it added up was a revelation.

The step by step by step of  incremental progress is always what makes a lasting career.  List the small steps you’ve taken so far this year and be sure to count ALL  the little victories.  Celebrate the mistakes you made that taught you valuable lessons and enabled you to move forward in new ways.

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than an unsuccessful person with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”  Calvin Coolidge

Your small, seemingly insignificant, steps and your continued little victories make up the persistence that turns into a solid career!