Make a record of your history of excellence in whatever format works best for you. Here are excerpts from your author’s “Kudos List” over a couple of years to show you one way to do it. I build the list by recording examples of personal excellence, large and small, as I recall them. I read them every once in a while to remind myself.
Guide
★ Excellence is small but noteworthy
★ Excellence is medium
★ A large chunk o’ excellence
★ Jumbo excellence
2014
★ Remembered to not eat breakfast and get to doctor’s office on time for lab work.
★ Went to 3-hour evening seminar with D, because she wanted to.
★ Remembered to notice D’s new hairstyle and compliment her on it.
★ Got AT&T to upgrade me after internet connection went down.
★ Changed password on my bank account.
★ Made dinner and cleaned it up for tired wife.
★ Walked to grocery store for exercise, got fresh tomatoes for dinner.
★ Finished Gumptionade Draft #7.
★ Sat through awful foodie movie because D wanted to see it.
★ Attended the Outreach meeting after church.
★ Heavy weights workout at the Y.
★ Called B just to say hello.
★ Kept my working discipline and did not read emails constantly all day.
★ Picked up T from rehab so she could go to the church dinner.
★ Got a jump on finding a copy editor today, a few weeks before I will need one.
★ Filed Pastoral Care team report on time.
★ Fixed the new business proposal immediately after getting request for changes.
★ Resisted binge-watching Orange is the New Black, so I could get up early and write.
★ Swam 45 minutes at the Y when I really didn’t feel like it.
★ Called sister on her birthday.
★ 40 minutes of exercise on the elliptical in hot attic.
★ Did not eat any of the cupcakes served after church.
★ Figured out how to stream shows from Netflix onto the TV.
★ 401k deposit made on time.
★ Sent out client billing for July on August 1!
★ Wrapped D’s birthday presents the night before, so they would be on the breakfast table when she woke up.
★ Turned off the TV and went to bed at a decent hour so I could be up early to write.
★ Programmed new garage door remote.
★ Remembered to do change of address at bank (had to be done in person) when I deposited a check.
★ Researched two Network Solutions charges on my Amex bill, found out they were not something I ordered and got the promise of a full refund – over $100!
★ Birthday gift for sister.
★ Was patient, did not jump on B for not making appointment with F, and it turned out not really to be B’s fault.
★ I salute you for getting this far in my kudos list!
★ Picked up veggies for tonight’s dinner on the way back from the bank.
★ Swam for 45 minutes after work.
★ Completed project for FM: doing what you said you would do, when you said you would do it, despite unforeseen difficulties.
★ K, M and E comments on Gumptionade draft #5 reviewed and followed-up on.
★ Pastoral care visits made on the way home from church.
★ Battery, tires and oil change for the Corolla.
★ N says Gumptionade is “ready to go” to press.
★ Made that uncomfortable call to Smith, re: Payne.
★ Gift sent to S: gratitude expressed promptly.
2013
★ 300 + workouts in 2013.
★ Good meeting with J.
★ Gumptionade draft #5 off to M.
★ Good meetings w J and P.
★ G to ER in Bridgeport in the middle of the night.
★ Mounted guitar on wall of office.
★ 4 letters to Uncle G in October.
★ Kicked-off Ireland trip planning.
★ Project follow up, to show S and T that I do what I say I will do.
★ M&A call with Consultant.
★ Practicing w online meeting product.
★ Drove L to the municipal lot—in the middle of the workday—so she could reclaim her car that was towed.
★ If you are still reading my kudos list, go to gumptionade.com/dream-reader and claim a prize.
★ Sf.com work for client – taking my capabilities up a notch.
★ Amex green card: miles transferred off, card closed.
★ SodaStream® refill. What a pain. First world problem.
★ Patience with D, with myself.
★ Remembered my wedding anniversary and did something about it.
★ January mileage done in January.
★ Eight days in a row of waiting until 4 PM before checking my Facebook feed.
