Greetings,

We’ve come to December—when many of us reflect on how the year has gone and start to prepare for the next year. While our companies will evaluate us on outcomes (some elements of which are beyond our control), I'd urge you to also celebrate your efforts.

One of my favorite African proverbs is “not every lion who chased the zebra caught it, but every lion who caught the zebra chased it.” The insight is that we may not accomplish everything we set out to do, but the chance of success often turns on focused initiative. The effort we put in is the variable most within our control. 

So, as you assess your year, please give yourself credit for the work you invested and identify the tweaks you can make to be even more impactful next year. 

I hope you chased some exciting goals this year and attained them; but, most importantly, I hope that you can feel good about the pursuit.