There are two elements to a goal; the journey and the attainment. The ratio is a bit off, the journey is 98% and the attainment is 2%. Unless you are the 58-year-old that still relives your part in an obscure high school football game everytime the Friday night lights power up; then the ratio is flipped. For the rest of us, the time spent to attain the goal is the preparation and the grind to achieve the degree, the medal or the acknowledgment. Historically, I would characterize my attainment 2%, as very stoic. Great, I won an award, let me take it out of the frame and put it in the file cabinet. Disclaimer: my achievements do not include any Nobel prizes.

But, is that the whole story?

Any achievement is done with supporting help from others and celebrating the 2% allows for a moment to reflect and thank those that helped to make it possible. Remaining silent or downplaying the achievement is selfish and robs others of celebrating their contribution in the pursuit of the goal. This also provides an opportunity to inspire others and cheer them along on their journey. The 2% is important.

Last year my son and I completed a Spartan Sprint obstacle race. I was very nervous going into the race and nearly backed out the night before the race due to fear of injury. Spoiler Alert: it didn't kill me. We finished, not in record time, but we finished. We made some great memories and will be doing another couple Spartan races this year. Celebrating the completion of the race was an opportunity to thank my son for heaving me over obstacles, walls and whatever else was necessary to keep me going. It would have been a missed opportunity to encourage my son if I had merely filed the finisher medal away and never spoke of it again. We both need to be reminded of the glory of achieving a goal. 

Going Further: How do you acknowledge the goals you have achieved? How do you celebrate with those that have helped and sacrificed for you to achieve the goal? What prevents you from fully celebrating? Are there any achieved goals that were not properly acknowledged? What other question should be asked?