Celebrate your “shipped list” for 2021

It was eleven years ago this month that I first blogged about a “shipped list”, a concept that comes from best-selling author Seth Godin.  Godin talks about shipping, not shipping of products to a destination, but rather the “shipping” of deliverables – getting things done, achieving goals, reaching the finish line, delivering completed products and services – essentially, accomplishing significant goals and objectives.  Nowadays, most of us are moving fast, and when we get things done, we quickly move on to the next item on the to-do list, and there’s usually little (or no) time to reflect on what we’ve just done.  The “shipped list” is a great tool to stop and celebrate, even if it’s just for a few moments, what we’ve achieved, despite our mad rush forward.

I shared my shipped lists for 2010, 2011, and 2012

At the end of each of 2010, 2011 and 2012, I shared my “shipped list” with you, as an encouragement for you to create one for yourself.  While I make this list every year (in some fashion), I haven’t shared mine on the blog since 2012.  But the last two challenging COVID-crammed years have been characterized by constant shifting, dodging, pivoting and spinning, which makes it far-too-easy to dwell on missed opportunities and neglected goals.  So I thought it would be worth pausing to deliberately switch attention and celebrate what we have accomplished in the past year, instead of what we have not.

And now here’s my shipped list for 2021!

So here is my shipped list for 2021.

• Delivered 40 speaking engagements to clients around the world. True, 38 of them were virtual, but that’s a sign of being able to change with the times!
• Speaking of virtual, delivered training for the very first time ever to clients in Russia and the United Arab Emirates.
• On September 27, I gave my 1,200^th presentation as a professional speaker and trainer. And yes, it was virtual!
• Crossed the 77,000 mark for total number of people who have attended my keynotes and leadership training programs.
• Worked one-on-one with 33 C-suite, senior and high-potential leaders , to help them grow and develop as exceptional leaders in their organizations.
• In response to client requests, developed a series of new leadership programs specifically on the hybrid work environment, both from the perspective of leaders and employees. These turned out to be high-demand topics; so glad I listen to my clients!
• Over the course of the year, recorded and published a 20-tip video series titled “Leading Hybrid and Virtual Teams”. Each video contains one short actionable tip to become a better leader in our new workplace reality.
• Acquired seven new (to us) clients! Yes, in a pandemic year!
• Wrote 11 columns as part of my regular monthly series for The Globe and Mail.
• Provided expert advice to a writer at Canadian HR Reporter for an article she was writing about how employers can boost employee engagement in a hybrid workplace.
• Authority Magazine ran a feature article about me, and then a couple of months later, it was picked up by Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global Magazine! (Okay, this one actually happened in late 2020, but it was so exciting that I couldn’t resist throwing it into this year’s list.)
• We relocated our head office from Calgary AB to Victoria BC. And yes, when they say “West coast, best coast”, they aren’t lying!!
• On the personal front, proud to say that 2021 marked the year that there was a sixth recipient of the Spirit and Serena Sunderji Scholarship at the University of Calgary’s School of Veterinary Medicine. This scholarship was endowed in 2015 by my husband and I, in memory of our two feline “children”, and is given annually to a graduating veterinary student who is going into small animal practice.  Emily Dorey was this year’s winner, and she follows in the footsteps of Dr. Becca Wink, Dr. Lindsey Ackert, Dr. Tara Murphy, Dr. Kira Tweed, and Dr. Lauren VanKuppeveld.

Who knew?!  In a year when it was almost impossible to plan anything, we managed to get so much accomplished!  Yay, Merge’s team!!

Your turn!

Now it’s your turn!  Take 10-20 minutes to make a list of what you “shipped” in 2021.  I think, like me, you’ll surprise yourself.  And please, stop by the blog to share your accomplishments so that we can celebrate with you!  Please add your comments below.