At the end of each year, I review my spreadsheets and data for my business. Every year I have growth, but this year was the smallest percentage of growth and that really got to me… [A Thread]

I thought, if I had to present my business to investors, they might be excited to hear about the percentage growth of my business year over year, as that means I must be developing something great. Until this year. They would probably assume I was hitting a plateau.

I thought, Wow, I’ve worked harder and smarter this year than any previous year. I have more people in my circles, more systems in gear, more referrals, more affirmations from the outside world that I’m good at what I do.

But I stared at these spreadsheets and their numbers which I believe are the purest, simplest form of gauging success for a business. What else is a business but the bottom line? I thought, Anna, you let yourself down.

At the end of each year, I also meet with all of my clients to review how the past 12 months went for them. One actor came in and said how discouraged he felt about this year- almost no bookings.

Are you kidding, I thought. He tested for a series for the 1st time, did 3 chemistry reads, got called in repeatedly for the same casting offices, signed with a voiceover agency, and raised 5K dollars for his first short film. That’s brilliant! Those are all seeds that will grow.

Oh, I thought. Well, look at me. Excited about the growth of my actor versus their literal paycheck for the year. Didn’t you say it was all about the numbers?

But what I told my actor is true. Sometimes the most growth comes from challenges or from other forms of success, outside of money. Eventually, it all does come together and materialize.

It’s so important not to get absorbed into ONE form of success, that you fail to appreciate the other ways in which you've grown. Take it ALL into account because it ALL adds up. All growth is good. Bookings, money, notoriety are the results of every kind of success combined.

This year you and/or your business may have grown this way or that way, and next year it will be a slightly different way. I promise.

So as the end of the year is approaching, and we all think about what we're grateful for, take a moment to write down every BIG or SMALL success you've had this year. Really, write it down. And then be grateful! It all matters. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!