Are you celebrating milestones in your business?

Very often the months go by far too quickly. It’s already less than 100 days until the end of this year and most of us still think 1990 was 10 years ago. (Spoiler alert: 23 years ago)

So while the world seems to be speeding up, it’s even more important to slow down, recognize and appreciate the milestones.

Here are 7 big milestones to watch out for:

Milestone 1: Hiring your first employee or contractor
If you’ve requested our 5 Days to Finding Fabulous Help for your Online Business video series, you know that I am a fan of team! When you make that first hire it’s a signal that you’re ready to grow, investing in your business and serious about service.

It’s not just the first employee – every new hire is cause for celebration!

Milestone 2: Selling your first product or program
There’s a unique rush that most people will never understand when you put your knowledge, experience, blood, sweat and tears into creating a thing and then offer it to the world and make a sale. You’re creating value and it’s an exciting moment.

In fact, you should never lose the excitement of those milestones and daily tracking sales will help you remember that first rush again and again.

Milestone 3: Closing a client – for the highest rates you’ve charged yet
In the beginning you might have trouble setting your price, even set them low. So when you confidently raise you rates to match your level of experience and service and close a new client, it’s a great feeling!

Sometimes you have to look back and remember just how far you’ve come to appreciate the new milestone.

Milestone 4: Re-closing a client for a second project, contract or experience
Bringing clients back for more work is validating. And if you’re not yet on board, recurring business is so much easier to secure than new clients all the time. If you’re not paying attention to recurring business, you should be, and each time you bring a client back or they renew, it’s a milestone to celebrate.

Milestone 5: Getting that big speaking gig
Whether you’re on stage at TED, the local morning news or in front of your colleagues, a speaking gig is another signal that you’re the expert and ready to serve lots of people. It takes courage and oomph to put yourself out there, not to mention get up on the stage. So whether it’s a 4 minute talk at your local networking group or in front of the UN, celebrate each speaking engagement as a major milestone.

Milestone 6: Seeing your content in print
Maybe you prefer to write instead of speak publicly. While I wholeheartedly approve of building your own blog, you also should be looking for opportunities to write for the media and get published.

It might be a guest blog, a media mention or even your own book. But seeing your content physically on the page is a milestone to celebrate.

Milestone 7: Hitting your monthly income goal
It would have been easy to make this #1 because so often we think it’s all about the money. While not the only concern, reaching your monthly income goals is a great step in the right direction to reaching your annual goals. It also reminds you to be looking regularly, not once a year, at these numbers.

What else? What goals and milestones are you tracking?