Lesson 9: Celebrate the Wins - Big or Small
TEN Years, 10 Lessons: What We Wish We Knew When We Started
In October 2025, Eleven Eleven Talent will turn 10. To celebrate, we’re sharing 10 lessons—one each month—about what we’ve learned in a decade of building a business. From community-building to resilience, from hiring to firing, these are the insights we wish we knew when we started.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a recruiter, or navigating your own career path, we hope these lessons support you in building something meaningful and lasting.
Lesson 9: Celebrate the Wins - Big or Small
Because taking time to pause and acknowledge progress is what keeps you going in the long run.
When you’re building a business, it’s tempting to only look forward, chasing the next client, the next milestone, the next “big” win. But what we’ve learned is this: if you don’t pause to celebrate along the way, you’ll miss the meaning of what you’re actually building.
I (Tess) remember the first time we closed a six-figure contract. I thought I’d feel relief or joy. Instead, I felt… nothing. I was already onto the next deliverable. It wasn’t until I was standing at school pickup later that week - laughing with my kids, being fully present—that it hit me: this was the win. The contract mattered, but so did the life it allowed me to create.
I (Alisha) remember when we hired our first employee. The responsibility felt heavy, but in the best way. We took the team to dinner that evening and I watched each person talk about their dreams for their careers. It was a small, ordinary moment, but one I’ll never forget. That conversation reminded me that our growth wasn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. It was people, it was impact.
What Celebrating Has Taught Us
It’s not always the big, flashy moments. Sometimes celebration is Cartier. Other times it’s charcuterie and prosecco. But often, it’s standing at hockey practice or bedtime with a peaceful heart and realizing—I’m living the version of success that matters to me.
Celebration fuels resilience. When things get tough (and they will), remembering past wins gives you the strength to keep going.
It builds culture. Teams thrive when they feel seen. Celebration shows your people that their work matters.
It creates gratitude. Pausing to notice the good, even in small ways, makes the hard days more bearable.
Takeaways for You
📌 Don’t wait for perfect - celebrate progress as it happens.
📌 Anchor your celebrations in meaning, not money. A pause, a note of gratitude, a walk to reflect can be just as powerful.
📌 Look around your everyday life. Sometimes the most meaningful version of success is happening quietly in the middle of your routines.
We’re still learning to celebrate. To stop rushing. To see success not only in contracts and numbers, but in the ordinary, human moments that remind us why we started.
So if you’re in the thick of building right now—pause. Look up. Acknowledge how far you’ve come.
Because one day, these will be the moments you remember most.
❤️ Alisha and Tess
Next up: Our last and final post in this series: Lesson 10 – Play the Long Game.
Because building something meaningful isn’t about quick wins—it’s about resilience, vision, and the courage to keep going.
