Chapter 3 — Identifying Your Achievements: What Counts and What Matters
Most individuals accomplish far more than they realize.
But because those achievements are not always dramatic or publicly visible, people often overlook them, underestimate them, or forget them entirely. This creates a gap between the value individuals bring and the recognition they receive.
Identifying your achievements is the first major step in self-assessment. It is also the foundation of strong submissions for business awards such as the Globee Awards, which require individuals to articulate what they accomplished, how they accomplished it, and what results they delivered.
This chapter teaches you how to recognize achievements in your everyday work—large or small, strategic or operational, leadership-based or skill-based, internal or customer-facing. You will learn to identify accomplishments you may have never seen as “achievements,” even though they genuinely qualify.
Why Individuals Struggle to Recognize Their Own Achievements
There are several reasons people fail to identify their achievements:
1. Achievements feel “normal” when you’re the one doing the work.
Something that required skill and effort for you may feel ordinary because you’re used to it.
2. People assume only big results matter.
In reality, many eligible Globee Awards categories honor incremental improvements and smaller wins.
3. Individuals underestimate their contributions.
Many think, “I was just doing my job.” But doing your job exceptionally is an achievement.
4. People forget achievements quickly.
Without documentation, even major accomplishments fade from memory.
5. Some achievements happen quietly.
You may solve problems behind the scenes, improve processes, support colleagues, or prevent issues before they occur—all achievements.
This chapter helps you break through these barriers and see your work clearly.
What Truly Counts as an Achievement?
Achievements come in many forms. They are not limited to promotions or massive project wins. For business awards like the Globee Awards, the definition of an achievement is broad because excellence shows up in many ways.
Below are major categories that help individuals recognize their accomplishments.
1. Achievements in Daily Work
These are accomplishments you achieve while performing your regular responsibilities, such as:
- Completing tasks more efficiently
- Improving quality
- Reducing errors
- Solving recurring problems
- Handling increased workload
- Managing priorities better
- Completing work ahead of deadlines
- Learning new tools or systems
Even everyday improvements count if they show growth, consistency, or measurable impact.
2. Project-Based Achievements
Projects—small or large—often contain individual contributions:
- Delivering your part of a project successfully
- Leading a subsection of a larger initiative
- Coordinating with teams
- Meeting milestones
- Improving the project outcome
- Handling project risks or complications
- Completing an urgent or time-sensitive assignment
You don’t have to lead the entire project to have an achievement within it.
3. Problem-Solving Achievements
Any time you solve a difficult or recurring issue, you have an achievement. Examples:
- Fixing an operational bottleneck
- Improving a broken process
- Addressing customer complaints successfully
- Preventing an issue before it escalated
- Finding a creative solution to a complex problem
- Reorganizing work to reduce confusion
- Improving workflow in your team or department
Business awards often recognize problem solvers because they add measurable value.
4. Customer-Facing Achievements
If you interact with customers or clients, achievements can include:
- Improving customer satisfaction
- Handling escalations professionally
- Securing repeat business
- Delivering exceptional service
- Earning positive feedback
- Reducing response time
- Simplifying customer journeys
- Helping customers achieve their goals
These achievements are powerful because they show impact outside the organization.
5. Leadership Achievements (Formal and Informal)
You don’t need a leadership title to show leadership impact.
Leadership achievements include:
- Mentoring or training others
- Supporting new team members
- Taking ownership of responsibilities
- Leading meetings effectively
- Coordinating small groups or tasks
- Influencing decisions
- Motivating others
- Acting as a knowledge source
- Demonstrating ethical leadership
Globee Awards categories often include leadership recognition for individuals who contribute in meaningful ways—even without formal authority.
6. Innovation Achievements
Innovation is not limited to inventing new products.
It includes:
- Introducing new ideas
- Improving existing tools
- Recommending efficient systems
- Suggesting creative approaches
- Automating repetitive tasks
- Testing new methods
- Streamlining communication
- Simplifying workflows
Any new idea that improves something counts as innovation.
7. Communication Achievements
Effective communication is a valuable achievement, especially for self-employed professionals, entrepreneurs, and managers.
Examples:
- Creating clear documentation
- Writing impactful reports
- Improving team communication
- Presenting complex topics clearly
- Preparing training materials
- Managing client communication professionally
- Facilitating meetings effectively
Strong communicators excel in many Globee Awards categories.
8. Achievements in Personal Growth
Self-improvement is an achievement, especially when it leads to better performance. Examples:
- Learning new software
- Completing training or certifications
- Improving time management
- Developing leadership skills
- Breaking old habits
- Improving discipline
- Strengthening teamwork skills
Even internal growth supports external recognition because it reflects commitment to excellence.
9. Entrepreneurial and Business Owner Achievements
For founders, business owners, and self-employed professionals, achievements may include:
- Building a customer base
- Increasing sales
- Launching new services
- Creating marketing strategies
- Improving customer experience
- Managing finances responsibly
- Developing a brand
- Hiring and managing teams
- Expanding operations
- Implementing technology
- Receiving client testimonials
Entrepreneurial categories in the Globee Awards directly recognize such achievements.
10. Achievements That Show Initiative
Initiatives demonstrate that you went beyond assigned tasks:
- Volunteering for additional responsibilities
- Proactively identifying an issue
- Starting a new internal project
- Improving team culture
- Designing a new system
- Taking the lead in uncertain situations
Initiative is a key factor in many business awards programs.
Small Achievements Matter—Often More Than Big Ones
Most individuals think achievements must be extraordinary or dramatic.
That is not true.
A small but measurable improvement can be more impactful than a large but vague one.
Examples of small achievements that matter:
- Reducing a repetitive task from 30 minutes to 10
- Making a customer’s experience smoother
- Improving clarity in team communication
- Uploading, cataloging, or organizing key information
- Preventing a recurring mistake
- Creating templates that help others work faster
- Proposing a new workflow
- Helping teammates succeed
Small improvements accumulated over time become a powerful story of consistent contribution.
How to Spot Hidden Achievements in Your Daily Work
To identify achievements, ask:
1. What problems did I solve this month?
Every solution is an achievement.
2. What improvements did I contribute to?
Even if it was small, it counts.
3. What did I learn?
Learning is measurable growth.
4. Where did I take initiative?
Initiative is highly valued in business awards.
5. What did others appreciate about me?
Positive feedback indicates achievement.
6. What challenges did I overcome?
Overcoming difficulty shows capability.
7. What did I create that didn’t exist before?
Anything created from scratch counts.
8. What am I proud of?
Your pride often points to real achievements.
Why This Matters for Globee Awards Participation
To participate confidently in the Globee Awards, individuals must first identify their achievements clearly.
Award entries often require:
- Evidence
- Context
- Description of your impact
- Explanation of what you accomplished
- Why it mattered
- How it contributed to customers, teams, or businesses
By identifying achievements early and often, individuals prepare themselves to:
- Submit stronger entries
- Apply across multiple categories
- Participate consistently year after year
- Build a long-term portfolio of publicly verifiable achievements
Chapter 3 lays the foundation for the rest of the eBook.
Now that you understand what counts as an achievement, the next step is learning how to measure and capture your impact.