I Miss Scoreboards and Report Cards

Last week, after a day full of meetings — no shortage of fires to put out (or progress to celebrate) — I found myself in my (still somewhat new) closet, trying to finally finish getting it organized.

I was also trying to keep my inner critical dialogue at bay: Why haven’t you finished this closet? You’re getting home too late from work. You’re not spending enough time with E. On and on.

Then I thought, I miss scoreboards and report cards.

And I really do. I’ve always been competitive, and for the most part, our society - for good or bad - is set up ( at least all the way through adolescence and into early adulthood) to give you a sense of how you’re doing.

In a class. On a test. At halftime. You knew where you stood. Where you ranked. If you are going to be all-conference.
Consistent, constant markers.

But adulthood seems to have far fewer of those. And as far as I can tell, motherhood and entrepreneurship rarely present any.

One hour (yes, hour not day), you’re sure you’re totally crushing it.... The next convinced, you're inept at best.
The only real conclusion I’ve reached during this little performance pontification is that I’m probably not alone.

And if that’s true — if most of us are walking around unsure how we’re doing — then maybe, when we see someone doing a great job (or even just a good job), letting them know may be a greater sigh of relief that we can imagine.