10 Years in Business: What My Sixth Grade Teacher Somehow Knew

This month marks a milestone for #Strella Social Media… it’s our 10th year in business! Each week, I’ll share a post reflecting on this journey. Thank you to everyone who has taken this trip with me — it’s only just beginning!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At the end of my sixth-grade year, my teacher dispensed homemade awards for each student. I received the “ Goes Above and Beyond” award for always doing more than what’s expected of me. While most would be proud of that award, I actually recall being disappointed because I was different than the other students. Several won awards like “ Teacher’s Helper” or “ Peer Helper.” It wasn’t until many years later that I realized the value of this award. I can now say that I am quite proud because it is an accurate way to describe who I am and how I operate my business. However, going above and beyond also has its share of drawbacks. Here are a few pros and cons of being an overachiever and how understanding both have helped me reach this milestone.

The Challenges

It’s expected all the time. Once you’ve gone above and beyond… and people are impressed, then there’s the expectation to do so all the time. You’ve essentially set the bar high and it’s assumed that you’ll deliver at that level always. Even if you do a really great…