Celebrate Small Wins

Celebrate Small Wins

by VaShaun J. Pickens

Let’s be honest, sometimes we’re so focused on the big win that we overlook the quiet victories that got us there. In business. In creativity. In life. We keep chasing the mountaintop moments and forget that it’s the small steps that built the mountain in the first place.

When I first started Pictopia, I used to think success meant packed-out events, viral posts, and nonstop bookings. But over time, God had to slow me down and remind me that progress is still progress, even if it’s happening one client, one post, or one picture at a time. Every booking. Every idea that came to life. Every “thank you” message from a client. Those were wins worth celebrating.

See, we tend to wait for the fireworks before we clap, but what if we learned to cheer during the setup? What if we learned to praise while still in process? That’s when you realize that the small things were never small at all! They were preparation for the big things.

When I’m djing or behind the camera, I’ve learned that every dance, song and photo tells a story. Some pictures take a hundred tries before the perfect shot appears. But each snap matters. Each angle gets you closer to the masterpiece. That’s life too. You may not have it all framed perfectly yet, but baby, you’re still capturing progress.

Maybe today your win was showing up when you didn’t feel like it. Maybe you made one sale, sent one email, or smiled through one more challenge. That counts. Those are the moments that build your character and deepen your gratitude. The Bible says, “Despise not the day of small beginnings” (Zechariah 4:10). God delights in every step toward purpose.

So pause. Breathe. Reflect. Celebrate. Whether it’s your business growing inch by inch, your faith getting stronger, or you finally taking that one perfect shot. Matter of fact, clap for yourself. We, at Pictopia, are already cheering.

Because when you learn to celebrate the small wins, you’re telling God, “I trust You with the big ones too.”

And let me tell you something, family… those small wins are proof that you’re still in the game!

See, the world will shout about the finish line, but God celebrates the fact that you kept running. Every early morning setup at Pictopia, every photo edit when nobody’s watching, every prayer whispered when the bills don’t match the bookings (Whewww That part) those are the moments we should record as victory.

We live in a world that glorifies “big” everything. Big checks. Big launches. Big platforms. But real growth is quiet. It’s you learning to adjust your lighting when a shoot doesn’t go as planned. It’s you smiling at a client even when your day’s been long. It’s you choosing to show up with excellence when nobody’s clapping. That’s faith in motion. My boy, Pastor Mike Jr. reminds us that at the end, it is all going to be BIG!

I remember one weekend at Pictopia when only a handful of people came to an event. My first thought was disappointment. How I know some many people, but yet get 0 support? But then, I watched those few people laugh, connect, and take photos that reminded them they were beautiful, confident, seen and heard. God whispered, “This is a win.” That moment changed everything. I realized that every small victory is a seed, and when you water it with gratitude, it grows into something greater than you imagined.

Maybe your “small win” this week is that someone noticed your work. Or you finally learned how to use that new camera or iPhone feature. Maybe you made it through a tough week without giving up. Maybe you didn't cuss. Listennnn, that’s not small. That’s sacred. A Win is a WIN!

So here’s your reminder to celebrate the click before the masterpiece. Celebrate the client before the crowd. Celebrate the effort before the applause. Because one day, when you look back, you’ll realize those “small wins” were actually the stepping stones that carried you right into your destiny.

Keep showing up. Keep capturing. Keep believing. You’re building something that’s bigger than you think.

And when you celebrate the small wins, you create momentum for the big ones to find you. What I know is that what I thought was a setback was and is really a setup.

I felt that in my ShaunNaNa! 💛

Smile. Pose. Snap. Then celebrate what God is doing in real time! ✨

#CelebrateSmallWins #ThePictopia #UnposedTheRealReel #FaithStillWorks #ShaunP #KeepGoing

@ThePictopia