---
title: Career Success - Do You Have a Smile File?
description: Career Success - Do You Have a Smile File?
---

[Blog | Brainzooming ](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog)

# [Career Success - Do You Have a Smile File?](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/career-success-do-you-have-a-smile-file)

 Written by [Mike Brown](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/author/mike-brown) | Jul 15, 2014 9:50:01 AM

Here's a career success idea that can provide returns in multiple dimensions of your career: create a “Smile File” to capture good news related your career success.

### What's a Smile File?

<https://www.brainzooming.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Smile-file-4.jpg>

A smile file is a repository of successes, congratulations, comments, feedback, and other mementos of your career. Some specific items could include:

- Thank you notes you receive
- Outstanding job review documents
- Final recaps on products, services, programs, processes, and other efforts you've managed or contributed to meaningfully
- Emails you receive as testimonials
- Photos of great team performance
- Copies of materials you've produced that have exceeded expectations
- Notes and kudos from co-workers

That's simply a starting list.

Basically anything that brings to mind a career success and brings a smile to your face when you see or remember it is fair game for your smile file.

### How does a smile file help your career success?

- When updating your resume or LinkedIn profile, these items are wonderful reminders of things to include
- If you're having a "I'm a fraud day," your smile file mementos will demonstrate you really aren't a fraud.
- They will cheer you up on bad days
- They can help you prepare for your next job review
- It's tangible evidence when people question the impact of things you are addressing in your job

It’s a simple idea, but a smile file can make all the different on a bad day when it seems you’re having anything BUT career success.

Trust me . . . it works! - **[Mike Brown](https://www.brainzooming.com/?page_id=1197)**

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