I WAS having a conversation with a friend over the weekend. He also runs his own small business.

I mentioned that, because we all have our heads down and are pedalling for all we are worth to keep going, you sometimes overlook the little successes that might come along your way.

It’s important not to lose sight of these: essentially stepping stones on the way to recovery. Celebrating our small wins can make a big difference to staff morale; lift the spirits; engage a feeling of confidence.

I’m not talking about spraying the champagne – just recognising these minor victories which, at the moment, are hard-won.

After all, how did Lewis Hamilton and the McLaren team climb back to the top of the podium on Sunday at the Hungarian Grand Prix? The current champion’s season was written off at the start of the season. Yet the whole of the McLaren team must have worked fantastically hard – against a scary backdrop of failure – to put things right. And how.

Hamilton’s win on Sunday was the result of many minor wins along the way – mostly unseen by the rest of the world – but which culminated in a convincing victory at the Hungaroring.

And then there was the superb success of Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins on the Tour de France. Cavendish was the first Brit to win on the Champs Elysees; and Wiggins’ fourth place overall was the equal highest by a Brit in this gruelling cycling contest. While they might be celebrating success in the limelight, to get there was the result of many minor wins – perhaps in training, perhaps in mental attitude and preparation. But they all count.

For our own part, we had some personal successes last week closer to home. Not on the same scale as the brilliant sportsmen Hamilton, Cavendish and Wiggins. But important to us.

Matt, my son, returned from a tall ships sail provided by the Rona Sailing Project, and has been put forward for watchleader selection for his performance; my wife and co-director Alison passed her part-time KLC School of Design certification in interior design and decoration with a merit; and my daughter Sarah put on several star turns in a brilliant stage show put on by Hampton Hill Theatre School. Congratulations to all of them. The result of personal commitment and effort.

Don’t forget the victories