Don’t settle for a modest improvement in your career – go for a victory. Your career victory should be an occasion to cheer, a recognition that your life has changed forever. You’ll know you have a victory when your body is physically excited, your mind cannot stop thinking about what has happened, and you want to tell the important people in your life what happened. A victory changes everything.

You know you have a career victory when:

Your heart sings the success. The career victory touches most people emotionally. The moment is thrilling, and your heart is lifted with joy. You want to pick up the telephone and call someone important in your life.  This moment is so good, it has to be shared.

Your mind is aligned with the heart. You are not thinking about the hard work ahead of you, you are thinking about how great it is to be working in an area of your strength, appreciated for who you are, and how fulfilled you will be to taking on new challenges.

A career victory supports one’s personal vision. People in career transition should have a detailed vision of their destination. A personal vision might include achievement (become a Wall Street trader) or a lifestyle choice (take recreational travel one month a year). My personal vision includes the work I want to do, and the amount of time that I dedicate to certain work (writing, coaching, speaking).  The victory should bring one closer to the vision. If the “victory” doesn’t support the vision, then evaluate: either change the vision or look for another victory. The victory should serve the vision, and make it more likely.

Don’t change your vision too easily, the vision represents the essential you. When you change your vision, you are essentially declaring, “I was wrong about what I saw before.” Perhaps you did mistake your vision, but don’t make convenient changes in what is important to you. Be intentional and clear about your vision and your victory.

Feel energized. The career victory should be a source of vital energy. You are working in an area of strength, and you feel great doing this work. Work is still work, but when you are energized, you love performing your thing.  You feel like a champion.  The victory helps you enjoy your productivity.

The victory involves a stretch. The victory suggests that you have new goals ahead of you. You have to work at it! You don’t take this change for granted, as you will have to apply yourself. You are going to have to perform in new areas. You look forward to the challenge. You want the bragging rights that come with this new assignment.  The stretch is neither too easy, nor too difficult. You may have to work long hours to get there, and you expect to sweat some, however you know that the goal is worth it.

The victory takes you some place you have never been before. You’ve moved forward! Your career is partly a journey of discovery, and a victory is a new destination that you have created for yourself. You would not feel victorious if you were doing the same thing as you were two years ago. The career victory is a watershed moment in one’s working life, a chance to add a dramatic highlight to your life. The victory brings new perspective to your work and relations with others.