How do you stay motivated and celebrate career milestones?

This suggestion comes from my own experience - Pick another passion. Mine is related to food and travel. So, I have devised a roadmap where each career milestone is connected to a travel destination and a particular dish I would like to try there. It doesn't have to be something grand but definitely something personal. So, whenever I reach a new career milestone, I celebrate my career victories with my tastebuds and under a new sky. This gives me the motivation to keep going while also serving as a break from my routine.

Por ejemplo, en lugar de decir "Quiero mejorar en mi campo", un objetivo SMART sería: "Durante los próximos seis meses, completaré tres cursos en línea para mejorar mis habilidades técnicas en programación, evaluando mi progreso mediante la finalización de tareas semanales y midiendo mi avance con la calificación final de cada curso". ¡Esto te da una dirección clara y criterios medibles para evaluar tu éxito!

To make it easier to visualize, I suggest you set your goals as a flow. Imagine where you see yourself in 5 years, or at a minimum, 3 years. These goals should be specific and quantifiable, such as certifications (how much time, cost, effort, etc.), experience, soft skills, and so on. Once you have this, break it down by the years you need to achieve it (as the cascade, look it as a project to manage). Keep in mind that your resources are limited, so the SMART tool is a very useful tool to help you execute. During the process, you can make adjustments to make the goals more appropriate, but you still need to ensure the overall objective is met

Setting SMART goals is integral to staying motivated and celebrating career milestones effectively. Recently, as a career coach, I guided individuals in establishing Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals. This clarity not only fuels motivation but also provides a roadmap for progress. Breaking down long-term aspirations into smaller, SMART objectives allows for incremental achievements. Celebrating these milestones becomes a natural motivational boost, reinforcing a sense of accomplishment. It's a cyclical process where SMART goals drive motivation, and recognizing achievements becomes a vital component of sustained career enthusiasm.

One of the key strategies I've embraced is setting clear and achievable goals. When I embarked on a new project or task, I broke it down into smaller, manageable objectives. This not only made the workload seem less overwhelming but also allowed me to experience a sense of accomplishment as I achieved each milestone. Early in my career, I landed a challenging project that required extensive collaboration with team members across different departments. To stay motivated, I set weekly goals, focusing on specific aspects of the project. As I successfully met each milestone, I took a moment to acknowledge my progress. This not only kept me motivated but also helped build momentum for the subsequent tasks.

SMART goals are great for corporate and team activity, but they miss something important. And that is excitement. Goals where you are personally invested and are positive are more likely to fire your neurology toward action. So instead of SMART, try EXACT. Explicit - single clearly expressed intention eXciting - positively framed, ie. I WILL do something rather than I will NOT or REDUCE, OR STOP something Assessable - you can monitor your progress Challenging - it has to have stretch Time framed - not be open ended Try this next time you have a development goal to aim for, the positive framing will not only help you stay motivated but also use your brain's hardwiring (The Reticular Activating System) to help. Thank you science.

Having a clear career vision can help you stay motivated and foster a growth mindset. After achieving each milestone or successful goal, it's essential to reflect on how it aligns with your overall career vision and whether it's bringing you closer to your desired role in the next 3-4 years. While having an overarching goal is important, it shouldn't constrain you. Your purpose and vision may evolve as you learn and grow, and that's a normal part of the process. Adapting to these changes and staying aligned with your evolving aspirations is key to a fulfilling professional journey.

Encontrar tu propósito implica explorar tus pasiones, valores y habilidades: Autoexploración: Reflexiona sobre lo que te apasiona, lo que encuentras significativo y en qué eres bueno. Experiencias: Experimenta diferentes actividades y roles para descubrir qué te motiva y te llena. Conexión: Identifica cómo tus habilidades y pasiones pueden contribuir al mundo o beneficiar a otros. Alineación: Busca la congruencia entre lo que valoras, disfrutas y puedes ofrecer. Es un proceso de autodescubrimiento continuo que puede implicar pruebas, errores y adaptación. Observar tus intereses, talentos y cómo impactas positivamente te acerca a encontrar un propósito que te llene y te motive.

Do you feel that it would be extremely fulfilling if we discover the noble purposes of our work or life's mission? These are indeed great sources of motivation and joy that can help you overcome difficulties and challenges when transitioning careers or anything else. I believe that when you find your goals and have the desire and effort to maintain them, success will come to you (in many forms). Of course, you should not put too much pressure on yourself, but rather find the path that suits you best (including personality, skills, strengths, etc.) and then follow the goals you have chosen

I have emphasized in many similar questions that seeking support and feedback from each individual is extremely important because it is longlife learning. In the case of career matters, participate and find some people with the same passion, capability, and empathy to exchange and progress together. I think this can be the best support and feedback one can get. Of course, we will need quite a lot of support in other aspects of life and various issues at work too. For me, the key thing is to maintain relationships with enthusiasm, gratitude, and appreciation for everyone's help

Redes profesionales: Únete a grupos relevantes en plataformas como LinkedIn o Reddit. Pregunta y comparte para obtener comentarios. Mentores y colegas: Busca retroalimentación de personas en tu campo. Pide consejos sobre tu trabajo o proyectos. Eventos y conferencias: Asiste a eventos donde puedas conocer profesionales dispuestos a ofrecer apoyo y comentarios. Plataformas colaborativas: Únete a espacios como GitHub o Behance para compartir tu trabajo y recibir comentarios de la comunidad. Grupos de estudio: Participa en grupos que discutan ideas. Aquí, la retroalimentación y el apoyo son fundamentales para el crecimiento.

Be intentional with the people you choose in youre support team. If you are attempting a career transition be mindful of the fact that the majorit of your current friends and colleagues will NOT be able to support you effectively because they are part of your status quo. Consciously or not, they are tied to your current circumstance, and may be risk averse on your behalf, from a place of love and protection :-) Also known as "holding you back!" So as part of your shift actively seek support from a NEW cohort of people. If you can't think of someone now, take 10 minutes to think about where you might someone in the area you want to move into. In the climate and sustainability space check out #opendoorclimate on LinkedIn and reach out

Small victories! We are so focused on the big, elegant, elaborate achievements that we sometimes lose sight of the smaller victories that add up to make the grand career milestones. And this is one of the reasons we burn out faster than a match stick. Learn to use gratitude as a motivator. Celebrate YOU and every small victory along the way. This makes the journey more enjoyable and keeps you pumped up for the next endeavor.

It's quite shortsighted when professionals persist with the same grind after a significant win, thinking it might hinder their commitment and possibly stall their advancement. In reality, it's just the opposite. Taking the time to celebrate is essential. You need those rewards and moments of self-reflection to squeeze the maximum results from your hard work.

In navigating a challenging project, I implemented a self-reward system. Each significant milestone achieved warranted a small celebration, from enjoying a favorite dessert to taking a short break for personal interests. This practice not only helped me stay motivated during intense periods but also created a positive atmosphere around my work. When the project concluded successfully, I treated myself to a weekend retreat, symbolizing the culmination of hard work. This personalized reward approach not only made the journey enjoyable but also served as a powerful motivator for future endeavors.

This is indeed a useful approach that you should implement and remember that the goals and timelines you choose should be appropriate (SMART). Just like a race car needs to stop several times to refuel and replace parts to reach the finish line, you need to do the same. Rewarding yourself is a way to replenish both mental and physical energy to continue towards your goal. Let yourself feel that you are doing a great job and that you deserve those rewards.

You also can't go wrong with self-reflection and gratitude. -Be thankful for the opportunities, the challenges, the people who support you. -Celebrate every milestone, big or small. -Set achievable goals and seek out opportunities for growth and development. It shifts your perspective, fuels your optimism, and reminds you why you're celebrating in the first place. -Remember to take breaks and prioritize self-care.

From my perspective, having learned Lean Six Sigma and Master Agile, I find it quite interesting that our learning journey, comparison, and changes are very similar to managing a project using the Agile methodology, which is also a global management trend being strongly implemented. Self-reflection is akin to the Retrospective phase, where we assess our recent actions, make better preparations and analyses for the next time, adjust and execute, and then continue this cycle for the next Retrospective. It’s quite a serendipitous coincidence, isn’t it?

Autoevaluación: Reflexiona sobre tus decisiones, éxitos y fracasos. Analiza qué funcionó y qué no, y cómo podrías mejorar. Flexibilidad: Aprende a adaptarte a los cambios. Estar abierto a nuevas ideas y ajustar tu enfoque según lo aprendido es crucial. Mantén la curiosidad: Siempre busca aprender más. La curiosidad alimenta el crecimiento personal y profesional. Resiliencia: Acepta los desafíos como oportunidades de aprendizaje. La resiliencia te permite superar obstáculos y aprender de ellos. Celebra los logros: Reconoce tus avances y éxitos, incluso los pequeños. Celebrar refuerza tu motivación y gratitud en el camino.

In my experience, a great way to gain perspective is to reflect on how far you’ve come. It’s bigger picture reflection, versus reflecting on the good/ bad of a single situation. Compare current you, to you 10 years ago. No doubt you’ll have made strides.

There are usually 2 types of tonality when people share such stories: humble bragging or gratitude. Humble bragging inflates the ego but in the end is a short-lived return. Gratitude for the people who helped you along the way is much better because it's a form of giving and we know that giving has a positive effect on the human mind. But actually, there's a third tone: teaching i.e. share not just your triumphs but also the painful lessons learnt along the way. It is also an act of giving but at a higher level because the readers have actual takeaways to improve their lives. Your successful career milestones don't need to be just about you. There are valuable lessons that can benefit everyone if you dig deep enough :)

Púlete en el arte del STORYTELLING, es importante que sepas contar tu historia y que la gente quiera escucharla. Muchas veces compartir tu historia puede inspirar a otros, y no hay nada mejor que ayudar al resto! Si eres capaz de aportar al resto verás como creces. Al mismo tiempo. Hablar de tu historia te hace repensarte tus objetivos y metas. Revivir momentos te hace mantener la motivación y las ganas de seguir consiguiendo cosas.

Celebrate yourself! Make sure to pause, acknowledge, and celebrate your wins, big and small. Below are some ways to do this: -Keep a 'Wins document' where you track your wins. Update it daily, weekly, or monthly to ensure none are forgotten. These can also be valuable adds to your resume! -Create a 'Wins' folder and file every email, feedback, review, or piece of pride into it. Open it periodically to reflect on and celebrate your accomplishments. -Hold quarterly reviews as milestone checkpoints to reflect and celebrate your progress towards your annual goals. Acknowledge your progress! Reflecting and celebrating your wins will boost your confidence and propel you forward as you work towards your dreams and goals. Make it a fun ritual!

Keep a bragbook (I don't love the name, but I love the concept). Keep a spreadsheet or word document of key accomplishments and milestones. Sometimes when we are so in the thick of everything and heads down, you forget to acknowledge and slow down enough to recognize the wins along the way. A bragbook serves two purposes. I list for reflection, but also a cheat sheet for performance and career conversations and work and building your resume for your next move!

It is crucial to have individuals around us who celebrate our career growth. Establishing an environment that may not naturally exist is equally important. The journey to success can be solitary at times, making it essential to stay motivated with the support of those who share in our joy for personal and professional growth—sometimes even more so than ourselves.

Motivation is an outside concept; try to get inspiration from within. Motivation can go down at any time. These steps are useful. Set Collaborative, Limited, Emotional, Appreciable, and Refinable goals. These foster teamwork, focus, passion, and flexibility, ensuring you stay motivated. Break down your career vision into key milestones. Celebrate each achievement to maintain momentum and acknowledge progress. Regularly reflect on your accomplishments and reward yourself for reaching significant milestones. This reinforces positive behavior and keeps motivation high. Use visualization to imagine your success. This mental practice boosts confidence and keeps you focused on your career journey.

One way to stay motivated and celebrate career milestones is to share your learnings and journey and set goals for journey ahead. Sharing the learning acts as a form of gratitude and setting goals for journey ahead motivates you to stay curious and focused for the coming years