1. Immediate wins are necessary when you are in the first 90 days of a new job or role. 2. Career growth is always a result of long-term strategies and smart work. 3. Create long term goals and chalk out short term steps to achieve them. 4. Regularly review your goals to see how far you have come. 5. Continue on chasing quick wins and document them.

Chasing quick wins can energize your work, but staying aligned with long-term career goals is what creates lasting success. I stay on track by setting clear priorities, keeping a strong vision for the future, and consistently reflecting on how daily accomplishments build toward my bigger aspirations. Balancing short-term victories with long-term strategy keeps me motivated and purposeful.

Balancing immediate wins with long-term career goals requires intentionality and a strategic mindset. Here are practical steps to ensure you stay focused on the bigger picture while achieving short-term successes: 1. Define Your Long-Term Vision Clarify Goals: Identify where you want to be in 5–10 years, focusing on skills, roles, or achievements. Break It Down: Divide your long-term vision into smaller milestones that can guide your short-term efforts. 2. Align Immediate Wins with Long-Term Goals. 3. Stay Skill-Focused. 4. Build Relationships. 5. Reflect Regularly. 6. Communicate Your Ambitions. 7. Invest in Yourself. 8. Avoid Burnout. 9. Celebrate Wins While Looking Ahead.

A plan for your career development and aspirations is key to achieving them, but the actions you take need to be realistic and easy to achieve - think time, energy, resource, support required. Try not to plan or do too much at the same time, focus on one thing at a time, and review regularly with your progress. This means progress is steadily made but its within what you can realistically do with your day job.

Look for opportunities where short-term tasks can contribute to your long-term objectives. For example, if your long-term goal is a leadership position, excelling in current projects can showcase your leadership potential. Then break down long-term goals into smaller, achievable steps. This will help you stay focused and motivated. Importantly, allocate specific time slots for both immediate tasks and long-term goals. This prevents short-term tasks from consuming all your time. You can use techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance.

Chasing quick wins at work can be energising, but it’s important not to lose sight of the bigger picture. I often remind the women I coach to think of their career as a series of chapters - each immediate win should ideally be building towards the story you want to tell in the long run. One approach is to align your short-term efforts with your broader vision. For example, if leadership is your goal, focus on wins that showcase your ability to influence, collaborate, or take initiative. Set aside time (even if it’s just 30 minutes a week) for reflective thinking or skill-building that moves you closer to your aspirations.