7 Things to Focus On After a Professional Milestone

How to Maintain Momentum After a Big Project 🚀 Wrapping up a major project can bring a huge sense of relief—and sometimes an unexpected lull. After weeks (or months) of focus and effort, it’s easy to feel unmotivated or unsure about what comes next. So, how do you keep the energy going after hitting a big milestone? Here’s what I’ve found helpful: 1. Celebrate Your Wins 🏆 First things first: take the time to celebrate! Recognizing the effort you and your team put in is essential. Whether it’s a team lunch, a shout-out on LinkedIn, or even just taking a moment to reflect, acknowledging the win helps reset your mind and builds excitement for what’s next. 2. Reflect and Review 📊 Take a step back to assess what went well and what could have been better. Ask yourself: What did I learn from this project? How did this experience improve my skills or knowledge? A quick project review can help you understand your growth and identify areas for improvement. 3. Set New Goals 🎯 Momentum thrives on direction. Once you’ve reflected, set new short-term and long-term goals. They don’t have to be as big as your last project—just enough to keep you moving forward and inspired. 4. Recharge Your Energy ⚡ Before diving into your next big thing, give yourself time to recharge. Take a few days to focus on lighter tasks, learn something new, or just disconnect. This downtime can spark fresh ideas and help you return to your next challenge with renewed energy. 5. Stay Curious and Explore 🌱 Use the post-project period to engage with new ideas, explore different areas of your work, or pick up that side project you’ve been curious about. Staying engaged in different ways keeps the momentum going without the pressure of a big commitment. Final Thought ✨ Keeping momentum isn’t about jumping right into the next project; it’s about building a cycle of growth, reflection, and renewed energy. By celebrating, reviewing, and recharging, you’ll be ready to approach your next goal with enthusiasm and focus. How do you maintain your momentum after finishing a major project? I’d love to hear your strategies below! 👇 #Productivity #CareerGrowth #Momentum #ProfessionalDevelopment #LinkedInTips

Personally, I make time to “take stock” of how I am feeling about my career twice a year. I talk with my mentors and I ask for honest feedback. I update my resume and include my latest accomplishments. I am always ready for what is next – are you? If the answer is no, then never fear! Here are 7 tips to help you get yourself there: ⭐ Reflect on your career goals – Where do you want to be in 2, 5, 10 years? Ask yourself, am I on pace? Have my goals changed? Because they do you know – life happens – good and not so good things happen and that affects our goals. So, check in on them. ⭐ Update your resume – At a minimum you should pull out your resume and review it annually. Make certain it is updated and includes all your latest accomplishments. ⭐ Check out your LinkedIn profile – All recruiters and employers will check out your profile on LinkedIn so make certain it mimics your resume. If you are actively searching – be sure to toggle “open to work” so recruiters can find you. Submit posts, share articles, seek endorsements and endorse other superstars, and write your own content. Give people a little insight into who you are and what you care about. ⭐ Speaking of recruiters – Take their call or respond to their email! You may not be interested, but how will you know if you don’t have the conversation? I always respond because I am curious and want to know what is happening in our industry. And sometimes I am surprised by an opportunity. Remember you do not have to be actively looking to have these conversations. ⭐ Ask for an informational interview – If there is an organization that you care about, set up a short interview. Ask them more about the organization and their future direction. Ask what employees love about their organization and what makes a strong candidate. Be bold and ask if there are/will be future opportunities. I love talking about my organization and my teams so when people reach out to me, I take their calls and make time for them. It is impressive to me that they had gumption and took initiative. ⭐ Keep growing as a professional – Never stop learning. It is so important to stay on top of what is happening in our industry. Read the Chronicle of Philanthropy or CASE Currents or any other industry publication. Read fundraising, leadership and management books. You can’t look only to the headlines for your news – go deeper. Take classes. Go to conferences. ⭐ Build a professional network – I started building my network of colleagues when I began my career at my very first CASE conference and I have added to it and curated it as I have grown in my career. It is this group of people who I turn to when I have questions and challenges. We share information freely and keep a pulse on the things that matter to us in our industry. This is the group I turn to when I need more information before making a decision. They are my people and if you are as blessed as I am, then they are there for you when it counts. By Angie Joens

I’ve learned the hard way: don’t celebrate too early. The journey isn’t over until it’s over. Whether it's a new project, a promotion, or a business milestone — it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement. But here’s the reality: the finish line often comes with unexpected challenges. So, instead of celebrating too early, try focusing on these 7 things: 1. Assess the situation. Take a moment to reflect on where you are. Are there any areas that need improvement? Sometimes the journey isn’t as smooth as it seems. 2. Stay focused on your goals. Celebration can be a distraction. Remind yourself of the long-term objectives that still need to be met. Keep the momentum going. 3. Double-check everything. Have you crossed all your T’s and dotted all your I’s? Double-checking is crucial. One missed detail can change the whole outcome. 4. Plan for the next step. What’s the next move after this success? Always be forward-thinking. Stay one step ahead of the curve. 5. Prepare for setbacks. Success is often followed by challenges. Make sure you're mentally and strategically prepared for the road ahead. 6. Celebrate, but privately. Give yourself a moment to acknowledge your hard work, but don’t get too carried away. Keep your eyes on the bigger picture. 7. Keep learning. Success doesn’t mean you’ve reached the final destination. Keep learning, growing, and evolving. The best is yet to come. Instead of celebrating too early, let your focus be on moving forward with purpose and precision.  The true success comes in what you do next. #SuccessMindset #Leadership #GoalSetting #Focus #BusinessGrowth #KeepLearning #LeadershipDevelopment #EntrepreneurMindset