Momentum Matters (October 24, 2025)

 Originally, I wasn't going to write any more for this week on my blog. This changed, this morning, in my weekly visit with someone who is helping me in my personal and professional endeavors. I felt compelled to share with the readers of this blog that momentum matters - it is taking the small steps to be better. I spoke recently with a student at Spartanburg Methodist College as part of his capstone experience on leadership and how it is a compass. Along those lines, I want to give you a piece of my compass - momentum.

"A daily routine built on good habits and disciplines separates the most successful among us from everyone else." - Darren Hardy

In sports, momentum can change everything. A basketball team down by ten points at halftime can come back to win because of a single sequence of plays—one steal, one three-pointer, one inspired push from the bench. Fans call it a “momentum shift,” coaches preach about it, and athletes feel it in their bones. That invisible energy—the feeling that the tide has turned—is what carries teams forward.

The same is true in careers, though it looks a little different. Career momentum isn’t about a single “big break”; it’s about consistent effort, persistence, and small wins that build up over time.

The Power of Small, Consistent Actions

It’s easy to become discouraged when your career feels stagnant. You’ve applied for jobs, sent networking emails, attended events—but results are slow. Momentum in your career isn’t always obvious at first. But just like in sports, consistent action matters.

• Learning: Each new skill or certification might not pay off immediately, but it increases your value and confidence.

• Networking: A casual conversation at an event might not produce an instant opportunity, but it plants seeds. Months later, someone you met might remember you for the perfect role.

• Application: Every resume you send, every project you pitch, every follow-up email you write adds cumulative energy to your career trajectory.

Over time, these small efforts compound. Momentum builds quietly, and suddenly opportunities start appearing where none existed before. Your professional “game” begins to shift.

Momentum Feeds Motivation

Momentum isn’t just about external outcomes—it affects how you feel and perform. In psychology, this is sometimes called the “progress principle”: seeing even small forward movement boosts motivation, confidence, and creativity. When you notice that your consistent actions are producing results—no matter how small—you gain energy to do more.

Think of it like a snowball rolling down a hill. At first, it’s tiny and hard to push. But each push adds more snow, and eventually, the momentum grows powerful enough to carry itself. Your career momentum works the same way: small, deliberate actions can eventually create a force that feels unstoppable.

Strategies to Build Career Momentum

1. Break big goals into micro-goals: Instead of “get promoted,” aim for concrete steps—update your portfolio, meet with a mentor, or lead a small project.

2. Track progress visually: Use a journal, spreadsheet, or app to record wins. Momentum becomes tangible when you can see it accumulating.

3. Celebrate every win: Did you finish a course? Connect with someone new? Receive positive feedback? Acknowledge it. Small victories fuel momentum.

4. Stay curious and adaptable: Momentum thrives when you’re learning. New skills, fresh ideas, and diverse experiences compound over time.

5. Embrace persistence: Momentum often feels invisible until it manifests in a noticeable breakthrough. Consistency is the engine; patience is the fuel.

The Long-Term Payoff

The beauty of career momentum is that it eventually changes the game for you. Opportunities that seemed distant or impossible suddenly come within reach. Confidence grows, others notice your efforts, and you’re able to seize moments you might have missed otherwise.

Momentum matters because it turns the intangible work of today—applications, networking, learning—into tangible results tomorrow. It’s the quiet force behind promotions, new opportunities, and personal growth.

Final Thought

You may not feel it now, but every small, consistent step you take is building the energy that will carry you forward. Keep pushing, keep learning, and keep showing up. In sports, a single play can shift the game—but in life and career, momentum is built, one deliberate step at a time.