I recently attended the Winning Is Everything conference for accounting firms. It was a great meeting with great people. It even has a great title. Because in the end, winning IS everything. But what does “winning” really mean?

In sport, winning is clearly defined. At the end of the game, the scoreboard tells it all. There is no ambiguity.

As a professional, winning isn’t as clear. People have different opinions of what it means to win. In fact, others may try to convince you of what winning should mean to you. But that won’t work. You can’t live someone else’s career.

You have to define what winning is for you and how you will keep score. However you identify it, remember that you win when you enjoy the work you do, the environment in which you do it, and with whom and for whom you do it. For the most part, you have all that. Anything you can do to have more of those things, winning is sweeter.

Therefore, you should NEVER lose! But you have to keep the YOUR scoreboard clearly visible. Otherwise, you risk losing. How can you turn winning into losing? Like this:

Losing is when you get deep in the weeds, never looking up to see where you are or where you’re going.

• Losing is when most of your days are a grind rather than a pleasure.
• Losing is forgetting you enjoy what you do.
• Losing is getting to the end and realizing you pursued someone else’s career, not your own.

Fortunately, the opportunity to win is still in play. Pay attention. Focus on what you enjoy and how to do more of it. Align yourself with what’s important. And most importantly, remember your scoreboard because winning Is everything.