It’s T-minus-70 and counting towards the inauguration of the next U.S. President. The campaign season came to a halt when the projected winner was declared by media and other independent observers. As a gradual shift begins to unfold around Washington, some still hold on for dear life to a different reality.

Going from candidate to “you’re hired” has ups and downs, twists and turns, ebbs and flows. Over these months we saw political ads with their views on certain issues. We could review their professional backgrounds covering years of public service. Then it’s the people who made the hiring decision.

Along the way as candidates debated and fund raised, they hoped to win primaries like rounds in a boxing match. There were good rounds and bad rounds which helped determine who survived and who exited stage left. Biden and Harris on the campaign trail was like where the magic happens on the career trail.

A potential candidate for a job gets to respond to a company opening. They’ll send in their resumés as a professional background summary. Then the decision is made among the hiring team on who gets the call back. Plus, there’re intangibles (like an endorsement or referral) that can change the outlook in a flash.

While the campaign trail had its nasty-lie moments, we can learn what it takes to jumpstart the job search, advance career moves or rebrand a biz venture. Along the way, folks are checking the record and comparing notes. They’re watching to see who makes the grade or who’s worth getting paid based on:

• Ambition

The difference between Biden and Harris is like old-school and new school. Biden has been in the game for many years. Harris has been rising up the charts over recent years. Their journeys came together because of shared ambition. Ambition helps in making a name for yourself and a role for your skills.      

• Vision

Biden’s vision is about unity of purpose in saving the soul of the nation. Since Harris isn’t at the top of the ticket, her vision lines-up with Biden. But from a history-making standpoint, she probably shares that broader vision of women breaking the glass ceiling in their careers.      

• Reinvention

Biden has run for President three times. He had a chance to reinvent himself the last two times. He says it was the events of Charlottesville that got him into the race the third time. Sometimes when career goals seem hard to come by, we have to find ways to reinvent ourselves to better meet the moment.  

• Connection

Beyond qualifications, it’s also connection that helped things come together as running-mates. Harris first knew Biden when she was Attorney General of California and his son Beau was AG of Delaware. What she probably was reminded of was that people don’t care how much you know, but how much you care.   

Biden and Harris might ask what’s your reality? Is it stuck on past miss-steps or geared to future step-ups? When people see how much you know your stuff, they say you’re good. But when they sense how much you care, they can tell you’re good for the part. That’s how they bring magic to what they do.        

Tip: Your ‘happy’ is in bringing magic to what you do by how much you know and how much you care.

Talkback: What’s it like seeing “you’re hired” and “you’re fired” getting played out right before our eyes?

Tracks: Bruno Mars – 24K Magic – https://youtu.be/UqyT8IEBkvY

Pharrell Williams – Happy – https://youtu.be/ZbZSe6N_BXs