Five Steps To Creating A Winning Career Plan
By Deborah Brown-Volkman
There are times in our career when we are at a crossroads. Some
of us actively seek our next step, while others wait for the next
step to come to them. Whether you need to make a change in your
career now by choice, or by default, you'll need a plan. Without a
plan, expect to be like a leaf on a tree, going not where you want,
but where the wind takes you.
Don't let the bad news around you keep you standing still. Create a
plan and work on it everyday. You may not reach your goal as
quickly as you'd like, but you will get there if you keep working
at it.
So, How Can Do You Create A Winning Career Plan? Follow These
Five Steps:
1. Describe What You Want
You cannot get what you want until you can describe what it is.
Create a detailed description of what is important to you in your
career. What do you see yourself doing if there were no perceived
obstacles in your way? Do not screen yourself or get bogged down
with logistics. Give yourself the freedom to brainstorm. This may
not be a quick exercise, and it may be frustrating at times, but it
will give you a strong foundation to build on.
2. Explore Your
Options
What did you learn from Step 1? Did you discover that you described
something you have been thinking about for a long time, but are
uncertain where to start? Did you come up with a few possible
career choices, but are unsure which one to select? Did you come up
with a few ideas, but nothing concrete?
Take your ideas and turn them into real career choices. Begin with
research. Get on the Internet and read whatever you can. Start
talking with people who are doing what you would like to do. Ask
them how they got to where they are, and what you can do to follow
in their footsteps. Use contacts you have today or people you don't
know yet. Go for it. What do you have to lose?
3. Create Your Game
Plan
Once you have your description, and the exploratory process is
complete, it is time to go after what you want.
Here are three steps to put into your plan:
a) What Do You Want? Example: I want a new job, want to
change careers, make more money, or enhance my attitude.
b) When Will Your WHAT Be Achieved? Example: 3 months from
now, 6 months, etc? Be specific.
c) How Will You Get There? Take what you gathered from the
exploratory process and put these steps into your calendar. You
have already found out what you need to do. Now, it's time to make
it real.
4. Implement Your
Plan
This step is about keeping the momentum going no matter what. Set
daily, weekly, and monthly goals. Strive to meet them. Persistence
and forward movement is what will help you reach your goal.
5. Reach Your Goal
This is the step where you get to applaud yourself for all your
hard work and effort. You get to be proud of what you accomplished.
You made it. Acknowledge yourself for being uncertain and going
after what you wanted anyway. Not only did this process build
character, it also brought you what you want.
Congratulations on discovering that you can handle anything that
comes your way.
