A client once responded to one of my questions by saying, “Oh Greg, I’m so busy thinking about life!” His thoughtless comment became a trap that we all fall into at some point. It’s easy to get so consumed by just one example. In We fail to really think about our careers About this Our careers.
To avoid this trap, I suggest taking a few hours to follow these simple steps to reflect on your career during the holidays.
Step 1: Review the last 12 monthsReview year after month, Make a list of where you spent your time: Include your major projects, responsibilities, and accomplishments, There is no need to make it more complicated,
Step 2: Ask, “What’s the news?” Look at your list and consider what’s In fact It is going on. Think like a journalist and ask yourself: Why does this matter? What are the trends here? What will happen if these trends continue?
Step 3: Ask “What would I do in my career if I could?” Anything, Just brainstorm and let no voice of criticism stop you. Just write down all the thoughts that come to mind.
Step 4: Go back and spend a little more time on Step 3. Often we start our career planning keeping in mind our second best option. We realize what we would most like to do besides ourselves Immediately Push it aside. Why? Usually because “It’s not realistic” which is code for, “I can’t make money doing this.” In this economy – any economy – I understand why making money is important. However, sometimes we pass up legitimate career paths because we bypass them too quickly.
Step 5: Write six objectives for the next 12 months. List the top six items you would like to accomplish in your career this year and put them in priority order.
Step 6: Cut out the bottom five. Once you get back into the whirlwind of work you will benefit from having a “true north” career objective for the year.
Step 7: Make an action plan for this month. List some quick wins you would like to achieve in the next 3-4 weeks.
Step 8: Decide what you won’t say. Make a list of the “good” things that will keep you from achieving your “great” career objective. Think about how to eliminate, postpone, or delegate these other tasks. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The crime that bankrupts men and nations is to take a job here and there away from one’s main purpose.”
Several years ago I followed this procedure and, without exaggeration, it changed the course of my life. The insight I gained inspired me to drop out of law school, leave England and move to America and pursue work as a teacher and writer. You’re reading this because of that choice. This remains the most important career decision of my life.
A couple of hours spent wisely over the next few weeks could easily improve the quality of your life by 8760 hours over the next year – and perhaps even more. After all, If we don’t design our careers, someone else will.
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