Do you know that some people do not set goals? Any goals? Never! They don’t set goals for their life and especially their careers! Why? Maybe they don’t want to be held accountable? Who knows?
This isn’t a goal setting tip or anything just an observation. There are plenty of web sites and books on goal setting. I want to give you some of my experiences, not only in my executive recruiting business, but also in my own life.
It’s amazing when I ask candidates about their careers and they have absolutely no goals or have any ideas whatsoever where they want to be in three or five years. None. Most people have no idea. I will hear things like, “Make more money” or “Move up in my career” or “Get into a management position” or “Start my own business” and the list of generalities are endless. When you are setting goals for your life and career you have to be specific. That’s key!
When you are dealing with life goals like, “I want to give up smoking” or “ I want to lose weight” you have to be specific. When are you going to quit smoking? What methods are you going to use? And with weight loss, how much do you want to lose? What methods? What’s your target date? You get the idea with life goals, right? And there are many goals in life we all have. Whether it’s quitting smoking, weight loss, getting married, having children, etc. WRITE IT DOWN!!!
When you are dealing with career goals (which are life goals too) like, “Make more money” or “Get into a management position” or “Start my own business” that’s not good enough. You have to be specific. How much more money? When do you want to make this amount? How are you going to do it? Will you need more schooling? Do you need to move to another city? And with getting into management, what type of management position are you talking about? Will you need more schooling? What’s your target date? You get the idea. You have to be very specific and WRITE IT DOWN!!!
Obviously, I am stressing the WRITE IT DOWN part because you have to see it. Your mind has to see it – all the time! You have to look at it and visualize getting, or having it, constantly! You will be amazed how this works. Your mind will start working in the same direction as your goals. Everything will be moving in the same direction. Whenever I write down my goals and stick to my plan it works! When I am more general and not specific it doesn’t work. Hold yourself to your goals. Make yourself accountable. You’ve heard this many times in your life, but it’s true. You have to have a target to hit. That’s why you have to be specific and not general when setting up your goals. You have to have a target!
When you start writing down your specific goals you will achieve them more often. It’s that simple. Things do change throughout the year and you can adjust them as you go, but having them in front of you all the time will help you. Now you’re not “wishing” anymore, you’re planning! You’re not drifting anymore you know exactly what you want to do! You have a target! You have goals in your life and your career! And, guess what? You will start to achieve those goals as soon as you get started! I hope this helps.
Good luck to you!
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