Develop a Plan to Reach Your Career Goals

Developing a plan for your career seems simple enough: Start with a specific goal. Then break it down into actionable items.

But, many issues can make it difficult to stay on track — the weather, traffic, the economy, company politics, and health issues to name a few. Creating structure to your activities will allow you to gauge what hasn’t happened and what needs to happen, much more clearly than if you wait and see each day.

Knowing what you need to get done, and then getting it done, is a method for creating structure that is closest to what you would have if you were working. Don’t allow distractions to prevent you from completing what you have set out to do. If you are employed, you’ll have fewer available hours to work on your goals, and it will be even tougher to stay on track.

Here are some pointers that will help you make and stay on with your plan:

• Plan your schedule in advance, making a commitment to do the activities that lead you to the accomplishment of your goal.
• Know what you need to do every day.
• Plan exactly which hours you will work on your tasks.
• If you are not working, plan ahead at least 30 days to help you stay focused.
• If you are working, plan ahead at least 90 days to help ensure you will stay on track to get where you want to be next year.
• Don’t allow distractions to prevent you from completing what you have set out to do.

What has been toughest for you: making a plan or sticking with it?