One of the things we need to do while the new year is still young is review our goals, measure progress, and reset our compass to keep headed in the right direction.
I suspect that few people truly do career planning and review on any sort of consistent basis. If this is true, it's a shame - because the people who stay in tune with their careers will inevitably go further, rise higher, and enjoy the ride much more. No one seriously argues this point; it's just one of those things that everyone knows is important but can't find time to do.
It's never too late to start. Get out a piece of paper right now and outline some career goals for '01. If, as is the case with most of us, you've done this before only to find that career goals melt away with all the other New Year's resolutions, rethink your strategy. Remember that your goals should be only those things you're willing to pay for. " Wishes " are not goals. Don't make the mistake of dreaming up a lot of stuff you think you'd like to have and calling them goals.
Keep in mind, too, that they must be YOUR goals. Don't write out a list of ideas to please your friends, family, or spouse.
If this is your first time (or your first serious time), start with a few important items and back them up with a timetable of events.
Your goals must inspire you, get you fired up and ready for action. Choose the kinds of things that you can visualize yourself achieving and enjoying.
You'll achieve many of your goals. Don't be discouraged, however, when it becomes apparent that you'll only partially accomplish some of them. And, as the year progresses, you'll very likely find that some of your goals conflict with others, or that some of them weren't worth the price you were going to have to pay to achieve. It's OK for those kinds of things to happen. Stay ahead of the game; don't throw out the list and quit trying because of minor setbacks.
I hope you're going to work hard in '01. Why not put as much effort as you possibly can towards achieving your own goals?
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Amy Schurr is an editor for Network World's Management Strategies and Features sections. If you have any career topics you'd like her to cover or want to comment on this newsletter, you can reach her at aschurr@nww.com.
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Network World, 01/08/01
