How to Accomplish Your Career Goals

You know the routine to set goals, you:

• think you should be doing more in your career
• decide to do something
• write your goals down
• establish your priorities
• place your goals in the order of importance
• review your goal with excitement
• close your notebook
• carry on business as usual

When will you stop doing this?

Dreaming and planning are necessary for career success. However, they are not enough. You can only achieve your goals when you put in the work. Merely visualizing success falls short. You must act. I have written about how lucky people walk around with their eyes wide open. When you are action-oriented, you will see many opportunities to build your career capital and attain the career success you are looking to achieve.

Achieving career goals is not a sprint. It is always a journey. Pace yourself. Do not get distracted from doing the simple things right. Strive for a proper balance between work, some healthy and stimulating exercise, and a nutritious diet.

Here are some insights to help you make progress on your goals.

Learn How to Ask for Help

You are independent and want to do everything on your own. Instead of finding someone who has already accomplished what you want to do, you prefer to research online. You may think that asking people for help is a sign of weakness. However, not finding the right people and asking them for guidance is your weakness. Understanding helps you adapt as things change. Learning from someone who has done what you want to will change how you act.

Starting with Who puts faces in your mind that can help you navigate some of the most significant challenges and toughest obstacles. It keeps you humble in the midst of incredible achievements and success. It picks you up and dusts you off after failure or defeat. It gives you company when you're done with all your "doing." — Tyler van Epp

Consider — Asking the right people for help. Instead of looking at solutions that only give you a few pieces of the puzzle, talk to people who have the wisdom and answers you need to solve your problems.

Some people can help. Find them and reach out to them:

• those who successfully figured out a way to pivot into the industry you have been dreaming about
• senior leaders who became managers in a short period
• career coaches who know how to get the career results you want

People often join a community because they resonate with its vision. However, whether you will stay (or not) is because of the people in the group. I have seen many communities fail that had a beautiful mission. However, it did not tend to the right people.

The Why sets the ambition. The Who defines the potential to deliver on this ambition.”— Michel Bachmann

Invest in Yourself

No one talks you into buying the latest trends and gadgets, going to a concert, purchasing new clothes, or booking a vacation. You have no problem stretching yourself to pay for those things. You pay whatever money necessary to feel better about yourself.

Consider the last time that you:

• Purchased a book to learn how to accomplish the goals you have for yourself?
• Enrolled in a class?
• Worked with a mentor that could give you strategic guidance?
• Expanded your professional network?
• Practiced the 5-Hour Rule: If you’re not spending 5 hours per week learning, you're irresponsible

The place to start with the investment in yourself is understanding your behavioural DNA. Career success requires you to leverage your career capital — your talent stack. Before thinking you must add to your talent stack, appreciate your behavioural strengths. You already have the talent to do something better than others.

Consider — Spending less time wondering, “What if this doesn’t work for me?” and more time talking yourself into the opportunities you know will help you develop yourself as a professional. Do your research, follow your gut and invest. Trust that you will figure out a way to make whatever you learn work for you. You are building career capital. Investment is part of your journey towards career success.

Focus

You have too many goals. You “ping-pong” between options:

• stay at your company and get promoted
• move and work at that other fantastic company
• leave sales to focus more on marketing
• switch industries — blockchain seems exciting

You are all over the place. When you look at your progress thus far, how has it happen? Did you take the path of least resistance? Your goals are wishful thinking. No real plans, no real progress.

You likely do not know where to start. It may be overwhelming.

Consider — Evaluating your situation. Determine the one thing you want right now, out of your career and life. Write it down. Create a plan and timeline for achieving it. You do not need a list of 10 goals to make progress in your life. When you make progress on your primary goal, the other areas of your life will improve. Focus on achieving one or two goals at a time. That is how you will stay focused and get real results.

Power of Planning and Following the Plan

A well thought out plan gives you direction and structure. Make yourself accountable to follow it. Document what you want to achieve in six months. Break it down to a week-by-week schedule. Whether it’s a long-term or short-term plan, make it detailed.

Moreover, stick to it. Good intentions will always give you the proper focus. Revisit your plan at least weekly.

Consider — You need to have persistence and patience. When you take your time to work hard for something, you get rewarded. Stick to your plan and make it even better. Set challenges for yourself — rise to meet them. Face each hurdle as it comes. Your confidence will grow. The more effort and thought you put in, the better the chances of career doors opening for you.

Critical Is Good

Oh would some Power the gift give us, to see ourselves as others see us.” — Robert Burns

The feedback and criticism you receive can sometimes be distractive. However, it is invaluable career advice. Feedback is a gift. It provides you with insights to make you better. Listen carefully and respond positively. When you consider why you received such feedback, reflect on your behavioural traits.

Consider — Having a positive mindset and believing in yourself makes receiving feedback fruitful. Criticism can derail your career journey if you let it. Sometimes it can inspire you to do more. It is always about how you accept it. Make realistic targets, stay focused on your plan and reach high.

Find Your Passion

The only way to do great work is to love what you do." — Steve Jobs

You are inspired to reach your career goals quicker if you love what you do. We all like to do what we do well. So, discover your passion, rather than follow the first thing that excites you. Find something that aligns with your strengths that you are interested in and enjoy.

I have written that you need to understand your strengths first, and then discover your passion. Advice to follow your passion is misguided. Passion without strengths leads to hobbies—not career success.

Consider —Examining the possibilities where your traits align with high performers. Make your plan of action. Your journey will require you to build upon your existing talent stack to get you to exactly where you want to be.

Set A Pace that You can Maintain

Only you can change the course of your life. Attaining career success starts with action.

Ambition is working hard to be what you want to be. Set yourself new goals. When you accomplish one goal, keep your plans fresh, achievable and inspired.

Do you want a better career?

Work towards it. It is a journey. Get clear on what you want. Ask for help. Invest in yourself. Enjoy your ride. Relish your achievements as you get closer to your career goals. Moreover, enjoy your free time too. Working long hours to fulfil your ambition deserves daily and weekly rewards and treats — celebrate your efforts!