Can Setting Career Goals be as Fun as Planning a Vacation?

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Can Setting Career Goals be as Fun as Planning a Vacation | Pinnacle Winnipeg Jobs, Career TipsTrue or false: setting career goals is a greater challenge than planning a vacation? While different by nature, these activities share common elements like choosing a location and making travel arrangements to get there. However, it is a misnomer to think setting goals for personal advancement has to be more complicated than planning a vacation.

By identifying your ideal destination and planning short-term steps to get there, you can secure your dream career.

Choose Your Destination: Set Long-Term Goals

In order to craft your career plan, it is best to work in reverse.

  • First, picture the long-term goal.
  • Next, figure out the short-term steps that can get you there.

Why work backwards? Like the popular adage goes, “Start with the end in mind.” It is troublesome to use a map without first knowing where you are going.

Long-term goals are often seen as big endeavours. They will take time, energy and effort to accomplish. Examples of long-term goals might be:

  1. Getting promoted within your company
  2. Owning your own business
  3. Earning a master’s degree
  4. Writing a book

Long-term goals are most powerful when aligned with personal hopes and convictions. Working towards a long-term objective can colour your life with purpose and quickly build up your self-confidence.

Where do you want to be in five years? Summarize your heart’s desire in a simple mission statement by remaining specific and realistic.

Know How to Get There: Set SMART Short-Term Goals

To stay focused on this big goal, it is wise to set attainable, smaller goals related to your long-term career objective. Bit by bit, slowly but surely these little steps add up and create a tangible reality for you to take pride in. Plan to achieve your short-term goals in the near future, maybe within a day, week, month, or a few months at most.

What are your short-term goals? Write them down in an achievable sequence. Arranging them on a calendar may help with this. Keep in mind that the most effective short-term goals are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.

Remember, your short-term targets should support your long-term goals. For instance, if your goal is to become known and connected within your career industry, here are examples of short-term goals you may want to apply.

  1. Join professional groups and associations.
  2. Make presentations at these meetings to display your expertise in the industry.
  3. Become proficient in using social media.
Set Smart Goals | Pinnacle Winnipeg | Jobs, Career Tips

Stay Focused: One Step at a Time

We all know the saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Similarly, Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu famously said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

To stay focused on a long-term goal, you may want to set specific, attainable steps that will take you to your destination. Envisioning where you want to go and establishing short-term objectives to get there will lead you to professional success and personal satisfaction.

How do you plan to attain your career goals?

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