There is a world of difference between
planning out your career moves versus just taking positions that
happen to come along. Most often people who are happy and satisfied
in their careers are ones who have done some soul searching, figured
out what they really wanted and then did what it took to get them
there.But you might be
thinking: my situation is unique. How will I know if my career plan
is really right for me? That's a good question!
You will know if the plan you
create is really right for you and if you are being true to your
self, by how you feel about it when it's completed. If thinking
about your next career move makes your heart pound with excitement -
you are on the right track.
When we are happy in our positions,
simply put, we are more productive. If you feel stuck or otherwise
unhappy in your current role or industry it's really important you
don't ignore these thoughts and feelings. Prolonged exposure to
industries or positions that make us unhappy not only affect our
personal life but also our health and well being.
How to begin creating your plan
When first creating your career plan allow yourself to brainstorm.
You must begin to get what's in your head out on paper, so you can
start to come to terms with what's important to you, what you need
to get rid of, and what might be holding you back.
I should mention money is often the
jailer I hear holds my clients hostage time and time again. I can't
change careers or positions because I really need the money I am
making now. If this is your position as well, I would challenge you
to first come up with a plan and a timeline for changing that
situation. Even if the goals you map out are a couple years away -
the power of writing down your goals and working toward them either
solo or as a family is profound.
Also profound is the positive
affect taking small baby steps will have on you. Two years ago I
took just one suggestion to free up more of my time that my business
coach made and it had such a positive affect on me that everyone
around me profited including my clients! This also gave me
motivation to make more positive changes and move forward. This is
good to remember if ever you feel overwhelmed - every big change
begins with one small step.
Tips for brainstorming:
Write out all the things that you dislike about your current and
past positions. This is usually an easy one to start with as most
people are really clear on what they don't like! Now, throw that
piece of paper away. It's gone. Time to let those things go and
focus on what you do want. If this sounds too "woo woo" for you just
wait...you will be surprised how this "process" helps you to move
forward!
Establish your career parameters
Write down your "driving motivators" These are the two or three
things that MUST happen in your next move - they are essentially
fixed such as geographic, industry or financial needs. Be honest
with yourself.
Next brainstorm on your secondary
career parameters. These are things you would like to have but it's
not a deal breaker if you don't get them.
Finally its time to define your
dream job. Picture a blank canvas that you can draw any picture that
you like on. Crystallize your vision of your dream job by closing
your eyes and think now about what your dream job means to you. Here
are a few questions you can ask yourself: What does it look like?
Where are you working - at home looking out the window at your
garden, or looking out at t he skyline from your down town office on
the 9th floor. Is the environment cutting edge and fast paced or
highly technical?
Or is refined, traditional or
academic? What kind of people are you working with?
What are you doing? Working independently With a team? And so on...
Brainstorm on your dream job for
several days or weeks. You will probably notice thoughts, keywords
and ideas bubbling to the surface that were not there when you
began. That's because you are now focused on it. It's for this
reason that you should not worry if you feel at first that you don't
know what your dream job looks like. Chances are - you're not
crystal clear here simply because you have e never given yourself
permission to focus on it before.
Finally, treat this as a creative
and fun experience. It's a good idea to send your thought gremlins
that tell you all the reasons why you can't do this on a coffee
break so you can have a clear head and an open heart as you begin.
If you are unhappy in your current
job or wish to change industries or are having a hard time figuring
out what "to do when you grow up" this exercise is vital. Spend some
time focusing on what has been bothering you or what you haven't
focused on and why and soon you will be one step closer to knowing
what you want. Don't worry about how you are going to get it. When
it comes to career focus, that challenge is usually always the
easier of the two!
