Make it Happen! Reaching Your Career Goals…
So, you want to achieve your career goals? Who doesn’t? Sadly, not everyone can say they are reaching their career goals. On a brighter note, a lot of people have been successful. I’ve been fortunate to have spent time with young leaders in many industries throughout the country. These are the people that are making their dreams come true, and this is how they are making it happen!
Create, Monitor, Adjust Goals
In order to achieve your career goals, you must have some (obviously!). My professional goals include being considered an expert in my field and to publish my work professionally. Once these goals are created, set forth a plan to achieve them and be sure to set benchmarks to know if you are staying the course. Finally, as you develop professionally and personally, review your goals and adjust them to match your interest and passions.
Network, Network, Network
Meet as many people as you can! For all the Mad Men lovers out there (I’m one of them!), Don Draper met Conrad Hilton (Founder of the Hilton Hotels) while mixing a drink, without even knowing it was him. Weeks later, Hilton contacted Draper for assistance. Point: You never know who you are talking to, who that person knows, etc. Take advantage of every situation. Every environment I’m in, I try to at least strike a conversation with one person (airport gate, restaurants, fitness center, etc.) You never know how that one person may change my life.
Find A Mentor
Establish a mentor that will help you monitor and track your career progression. Avoid your direct supervisor/boss. While they may be a great leader and have the career that you desire, they would much rather have you being productive instead of speaking to them about how you can keep progressing through the company/industry. Additionally, they already know you and what you are capable of; find someone else that will expand your network and be able to help you leverage your career.
Research/Learn
Research people that has your desired career. See how their journey led them to where they are now. Learn about what the guiding forces have been in their career, where and how they research the industry and leaders within it and where they find motivation and inspiration.
Personal Branding
Look at yourself as a product or service. What is the brand that is attached to you? Are you hard-working, detail-oriented or innovated and creative? What do the personal brands of the leaders in your industry say about them? Throughout your career, take the approach as if you are a product or service and the companies that you would like to work for are the end consumer…what’s important to them? Now develop your personal brand to reflect those qualities.
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