Design Your Ideal Career
Wouldn’t it be nice to have the exact career you want? You might feel that achieving and maintaining this “perfect career” is out of your reach. Many women today, especially given the state of the economy, begin to feel as though they just have to settle for whatever job is currently bringing in money. As you know, it is quite common for individuals to live paycheck to paycheck and never feel as though they have a chance to go after a career that they would be not only more profitable but also more stimulating.If you do feel that way, this idea that you could never attain your perfect career is an obstacle in and of itself. The truth is that today’s professional women have more options than ever before. But a great many women fail to realize just how many choices and thus opportunities they truly have. The sooner you realize just how many options you have, the better off your career goals will be.Lofty goals can be dangerous as they have a tendency to seem out of reach and thus difficult to obtain and focus upon. Achieving your goals means that you first establish your overarching long-term goal, but then break that goal down into smaller chunks. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? The trick here is to create short-term goals that build upon each other. In this way, you can attain your ideal career.
YOUR CAREER PLAN
It is also important to realize that that ideal career will not just happen one day via magic. Yes, every now and then an entrepreneur looking for an investment to get started has a rich relative or private investor give her the significant investment she needs to launch her business. It is possible to just kind of stumble into your ideal career just by luck. However, these types of occurrences are rare. What is far more likely is that you will need to take the necessary and concrete steps to get the kind of career you want in life.Just as no career is out of your reach, the same holds true for leadership roles. You need to believe that every leadership role that you might want to attain is within your grasp. You can take such leadership positions with the right strategy and approach.To achieve such goals, you must first evaluate your personal and career objectives. In short, you must take inventory of your current skills, and you must plan.It goes beyond planning, as you must have the desire (a strong desire) to advance and you must, of course, be willing to work hard to make it all happen. If your goal truly is to progress to the next level, you can’t let others stand in your way and become an obstacle to your success.
HOW DOS THE SUCCESSFUL EXECUTIVE WOMAN PLAN HER SUCCESS TRACK?
A successful woman builds her success track through long-term and careful planning that is matched with determination and patience, but always knowing when the time is “now.” Far too many women are too patient when it comes to reaching out for what they want in their personal and professional lives, and you don’t want to let this be you.This means that you may need to be very aggressive about seeking out more responsibility at your current job or getting that coveted promotion. If you don’t make people perceive you as a “player,” then they won’t see you that way. After all, you must be the one promoting you as an asset, and you need to demonstrate clearly why you are the case. Remember that many employers, if not most, are so burdened and distracted that you have to grab their attention.
USE PERSISTENCE AND DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED DESPITE THE ODDS
When you combine persistence and determination with solving problems, you have a real winning combination. Whether you are trying to climb the corporate ladder or strike out on your own with an entrepreneurial venture, you want to be a problem solver. Employers, recruiters and prospective customers and clients notice those who tackle the various issues that arise.Persistence and determination are at the core of solving problems, especially difficult ones, and that means if you want to “beat the odds” be a problem solver! Also, keep in mind that people love problem solvers, with some exceptions. Being too much of a go-getter and a problem solver can leave many bosses feeling threatened. This is where you have no choice but to take office politics into consideration and sometimes wait for the right moment. The right moment varies by situation. For example, it might mean waiting for the perfect promotion to arrive, or it might mean switching jobs.
MAKING KEY CHANGES CAN BOOST YOUR CAREER
So much of moving ahead in your career and achieving your career goals centers upon having an open mind and being receptive to making significant changes. When you stay open-minded and are receptive to new ideas and possibilities, you will find new paths to explore in your career that you would otherwise miss. Being open-minded is thus at the very heart of taking your career in the exact direction you want it to go! So don’t be afraid of change and exploring new avenues and thoughts, as this is what will help distinguish you from “the pack.”
HOW CAN I THINK OF MYSELF AS A SUCCESS?
Everything begins in your own head. You are what you believe yourself to be. If you feel that you aren’t good enough for a promotion or a given career then your own personal “war of advancement” is over; you are done and out of the game, period. Having an open mind means that you are also open to the idea that you have value and worth and that your contribution can and will mean something to a company or industry at large.By being a problem solver, you become a key contributor and someone that will be viewed by others as a successful part of a company’s overall “machinery.” At that point, you bet you’ll get noticed!
HOW DO I FACE MY GIANTS?
Whatever your giants may be the first step is to realize that you are more capable than you may have previously felt that you were. Secondly, you need to understand that to achieve your career goals you will need to deal with your giants one way or another. Now, every situation is different, and that means you may be able to outmaneuver or maneuver around your giants.Often this is the best approach, but sometimes you may need to deal with them head on; for example, a co-worker or boss that is attempting to hold you back. Facing your giants begins by assessing your situation and how your giants are “roadblocking” you and keeping you from your goals. Next, you must determine how to work around these obstacles. Bear in mind that on occasion your personal giants may not be other people, but may instead be your own limiting ideas of your capabilities or your fears. Having the right career plan will make all the difference in achieving your goals.