Make 2009 the Best Year of Your Career
Yep, folks, it’s that time again – a time to set resolutions which we seem to assume we won’t keep, a time to think about really getting the job of our dreams. Here are some ideas/steps for making 2009 the best year of your career. So, why not take 2-3 hours to think about how you can make 2009 the year of your career.
Acknowledge the Accomplishments of 2008
Begin by reviewing what really worked for you in 2008. What were your triumphs? What did you do that you were really proud of? Did you get a new account? Increase your sales? Streamline the systems in your job? What did you enjoy doing during the year? Identify the parts of the job that you really got a buzz out of. Write them all down. The chances are you will begin to remember triumphs and achievements that you had forgotten. Acknowledge them. Even if you think you had no triumphs–you survived without getting fired–that counts, as well.
Identify Your Strengths – Know What You are Good At
What do you do really well? What do you do so well that it’s effortless for you and you assume any plonker could do it? What do other people give you really positive feedback on? These are some keys to your strengths. Another useful way to identify your own strengths is to take some of the psychometric tests available. Some of the better known ones are: DISC, Myers-Briggs and the Enneagram. Do a google for any of them, and you should be able to do one online free or for a reasonable price. Self-knowledge is a key component of finding your dream career. Knowing what you are not so good at is useful, as well.
Where Can You Contribute? Make the Present Better
Given that it’s unlikely that you will have an invite on Monday morning to your new job, what can you do in the meantime to improve your contribution to your current position. You could begin by simply asking your boss how you can serve the organization better. Admittedly he/she could be gobsmacked at first, but they probably will then be impressed, and this could help improve your relationship with them. Can you be kinder to other people in the office? What would be the one thing you could do in your job that would raise your game? How could you bring some of the strengths that you have identified to your current position? Are there any openings within the company where you could use these strengths? Could you reach out a helping hand to someone else? What can YOU do to make your workplace a better one for everyone?
Dream It and Then Do It
Imagine yourself a year from now in your dream job. Write down what you will be doing, what sort of environment you will be working in. Will you be working outdoors? In an office? Be as detailed as possible. Now, do you know anyone doing a job like this? See if you can organize to meet them. Ask your friends if they know anyone. People are generally very helpful. Ask if you can interview them about the positives and negatives of their position. This will give you a more realistic picture. Laura Berman Fortgang in her book Now What? 90 Days to a New Life Direction has an excellent section on this.
Paralysis by Perfection
One thing I hear from a lot of my clients is that they want to be sure this is the “right” job they will move to, they want to be sure they have identified the “right” career for them. And in the meantime, they moan and groan about their current position and agonize over what their “perfect” career might be. In our current world, you will probably change careers 4-5 times anyway, and you will learn something from every career choice. Identify what you want, what’s non-negotiable for you, and if you get 100% of that and 80% of the rest and your gut feeling is good–go for it. Life is constantly presenting new opportunities and getting a new job is not for life: unlike a dog or a marriage.
