Do you have a clear mental image of who you will be in the future?

Your vision is a “picture” of what you aspire to and what inspires you in your work life. Having a vision for your career is the first step in helping you eventually reach your career goals. Thinking about what it is you want to do and where you want to be is indeed an important factor that you should take into consideration. This way, you can manage the path you want to go through. Defining your professional goals can help you know what effective methods to choose to make your goal come true. Developing a plan using goal-setting allows you to chose how you want to move through life.

Types of Goals

Short-Term: Goals that can be reached in the near future (within a few weeks or months).

Long-Term: Goals that are more far-reaching and take longer to achieve (a year or more).

Fixed: Goals with an outcome that is based on a specific date/time.

Flexible: Goals that have an outcome, but no time limit.

Why Goal-Setting is Important?

Without direction, you don’t know where you’re going in your life and career. Are you content with have a job or do you want more? When goal-setting you want to make sure they are realistic. Setting unrealistic goals can lead to feelings of failure, lowered self-image, and lowered self-esteem. So what makes a goal unrealistic? A goal is unrealistic when the goal is something that requires more energy, skills, talents, and time that you have available in order to achieve it.

For example, if you expect to be liked by everyone in your personal and professional life, then you have set an expectation that neither you nor anyone else could ever achieve. Another unrealistic goal may be one that is not in alignment with your own greatest gifts and talents. A person who wants to be an actor because of the fame and glory but doesn’t really have that natural skills or talents necessary for the craft would benefit from redirection away from such an unrealistic goal.

Using the S.M.A.R.T. Goal-Setting Method

The method of SMART goal-setting (an abbreviation for the 5 steps of specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based goals) is one of the most effective tools used to help people to reach their goals.

Specific: Goals should have possible results that are simply and clearly stated.

Bad: Get a job
Good: Get an administrative assistant position with “XYZ” Company.

Measurable: Include how you will know if you have met your goal.

Bad: Have more in savings this year than last.
Good: Have $2,000 saved more this year than last.

Attainable: Goals should have outcomes that are realistic given your current situation, resources, and available time.

Bad: Be more consistent in job searching.
Good: Complete 5 job applications per week.

Realistic: To be realistic, a goal must be something in which you are both willing and able to work.

Bad: Make 500 contacts per week.
Good: Attend networking event and pass out 20 business cards.

Timely: A goal should be set within a time frame. With no time frame, there’s no sense of urgency.

Bad: Get certified in Microsoft Office
Good: Get certified in Microsoft Office by December 1.

Goal-setting techniques are used by successful people in all fields. Setting clearly defined goals, you can measure your achievements and constantly encourage yourself to grow toward your ideal career vision. You will be able to see progress in what might otherwise feel like a long, worthless grind. By goal-setting and making moves toward those goals, you will in turn raise your self-confidence.