Where do you want your career to take you?

"A goal without a plan is just a wish."
Antoine de Saint-Exupery, French writer (1900 - 1944)

Lots of people have never really sat down and figured out where they want their careers to take them. Where they want to go, how they want to get there, what areas they want to strengthen (or specialise in) and what they need to improve on. For most, this can seem a fairly overwhelming task and too hard to even contemplate, let alone begin.

But this doesn't have to be the case. It can be as simple as jotting down a few key points and cross-checking it every now and then. Having a plan of your career path and goals enables you to have a reasonably good idea of where you want to go and keep you on track to getting there.

You'll find this comes in handy when you make decisions on career opportunities that come your way. A good plan can set you on your path so that you are in the position to sometimes turn down an opportunity (and not just say yes because you think you have to) as you are well-informed enough to know it isn't right for you.

Having said that, goals do change so it's interesting to look back and see where you wanted to be five years ago and where you are now.

So right now, start thinking about where you want your career to take you and what is important to you. Try not to focus too hard on the specifics and perhaps consider the broader picture. Like, I want to one day be the Head of Marketing of a professional services firm, not I want to be the Marketing & Business Development Director for an international law firm - preferably X or Y firm - with a team covering a region, an assistant, with travel and practice groups focusing on...

While it's crucial you don't limit your goals in this process (the sky's the limit..!) it is just as important that you don't get too carried away with the specifics - this can box you in, leaving you blinkered from new possibilities and opportunities.

Short-term goals - i.e. Where do you see yourself in 12 months -2 years? What do you enjoy doing? What do you want to build on?

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Long-term goals - i.e. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years? What are you passionate about? What achievements are important to you? What lifestyle is important to you?

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