Get a Career Plan

If you start a business, what is the first thing you would do? And the next? And after that?

If you know the answers, why do you not do that with your career as well?

Career Plan

It does not have to be detailed, all you really need is a rough guide/road map, it will show you where you are, where you want to be, and help you make the decisions that will get you there. To make it easier, do not place your entire career on the Plan. Rather, use smaller, easily digestible chunks, that help you plan out one year at a time, one month at a time etc.

It really does not have to be anything extensive. It should be enough to help you see what next steps you should take and follow to achieve your aims. Like I said, nothing elaborate, but it should be detailed enough so that you can understand it, but not so detailed that you use it to schedule bathroom breaks.

Steps

By making things easily digestible you are creating manageable chunks to process and follow. This makes it easier to follow through on the plan. Even if, in the near term, it means baby-steps. Try getting others involved to keep you honest!

Talk to your Boss

Employers and managers want to know your goals and aspirations. Why? Simply because they want to know you are committed. Likewise, we as human's like to help, by involving them, you are also asking for their assistance in keeping you honest! This will serve 2 purposes: 1) it keeps you honest 2) it keeps you on track [you don't want to look bad in front off the boss do you!?].

The crucial thing to remember, is track your progress and reward yourself. Did you just complete a major project, or 3 straight months of following you plan? Give yourself a reward! This will reinforce the plan in your brain and allow you to continue to succeed.