The Secret To Creating A Successful Career Plan

I cannot stress enough the importance of having a plan in place before starting out on your new career path

. Not only do you need a plan, your plan needs to be written down. If you were suddenly dropped into the middle of a busy city you have never been in before and told to find your way back home, it would be extremely difficult to do without some type of map to help give you some direction. The same is true when it comes to changing careers without a written plan.

Having a written career plan is the road map that will help you get from point A-where you are right now-to point B-where you want to be. And just like any journey, there can be several stops along the way.

When it comes to developing your plan, there are many things you will want to include in it. The more detailed your plan is, the more likely you are to be successful in reaching your final destination.

So let's take a look at some proven ways to create a plan that is sure to bring you success.

* Write It Down: If you haven't already done so at this stage, get yourself a nice journal that you can use to write in all of your career plan notes. Now, this should not be any old notebook. In my experience when I have a nice new notebook or journal that I'm proud of, it becomes a resource that I refer to time and time again. Treat yourself to a nice hard cover, bound journal that can become a part of your own personal success library in the future.

* Mission Statement: Every good plan starts with a mission statement. A mission statement is basically your main goal or objective. It usually consists of a few sentences that describe what you want to achieve. Its main purpose is to define your goal and give you a sense of direction. The key to a strong mission statement is to be as specific as possible when it comes to describing the main goal you want to achieve. Write it like it's a matter of fact and avoid using the word "if" in any part of your description. The goal of your mission statement is to achieve what it states-there is no "if" about it!

* Goals: You can't have a plan without goals. A goal is something you want to do or to achieve. Your mission statement actually states your main goal-it's like the big picture or main theme of your plan. But in order to achieve your main goal, you need to break it down into smaller goals and steps / actions that you will need to carry out during the process of getting from where you are now to where you want to be.

* Obstacles: A good plan not only includes the steps you need to take to achieve your goals, it also takes into account various obstacles that can get in your way. I find it helpful to list out the various possible obstacles in a separate area of my journal. Once you have listed out your potential obstacles or challenges, do some brainstorming and create some backup plan. They way if these challenges do arise, you will be prepared.

* Motivational Statements: Including motivational statements and other positive statements in your career plan journal is also useful. Make sure you look at them on a daily basis. Any action you repeat often becomes a habit, and motivating yourself daily is a habit well worth cultivating.

Hopefully you can see why having a written plan is so important. Not only will it make it so much easier for you to navigate from point A to point B, it will also help you stay motivated during your journey towards your final destination.

by: Catherine Trebble

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