subject: The Value Of A Plan [print this page] We have all heard all the various benefits of having goals, writing them down, and following through with them. But how do you establish goals in the first place? How do you come up with a plan when you have no idea where to even start? How do you plan for one, two, five, ten years?
Like any plan, it should start with doing your research. What does that mean? When you doing a plan for yourself it is not quite like doing a plan for a company. Sometimes it takes a bit of self-reflection. Take a good long look at yourself. What are you really good at? What do you enjoy doing? What kind of money does it really take to live the way you want? (Contrary to popular opinion, it is really okay to be satisfied with less money.) How many year do you realistically have left in the workforce? Will you need more education? Is going to school an option? How motivated are you? Do you like to work at home or would you rather be out and about?
You can then start looking at the options. What kinds of jobs would fit with what you want to do? Don't limit yourself. Sometimes there are jobs out there that you have never heard of that are a perfect match for what you are good at. Look at career websites and job advertisements. Maybe you aren't quite qualified yet, but could become qualified with a little work.
Check things out. Don't be afraid to look at various industries and/or jobs. Maybe you aren't a high school student, but most people are pretty willing to tell someone about their job if that person is interested in going into that field. Generally people change careers at least five times during their working life. The days of the work-30-year-get-the-gold-watch are long gone.
Whether you are looking for a job, thinking of changing careers or just kind of floating along through life, taking the time to make a plan can make you feel better about your current situation as well as your future. Having a plan will also help you direct your activities. Do things that will help you either research some aspect of your plan or help you move the plan along. Keep an open mind and explore all the opportunities. Sometimes exploring down one road will lead the road that is right for you. But you'll never know if you don't research the possibilities and make your plan.
First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination. Napoleon Hill
