Where are you now and where do you want to be this time next year? Take stock of where you are and plan ahead

Anytime is a great time to take stock of your career and working life. It’s vital to do this regularly, if you don’t want to end up drifting and wake up one day wondering how you ended up where you are. To feel satisfied and fulfilled at work you need to review your progress, make new decisions and then act on them – in other words stay in charge.

Spend a quiet couple of hours, away from pressures and demands to follow this plan. Have a pen and paper ready too.

The past
First look back over the year. Divide a sheet of paper into two and write the things you’re happy with in your working life in one column and the things you aren’t happy with in the other. For instance, you may be happy that you cut down your hours and produced a consistently high standard of work. But you may be unhappy that you’re in a job which doesn’t excite you, or that you haven’t made much progress.

Now highlight the three things you’re happiest with. Note these as achievements to be proud of. Then highlight the three things you’re unhappiest with. These will give you an indication of what you need to change.

The future
Where would you like your career to be a year from now? Would you like a total change, to be promoted, to downsize and have more time for yourself? Would you like to earn more, go freelance, or simply to go on doing your best in the job you’re in?

Let yourself fantasise with this one, don’t be restricted by what you think is possible or likely.

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Compare
Now compare your assessment of where you are now with where you want to be. Are they close, or miles apart? Don’t be disconcerted if there’s a big gap. Remember that big gaps can be crossed in a remarkably short space of time.

Plan
Time to draw up a list of goals, to get you from where you are now to where you want to be this time next year. Work out what you’ll need to do and then break it down into smaller steps. For instance, if you want a promotion, do you need more training or to be brave enough to apply for it in the first place. Don’t put things like ‘work harder’, which are too general. Be specific – do you mean, put in more hours? How many? On which days?

Act
Now you’ve got the goals it’s time to act on them. Do this immediately. First of all you’ll be fired up with enthusiasm right after making your plan and realising what you truly want. Secondly you’ll be able to use the momentum to get your plan underway.

Keep going
The secret of success is to keep going – no matter what. Don’t let anything put you off. If you fail at first then get back up again and carry on. This is what successful people do and it works!

Don’t tell everyone your plans – some people may discourage you, and that won’t help. If you believe you can do it then you will do it.

Here's to your future!