It's all in the plan
Planning a career and being savvy about the opportunities that come your way are what most great careers are built on.
In today's world everything happens instantly. Our fastest computers operate at lightning speed. We eat food that is cooked in seconds. And we expect our careers to move just as fast. Yet new opportunities can still take weeks or months. If you're not very established or changing careers, the move will probably take twice as long as you predict.
So how do you go about planning a strategy for your career? Start with this bit of advice.
- Separate forging a career from earning money.
There are times when you need to take the better paying job or the first job you are offered so you can pay the bills. But taking a job for the money when you really wanted to make a career move could leave you frustrated.
With planning, you can spot jobs that will get you where you want to go. In the long run, you probably want to be making good money in your preferred field. That might take months or even years. Don't get discouraged even if you have to fine-tune goals as you learn more and the job market changes.
- No matter how easy it seems, most successful people have worked long and hard.
Sometimes you see someone at the top and chalk it up to luck. It is true that part of success is being in the right place at the right time. But planning and being savvy about the opportunities that come your way are what most great careers are built on.
For example, I know a guy who is a high-tech stock-option millionaire. To his new work colleagues, his wealth comes from his being at the company at the right time. The company's decision to give stock option bonuses was lucky for him. What they don't consider, though, is that his options were awarded because he spent seven years working ten or more hours a day. He recognised a good opportunity to join the company and further his career. That was planning.
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