Setting Goals for Professional Success

Hey there, it’s me, your coach Nina, how are you today? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the exciting but vast possibilities in your career? Society, your parents, friends, strangers on social media, and even your own expectations have all been suggesting paths you “should” take professionally. If you're intellectually curious and enjoy learning, you likely have a strong drive to grow already. You might already have some ideas about where you want to go and how to get there. However, with endless possibilities and only 24 hours in a day, it's important to have a focused and sustainable approach to your career development, one that prevents overwhelm and burnout. Here are some strategies to consider: 1️⃣ List out your career goals: What do you really want in your career? Is it money, title, creative freedom, influence, fame, or making an impact? In my early career I wanted to get promoted because the society says so, but after a few years I started to optimize for learning new experiences (hence jumping from corporate to startup to stand up a new team.) 2️⃣ Figure out your why: understand why you want to achieve something adds meaning and boosts motivation. Are you aiming for FIRE (financial independence to retire early), seeking respect as a manager, or craving intellectual exploration? 3️⃣ Define success: know your destination helps you figure out what resources or skills you need to get there. For instance, aspiring to be a people manager might require learning how to inspire others. 4️⃣ Identify the resources you need: Just like planning a trip, you need to know what to pack for your career journey. Determine the skills or knowledge necessary for your dream role. 5️⃣ Choose how to learn: Different people prefer different learning methods—reading, visual cues, podcasts, or hands-on experience. Find what works best for you and experiment if you're unsure. 6️⃣ Practice: Apply your new skills whenever possible. Shadow others, volunteer for projects, and actively develop the competencies you need. 7️⃣ Reflect regularly: Set a monthly reminder to assess your progress and adjust your strategies if needed. 8️⃣ Seek accountability: Remember the saying, "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." Find a mentor, friend, or a coach friend to support and hold you accountable. What strategies have you used or would you recommend to feel less overwhelmed and more empowered in your career growth? #careerdevelopment #professionaldevelopment #midcareer

New Year, new possibilities! 🔥 Forbes reveals that 38% of 2024 resolutions aim for financial improvement, with over 33% focusing on making more money or securing a new job. Sound familiar? Over the past 5 years, I've assisted numerous Silicon Valley professionals in achieving their dream jobs. Let's kickstart your success with a powerful Career Vision. Unfortunately, many start the year with dreams of landing a new job within 3-6 months, only to find nothing changed by December 31. The #1 reason is lacking a Career Vision. Other hurdles include: - Lack of confidence - Burnout or busyness - Comfort in existing roles - A resume lacking impact or keyword optimization Change is possible. Here's your guide to creating a Career Vision: STEP 1: Reflect on Your Values, Skills, and Passions Clarify your goals and motivations. Define your "why" for those goals. Identify long-term objectives and align them with short or medium-term job titles. STEP 2: Set Specific and Measurable Goals Map out intermediate milestones between your current position and "Landed my dream job!" Examples: - Set up saved job searches on LinkedIn. - Optimize resume, LinkedIn, and cover letter. - Reach out to network for referrals. - Land x interviews within y months. - Hire a career coach. - Land offers and negotiate salary. - Decide on an offer and confirm a start date. Celebrate success! STEP 3: Develop a Plan of Action Get specific about action steps: - Time block on Google Calendar every Mon, Wed, Fri from 10 am - 12 pm. - Apply to at least 20 jobs weekly. - Reach out to at least 7 people for networking per week. - Complete at least 5 networking conversations per week. With clear weekly goals and a tracking system, consistent progress guarantees success. Ready to make 2024 your year? Share your Career Vision! 🚀 #CareerSuccess #NewYearNewJob #CareerVision #GoalSetting #DreamJobJourney

𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭��𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬   As individuals complete their academic journey and enter the professional environment, they will encounter tasks involving goal setting and the creation of a development plan. Here are a few tips about how to get started and sustain the momentum.   𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠   Creating a goal plan involves a systematic approach to defining your objectives, outlining the steps needed to achieve them, and establishing a timeline for completion.   Identify your specific goals making sure that they are clear, specific, and measurable. Gain alignment with supervisors and teammates on how success will be defined for each goal.   Prioritize your goals by determining their relative importance, factoring in questions around urgency, alignment with your long-term objectives, and potential impact on your career growth. Break each goal into smaller, manageable tasks or milestones.   Assign realistic deadlines to each milestone or task.   Develop a detailed action plan for each goal, outlining the specific steps you need to take to accomplish it. Include resources you may require and any potential obstacles or challenges you might encounter. Consider strategies to overcome them.   Review your goal plan and track your progress on a regular basis as this approach will allow you to understand whether you are on track and additional actions may be required to achieve those objectives.   Finally, goals can and will change with additional information, new priorities, and new opportunities.   𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠   Creating a development plan involves assessing your current skills and competencies, identifying areas for improvement, and outlining a plan of action to enhance your professional capabilities.   Conduct a self-assessment of your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.   Reflect on your current skills, knowledge, and experiences, and consider the skills and competencies required to advance in your desired career path.   Set specific and measurable development goals. These goals should be aligned with your career aspirations and address the areas you want to improve.   Explore the various development opportunities available to you. This could include attending workshops, seminars, or conferences, enrolling in courses or certifications, seeking mentorship, participating in industry associations, or taking on challenging projects or assignments.   Develop a detailed plan of action outlining the steps you need to take to enhance your skills and competencies.   Determine the resources you will need to support your development plan. Start implementing your development plan by engaging in the identified activities.   Track your progress over time against these goals.   Actively seek feedback from mentors, supervisors, or colleagues who can provide guidance and support with different perspectives and suggestions for improvement. #development #career  

I decided to start the week with this. I’ve discovered that for experienced professionals, some things seem like platitudes. But for folks who are still feeling their way through their career, and “adulting" the right type of guidance helps. You feel overwhelmed at work & are not doing tasks you like. Unmotivated & frustrated, you're uncertain if you should quit, pursue a master’s program, or start your own business. But even that is confusing! Sounds familiar? Here is how I recommend you get out of that rut. 1) 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: It's okay not knowing everything. The key is to embrace learning & keep growing each day. Accept that it's fine to make mistakes, provided you learn from them. It's part of the learning curve. 2) 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬: SMART= specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound. Instead of saying, "I want to get better at my job," say, "I want to improve my sales numbers by X% in Q3." This gives you a clear target and a way to measure your progress. 3) 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 Y𝐨𝐮𝐫 G𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬: Have clear, tangible goals and visualize them daily. They serve as your signal in times of uncertainty and remind you what your targets are. 4) 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: While motivation is a can aid action, it fluctuates. Discipline, on the other hand, keeps you going even when motivation wanes. Discipline is committing to your goals and working towards them, 5) 𝐀𝐜𝐭!: Instead of waiting for the perfect plan, take action based on the information you have. Be willing to adjust your approach as you gain new insights, moving closer to your goals with each step forward. 6) 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤: Seek constructive feedback from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors. This can give you insight into areas where you can improve. Remember, feedback is not a criticism of you as a person but a tool to help you improve. 7) 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬: Maintain a sense of curiosity about your work and field. This can lead to a deeper understanding and open new avenues for growth. Ask questions, do research, & always strive to know more. 8) 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: Building relationships can be beneficial. You can learn from experiences, get advice, & discover opportunities you would not have otherwise found. Don't be afraid to connect with others. 9) 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Everyone has days they feel inadequate. It's part of being human. Instead of feeling bad about yourself, approach these situations objectively. 10) 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞: Work is important, but so is the rest of your life. Ensure you have work-life balance. This prevents burnout & keeps you from getting overwhelmed. Relax. Spend time with loved ones. Remember, personal & professional development is a continuous journey of growth and self-discovery. Embrace the process, stay resilient, & enjoy the fulfillment that comes from progress and achievement. Have a great week. Davidson 

The hardest aspect of job searching, I think, are setting goals. Realistic goals. Goals that you can obtain and feel accomplished. Too often we focus on grandiose goals like going to the gym starting in January. Instead, job seekers should set micro, SMART goals to make progress fast. It’s encouraging to see progress as you obtain those milestones. What Makes a Goal SMART? Specific: Clear and well-defined goals pave the way for focused efforts. Ask yourself, "What exactly do I want to achieve?" Measurable: Quantify your goal to track progress. Think in terms of numbers, deadlines, or specific criteria. Achievable: Your goal should be challenging yet attainable. It's about finding the balance between aspiration and realism. Relevant: Ensure your goal aligns with your broader career aspirations and values. It should contribute to your long-term objectives. Time-Bound: Set a realistic deadline. A time frame creates urgency and prompts action. Why SMART Goals Work? SMART goals provide a clear roadmap, making it easier to organize your efforts and resources. They also offer a way to measure progress, keeping you motivated and focused. 🌟 Tip: Break down larger goals into smaller, SMART steps. This approach can make even the most ambitious goals feel more manageable and less overwhelming. 🔍 Have you set SMART goals for your career? How have they impacted your journey? I'd love to hear your experiences and insights in the comments! #smartgoals #careersuccess #goalsetting #professionalgrowth

I've coached over 100 pro athletes in the last 10+ years. What helps them rise to the top of their game is how they set their goals. 7 tactics to set goals like a pro: Goals are simply targets we give ourselves to hit. Goals improve motivation, enhance our consistency, and give us the chance to experience meaning and progress. The best athletes use goals to push themselves to greater and greater heights. Here's how. 1. Write it down Don't just leave the goal in your head. Write it down, and put it somewhere you can see it often. Review it regularly. 2. Work backwards Begin with the end in mind. Start with figuring out where you want to end up, and then reverse engineer the steps to get there. Then shift your focus from the long-term outcome to the daily steps. 3. Don't just start, make a plan Goals are like like your destination in a GPS. You know where you want to go. Now you need a step-by-step guide to get there. Make a plan for what you want to do on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis to make your progress real. 4. Balance hard with realistic If you set a goal that's too easy, it won't be motivating. If you set a goal that's too hard, you'll give up at the first sign of no progress. Find what's just outside your current range, and aim to get there. 5. Don't do it alone The best athletes in the world have coaches for a reason. These coaches provide feedback, outside insights, and direction for bringing the goal to life. Use someone just a bit further in their journey to help you and hold you accountable. 6. Monitor daily, not all at once The best athletes check in on their progress every single day. This lets them know where they are, how far they've come, and where they need to go. It also lets them refine on a daily basis. Reflect on them often. 7. Celebrate along the way Working on anything meaningful is hard. Find ways to celebrate your small wins and where you've made progress. This "winner effect" will keep you going over the long-term, build confidence, and inspire setting more goals in the future.

As we get back into the office today at Office Dynamics International, I want to talk with you about the importance of setting SMART Goals. We often set New Year's Resolutions that are seldom maintained. The start of the new year often encourages us to want to set new goals. SMART Goals create a framework for us to follow to help us set goals that we can actually reach: Specific: Make clear, precise goals. For instance, attending a particular training or enrolling in a certain course is a lot more specific than saying, "I want to receive more training for my profession." Measurable: Goals should be quantifiable to track progress. If they are not, you will not be able to measure your growth. Achievable: Set realistic and attainable goals. It's good to set the bar higher, but don't make it too lofty that you discourage yourself. Relevant: Your goals need to be relevant to your personal or career aspirations. Time-bound: Goals need a deadline or timeframe so you can hold yourself to a standard and make sure that you are working towards completing them. As administrative professionals, we should always be working towards goals that better ourselves and challenge us to go above and beyond where we are currently at. Your future self will thank you for it.