In geometry, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. This theory is also applicable to life. The challenge most people face is in developing a plan to help connect their past with their future. To assist you on your journey, I have created a mini workbook.
Years of coaching and training successful business people and athletes have led to this tested and true system. The only rule is this: Write all of your answers in a journal (or series of journals) dedicated to this work. A journal can be a beautiful book that represents your future, or a simple binder. Keep an open mind. Take your time on each section. Be honest with yourself and have fun. Self-examination is the tool to help you control your own destiny and find the right career!
Portfolio of your past
List five past accomplishments, each on its own sheet of paper, with a short summary of the story behind the moment.
Answer the following questions in each summary:
- What did you do? How did you do it?
- Why is this important to you?
- Break the path into a timeline and record how each step felt. Did you have obstacles? How did you overcome them?
- What did you learn on this journey? Was your life changed in any way by either the process of achieving your goal, or the result of the achievement?
Once you have completed all of your stories, reread them. Find or select two to three common themes. Be sure to write all of your observations down so that you can return to them at a later date.
Leveraging your strengths in the present
- Clearly define each of your core values and list what you consider to be a violation of these values.
- What motivates you in your current career?
- What are the characteristics of a great leader (in your opinion)?
- What leadership characteristics do you see in yourself?
- As a professional what are your strengths? How and when do you leverage them?
- What do others identify as your strengths and weaknesses?
- How do you react to performance feedback?
- What have you done to develop yourself in the last three years?
- If you had 100 days to achieve tremendous success at your current job, how would you go about achieving your goal? Be specific.
Taking charge of your career
Complete the following exercises in your journal, be specific and detailed in your answers:
- How do you prefer to be managed?
- What is the best way to build a successful working relationship with you?
- What kind of people do you want to work with?
- Are you comfortable negotiating with others?
- What kind of company do you want to work for/with? Will you have co-workers? What is the culture of the company?
- What is it about your dream job that you most yearn for?
- Describe at least three people in the world of business that you like, admire and respect. What is it about them that you would like to emulate? Compare and contrast your personality.
- What is the required skill-set, education, and job experience of a candidate for your dream job? Find or create a job description.
Review all of your work to date and then re-read the job description you have created. How can you apply your previous skills, experience, contacts and goal setting techniques to achieve your new career goal? Whom do you currently know that can help you reach the next level? Have you thought of connecting with a career transition coach?
Plot out what you need to do in order to exceed the qualifications of this ideal candidate profile. Make your milestones reasonable and manageable. Most of all remember to journal along the way and always keep in mind that while countless others are plodding through life or running in circles, you will be on the “full-speed-ahead” path to success with your career!
John Lankford has more than 27 years’ experience coaching and developing leaders, including work with the Ford Executive Development Center, training its top 2,000 business leaders worldwide. He was also awarded the “Associate/Employee Coach of the Year Award” for the second time at the ActionCOACH 2008 Global Conference.