Why you need a career plan
I remember being in primary school, and my favourite teacher said, "Those who fail to prepare, prepare to fail." Now I don't remember Mrs. Brown crediting Benjamin Franklin or Winston Churchill for her adaptation of their wise words, but I do recall being somewhat mind-blown. This sentiment has stuck with me ever since, and when I reflect on the different chapters of my life, I can clearly identify the common thread during periods of contempt and when I felt a true sense of balance; it was all in the prep and planning!
When I'm in flow, having a plan is the key to my success. If I want to exercise daily, get good sleep, eat at home, hit a healthy socialising quota, and save money (*takes a deep breath), I have to be prepared, or the wheels fly off! Half the reason being this all has to happen around the 38 hours that suck up the prime sunshine hours of my Mon-Fri; work. Therefore, work is no exception to the rule; consuming a third of our lives, making a career plan, and frequently checking in and making adjustments are significant to maintaining that balance we discussed earlier!
What do you want?
I'm asking you; what do you want out of your career. When was the last time you asked yourself this... better yet, when was the last time you let yourself be truly honest? The first step to creating a career plan is to dig deep and discover what would be your idea of a truly fulfilling career. Don't hold back; you don't have to share this part of your plan if you don't want to, but getting clear on your purpose, what we at MADI like to call your "WHY" is vital in creating a roadmap to success.
If you aimlessly drive with no direction, there is no telling where you'll end up. So pick a destination, set your coordinates, and get on the right road (apologies in advance, more driving analogies to come).
Planning = Confidence
I subscribe to the "fake it til you make it" thing; the older I get, the more I understand we're all just figuring it out as we go. But, on the flip side, I'm not such a free spirit that this is my life's mantra. The perfect concoction for career success is the ability to adapt and embrace new challenges while being able to foresee and predict potential barriers.
When you dedicate the time to crafting a career plan, you are investing in your future self and laying the foundation for success. You're creating a roadmap of growth and development by pinpointing necessary steps, researching pathways, and identifying where your strengths lie and areas you'll need to brush up on. Each milestone you reach will build your confidence, enabling you to tackle the next step in your career journey. Of course, there will be bumps along the way, but that's all part of it!
Ask for guidance
When we feel in a rut with little sense of direction, it's not a crazy concept to get professional help from a therapist - in fact it's encouraged! And again, your career is no exception to the rule! A Career Coach's job is literally to help guide and strategise with their clients in any stage of their career journey to help them face current challenges, research and prepare for a new role, or create a personalised roadmap to success and fulfilment.
So if the thought of preparing a career plan is freaking you out a little, don't stress; we've got you! At MADI, we have a range of coaching services designed to help you smash your career goals - think of us as your personalised planning buddies! Your career is one of the most vital things you'll ever invest in - don't leave it to chance!
Don't let other people, or fickle chance dictate your next career move because decisions will be made for you, not with you. Take the wheel, steer in the direction you want to go, and take your rightful place in the driver's seat of your own career journey!
Signing off
Claud x