It’s one thing to set career goals at the beginning of the year. It’s another to actually devise a plan to reach those goals, especially as busy working women and moms. Many of us set ambitious goals as a new year, or even a new season begins, only to get stuck because we don’t have the blueprint to actually achieve them and we’re way too busy and spread thin anyways. I know I’ve certainly been there…
So how do we actually put together a plan that works for each and every one of us, in terms of achieving our career goals, whatever these goals may be? How do we get that raise this year? How do we manage to snatch that promotion? And most importantly, how do we set an approach that fits into our particular set of circumstances, lifestyle, environments, relationships, etc? I remember reading about all these highly successful individuals in the corporate and entrepreneurial world with incredible goals and habits, and not having a frame of reference to apply what I was learning. How was I to wake up at 4am when I had been nursing my newborn two hours prior? How was I to attend networking events when I was barely making it to pick up my kids? You may have probably felt the same, in addition to being intimated by the sheer monumental appearance of the tasks at hand…
What I didn’t realize back then, is that many of the successful women and men we look up to, have systems in place, people to help them, and entire infrastructures supporting them in accomplishing their objectives. That working mom killing it on social media also has a full-time nanny and a personal assistant. That newly minted managing director’s husband is a stay-at-home parent supporting her on the home front. For many, if not most of us, especially as working women and moms, these systems are non-existent, the support is quite scarce, from childcare support to financial support, and the resources are tight to begin with…
This is where a sense of purpose has to take over to build a plan that actually works for us as working women and moms. As many of us have already noted, what works for our male counterparts does not exactly work for us. What society, and many of the mainstream self-help and strategy books tell us, may also not apply to our lives as women and mothers. What works, what really works for women, is an approach that integrates the various aspects of our lives, regardless of our personal and professional circumstances.
As I worked to devise steps towards planning my own career amidst the changing winds of my own life, I kept focusing on what would bring me more of a sense of purpose. The word Purpose itself started speaking to me, so much so that I drafted seven (7) steps for career planning following the PURPOSE mnemonic, that I’m happy to share in this post. Here is the PURPOSE approach to planning your career:
- Picture WHO you desire to be (not what you have to do): There is power in creating and honoring a mental image of the woman you know you can and are meant to be. This is not just in terms of career title, position, or possessions. This is in terms of the essence of WHO you are. Do you see yourself as fulfilled, powerful, creative, satisfied, rested in your career?
- Use what you have. Next, consider what you do have in terms of qualities, strengths, attributes, as well as your current lifestyle, family, relationships. Make a list of these and reflect on how you can use them in your career this year.
- Readjust your goals as necessary and often as needed. I remember hearing Christian author Joyce Meyer say in one of her podcast episodes when asked how she keeps her priorities straight, that she basically keeps straightening them out. Goals are not static monuments to worship at the feet of. Instead, they can be adjusted and readjusted as needed.
- Make a realistic Plan. When I say realistic, I mean by this a plan that fits into your current reality. If you cannot realistically attend every after-work happy hour or networking event, do not include it in your plans.
- Get Outside of your comfort zone. Commit to getting outside of your comfort zone as often as you can. This may mean asking someone to mentor you, starting a new side hustle, or volunteering for a project at work…
- Take the next Smallest step. Goals are not accomplished through big, inconsistent steps, but rather through small, consistent efforts. What is the next smallest step you can take? It may be to write a sentence to begin that report, research paper or book, or to make that phone call, or hit “send” on that email you dread sending…
- Execute! Commit to executing on your goals, even if imperfectly. Remember, done is better than perfect!
Planning your career at the beginning of the year goes beyond just setting goals. It’s also and most importantly about having a solid approach to becoming the person who actually achieves the best goals for themselves and their communities at large.
What is your career plan for this year?
With gratitude,
The Corporate Sis.
PS: Have you checked out my book on Amazon?
