GET AHEAD IN LIFE THE BEYONCE WAY

Determination to succeed made the singer a star and goal setting could also help others to achieve their dream By Barbara McCarthy.

There is no need to be put off, however, says Rowan Manahan, the managing director of Fortify Services, the career management and outplacement firm, as planning ahead is something we all do every day. “We would never get into our cars and go on a journey without a destination in mind, so why do we not have a destination in mind when it comes to our careers?” said Manahan. Your career is more than likely your sole revenue stream in your life and it governs your wealth and a large part of your happiness, so it is important to create some kind of a working plan.

This can be done by recognising the skills and knowledge that you have acquired through your life and then aligning them with your values, says Fitzpatrick. “Ask yourself what is important to you in your life and what ways of being do you value most. Then generate a list of projects and careers that are possible manifestations of your ideal work vision,” she said.

A career plan should be broken up into short-, medium- and long-term goals, says Cathy Roberts, a life coach. “Like any goals, it should be a ‘smart’ plan. That means it should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely,” she said. Targets should be written somewhere you can see them often to remind yourself what you are aiming for. That is exactly what Roberts did when she decided to change direction and make a plan for her future. “Up to two years ago I was working in marketing in the UK,” she said. “I was stressed out and exhausted with no motivation to go into work every day.” There was no sense of achievement no matter how successful her projects were, she says. “I left my job and took time to really think about what I wanted,” said Roberts. “Knowing I was good at motivating colleagues, friends and family and that I was a doer, I decided to do a diploma in life coaching and became an NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) practitioner.” NLP looks at how people communicate and how their subjective experience is affected by it. That knowledge is then used to change a person’s behaviour. Making the decision was the hard part but once Roberts had decided to act, things just fell into place, like they do when you know you have made the right decision, she says. “I could not be happier with my career choice and I update my plan regularly in order to stay focused,” she said.

That’s why it is important to have a pen and paper ready at all times, says Carol Anne Casey, a human resource consultant and managing director of CA Consulting. “When you start writing things down it gets your mind working and you get more ideas,” said Casey. “This way you also evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and find out which possibilities are open to you.” It also helps you to recognise which steps you have to take next such as returning to college. “Decide whether you have to go on a course or get further education, or whether you need to join a social body or association in order to network,” she said.

Whether you decide to go in a new direction or to focus on your present career, don’t be too rigid with your plans, says Maureen Gilbert, a life coach. Remember something that is flexible can survive any amount of change. “Your aspirations may change along the way,” said Gilbert. “So be careful not to be too specific in your plan in one area. Saying that you want to have your boss’s job in five years’ time puts you in a very restrictive position. In these precarious times, your company could be outsourced next week.” If you are not so sure what you want to do, but you want to devise a career plan anyway, the key is to consider what you enjoy. “At first you can be as honest as you wish with yourself, even if the career in question may seem slightly out of your reach,” said Gilbert. “Then think about the aspects of that job that you like and the aspects of that job that you wouldn’t like. The main thing is to remember to recognise what you are actually looking for.”

An average career spans almost 40 years so it is important to choose something that makes you happy, says Manahan. Don’t be too worried if things don’t go your way, however. “Draw up a contingency plan against something going wrong,” he said. Don’t let fear of failure stop you from trying. Remember the ultimate reason for setting goals is to entice you to become the person it takes to achieve them.

Those who have drifted through their careers thus far should be aware that this may be obvious on their curriculum vitae, according to Claire Cronin, a director of Cronin Associates, the executive search firm. “As a head-hunter, the red flag comes up when the candidate’s progression is not consistent,” she said. “It shows up as, for instance, an unusual jump, unexplained gap or short tenure in more than one job.” The best way to compensate for this is to clearly and quickly demonstrate the evolution of skill sets, good pace in terms of increase in responsibility and quantifiable results. “If your CV shows that you have taken the scenic route, it is vital to highlight your skills and attributes and demonstrate how they have made a positive contribution to previous employers,” said Cronin. Determine what is needed to succeed in the job on offer and then use past experience to shine in that role.

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