Seven Steps To Reigniting Your Journey

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Seven Steps To Reigniting Your Journey

Mark Protus (Protus Consulting) offers 20+ years of effective learning and leadership solutions driving growth, engagement, and potential.

Are you feeling stuck in your current role and longing for a change? You’re not alone. In one study, 44% of respondents said they were unsatisfied with their career path options, and another study found that more than 50% of people are thinking about changing their careers.

I see many professionals who feel overwhelmed by uncertainty in the job market or frustrated by a lack of career advancement opportunities. Some seek a better work-life balance or higher job satisfaction. Many people want to discover purpose through a meaningful career that fits their passions and contributes to the greater good.

I think this all underscores the importance of having a solid career plan to help you stay focused on your goals and passions. Let’s dive into seven steps you can take to successfully plan your career, discover your strengths and work toward becoming your best self.

1. Self-Assessment

First, you want to understand your skills, interests, values and personality. Knowing yourself more deeply allows you to make informed career choices that truly resonate with who you are. Start by taking personality tests, reflecting on your experiences and identifying what excites you. For example, think about a project you enjoyed; what skills did you use? What aspects did you find most rewarding?

To get started, I recommend personality identification tools like Myers-Briggs, CliftonStrengths or 16Personalities. Reflect on your results and consider how they align with your current or desired career path. And, see if you are learning something new about yourself.

2. Research And Exploration

Now that you have a clearer understanding of yourself, it’s time to explore potential career paths. Use online resources, attend industry events and network with professionals in fields of interest to open your eyes to possibilities you might not have considered. I especially find that informational interviews—talking to people who are already in a role you’re curious about—can provide invaluable insights.

Websites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor are great for researching different careers and companies. To find industry events, you can use platforms like Eventbrite or Meetup. Lastly, LinkedIn is also a great tool to connect with professionals and request interviews to learn more about potential careers.

3. Set Goals

Setting both short-term and long-term goals gives you a road map to follow, ensuring progress and purpose. Define what you want to achieve in the next six months, year and five years. Make these goals SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. For example, if you want to change industries, a short-term goal could be to finish a relevant certification in six months.

Use goal-setting apps like Monday and Trello or even outline your goals with a simple Google Doc. Break down your long-term goals into smaller, manageable tasks and set deadlines for each. Regularly review and adjust your goals as needed.

4. Create An Action Plan

Turn your goals into tangible tasks you can tackle daily or weekly. List out the steps needed to achieve each goal, set deadlines and prioritize tasks. If your goal is to land a new job, your action plan might include updating your resume, applying to five jobs per week and networking with at least three new contacts each month.

Tools like Todoist or Notion can help you create detailed action plans. Prioritize your tasks and set reminders to stay on track. Use job search engines like Indeed or LinkedIn Jobs to find relevant job postings and track your applications.

5. Develop Skills And Gain Experience

As already hinted at, continuous learning is key to staying competitive and achieving your career goals. Focus on skills and experiences that can increase your value and open doors to new opportunities. This could include technical skills, soft skills or industry-specific knowledge.

You can also enroll in courses, attend workshops or seek out volunteer opportunities to build these skills. If you want to be a leader, you can take a leadership development course and volunteer to lead a project at work.

Websites like Coursera, Udemy and LinkedIn Learning offer a wide range of accessible courses to help develop skills. You can also look for volunteer opportunities on platforms like VolunteerMatch or Idealist to gain practical experience.

6. Evaluate And Adjust

Regularly reviewing your progress and making necessary adjustments is crucial to staying on track. Life changes, and so do your goals and circumstances.

Set aside time every few months to reflect on your progress. Are you hitting your milestones? Are your goals still relevant? If not, don’t be afraid to pivot. If you find a new interest that excites you more than your current path, adjust your plan to include this new direction.

Set up calendar reminders to schedule quarterly reviews for yourself. Reflect on your progress using tools like a journal or a reflective app like Day One. Adjust your goals and action plan based on your findings.

7. Stay Motivated And Seek Support

Career planning is a journey, and I know how challenging it can be to stay motivated. Seek support from a network of supporters for encouragement, advice and new perspectives. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small, and surround yourself with positive influences.

Consider joining professional associations related to your field, and use some of the platforms already mentioned to find mentors and join relevant groups. This network can help you celebrate your milestones and stay motivated.

In Summary

Career planning involves steps like self-assessment, research and an action plan. By building a network and actively developing skills, you can start a successful career that matches your talents and interests.

Don’t be discouraged if progress seems slow; every bit of effort counts. Keep moving forward, and remember how each step helps bring you closer to your ideal career.


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