“If every day is an awakening, you will never grow old. You
will just keep growing’. - Gail Sheehy
Okay – you may be saying what gives Moran?
I shared my thoughts about new beginnings as Labor Day closed
in last year, and I want to do this again because it is so important.
I am one that believes that there are two New Year’s celebrations
of the year – the calendar New Year January 1st, and Labor Day – a
day that opens new beginnings and a return to “doing business.
I find that as we pass that big day on the calendar, I hear
from more and more professionals who have been on the sidelines for the summer
and are now ready to engage to change their situation and begin their move. It
is the time of the year when I often pose the question:
Are you just “working” – or achieving leadership in
your career?
This is a tough question to answer, and makes many feel
uncomfortable. The day-to-day of your job or your business consumes you
and often doesn’t provide the time for you to pause and reflect on where you
have been, and most important, where one are going in career. In today’s
employment market, it is critical that you put yourself first and not
just work – but actively manage your career. Think of yourself as the
CEO of your own company – You, Inc. This is the reality of today. It is
about managing your career, not simply working.
To better understand what career management is, the
following description accurately describes what career management is and is
not. The last line is so important:
"The ability to actively manage one’s work life,
make choices and career decisions in a rapidly changing environment. It
is accepting responsibility for the strategic and proactive management of your
career and being career-resilient and in control your own career actions and
satisfaction. Career management is not job hunting – job hunting results when
one does not manage their career.
The trend continued. I continue to see a significant
increase in the number of professionals, executives and lately business owners
who are not looking for a job, but rather seeking help with outlining and managing
a career plan. They are looking at alternative strategies – the “three-legged
stool”, employedpreneur, virtual work engagements, etc. There are soooo many
opportunities.
47% of the working population is reevaluating their
career direction – Do you have a plan?
Developing a career management plan is an essential tool as
you navigate your way through opportunities and challenges. It is becoming bigger
– a career management plan is becoming more of a life plan.
The key – it must be specific, measurable and hold you
accountable. The plan outlines your goals and establishes planned and measured
actions. For example, it could be as simple as:
• Work with specialist to update resume 1/1/00 and 7/1/00
and update career journal
• Determine, with a professional, if I am right to be in my
own business and drive my own destiny by 10/31/11. Determine, once and for all,
my career direction which will feed my life direction.
• Attend one networking event and establish three contacts
monthly
• Meet with career specialists twice yearly to discuss plan,
strategy and opportunities.
• Passively monitor job activity in my chosen profession
Some of my clients will not be pursuing a new job or
business opportunity for 1 – 2 – 3 or more years, but they are planning now,
creating a career journal (accomplishments, successes, what you learned and of
course, what didn’t work) and using me as their guide and face to the market,
so to speak. They are truly in control of their greatest personal economic
resource – their business or their job.
Determine to take control and be in control of your career.
It is truly a life change you will never forget.
Happy New “Second” Year!
And thank you for reading this. - Dan
Dan
Moran
President
& Founder
Next-Act:
Career
Management & Transition Specialists
Corporate
Management Services
Celebrating
24 years providing career& corporate management services in 2012!
125
Wolf Road, Suite #128
Albany,
NY 12205
Phone:
518-641-8968
eFax:
586-279-4212
Visit the Assessment Center:
next-act.com/assessment-center.cfm
Manage Performance & Achievement:
next-act.com/prescriptive-performance-analysis.cfm
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