Got a “Big Hairy Career Goal”?
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Some people knew exactly what kind of career they would pursue even in high school and definitely in college. I was always baffled by those lucky few – how did they know the answer to that question at such an early age? Sure, most of us had some plans and ideas, but nothing that really made sense at the time. The majority of us changed our minds and paths several times and didn’t get really clear about what to do until we had some experience under our belts. Even now, some still find themselves in a state of confusion, simply knowing they are not doing fulfilling work and that there must be something better…

Good news! There is something better. If you are at this point and not crystal clear about what direction to go next, here’s an approach that may help.

This first step requires that you find a quiet place where you can relax and use your imagination without any restrictions. Get comfortable, close your eyes, and envision your perfect job or career. Now add some details. Think about what you’d be doing every day, where you’d be working, what you’d be wearing, to where you’d be driving. Review your last jobs and remember what was most fun about them and in what ways you used your favorite skills. Imagine how you’ll feel doing this great job and all its activities. All done? You’ve just created a “Big Hairy Career Goal” – a target that sounds a little outrageous and perhaps even leans toward the impossible. Not so! Here’s how to start working your way toward it.

Write it down and I mean in great detail. Put the name of your BHCG on a piece of paper and capture all the components you thought about, including how it will make you feel. Pull that vision in your head out onto paper where you can see it clearly. Success in achieving your goals begins with this simple task – writing it down.

Now, break it into chunks. Start a fresh page for each piece. Your headings might be topics like, “Me – how’ll I’ll look, feel, act”, “Skills and Knowledge required”, and “My Work Environment”. Keep “chunking it down” into these more manageable goals until you can see them actually becoming more attainable and realistic.

Create Action Plans around each piece. Include what you will do, who you will talk to, and what you will purchase, for instance. This action plan should have steps that you can accomplish in just a few hours. Stay positive about the seemingly smallness of them - the important thing is that they keep you moving forward.

Be responsible for your progress. It’s very important that you go back and assign a due date to each action step. This keeps you accountable and in continual motion toward seeing that BHCG come together. Note them on your calendar or wherever you will be reminded constantly of what you’re expecting of yourself today, this week, this month. You might also ask a friend to help you make progress by sharing your plans and due dates so they can help hold you to them.

So let’s say your Big Hairy Career Goal is to “Own a Successful Photography Business” where you’ll be constantly in demand, have all the latest equipment, operate out of a beautiful studio within walking distance of your home, and be publishing your work in the hottest photo magazines. Sounds exciting, though maybe a little outlandish right now. Let’s apply the steps above: The chunks might include “Building my Reputation in the Industry”, “Photography Equipment I’ll use”, “The Studio”, and “Magazines where my work will be published”. Your Action Plan under “Building my Reputation” would have steps such as “Find a mentor”, “Enroll in photo classes”, “Practice with my digital camera”. Even smaller steps could be “talk with friends and family about photographers they know”, “send away for college catalog”, and “take camera with me to the mall/park/game.” Then assign the due dates – when you will have each of these items accomplished. Achieving that big goal of a owning a successful Photography Business just became much more realistic!

Don’t forget to enjoy the Journey. Once you get started, your momentum will increase and you may achieve many steps in a short period of time. Other times, you may get sidetracked by life’s daily situations and not make much headway for awhile. Whatever the case, just keep moving forward, taking pride in each accomplishment and enjoying the people you meet along the way and the new things you learn. If your Big Hairy Career Goal changes its look a few times, that’s fine too. You get to choose how it turns out. Just keep moving forward step by step!