Earlyface

Sticking to career
goals, especially long-term ones,
requires patience, tenacity, and a whole
lot of motivation. It’s a sizable challenge,
but one that’s achievable if you break it
down into manageable bits. Here are a
few tips for keeping your eye on the
prize — whatever that may be —
without letting career concerns take
over your life.
1. Analyze the past, take stock of the
present, and plan a future.
In order to set goals that are challenging
yet realistic, first look at what you’ve
accomplished over the last year. What
felt most satisfying, and how can you
push it further? What didn’t quite get
done but is still in the realm of
possibility? Make a list of career goals for
the coming year — they may build on
previous accomplishments or they may
be totally new. Then prioritize what you
most want to achieve.
2. Use your strengths wisely.
Goals that require completely changing
your habits are destined to fail. But goals
that harness your strengths and
encourage improvement will challenge
you without causing frustration.
3. Make your goals detailed and specific.
Once you have your list of goals, it’s time
to make them practical and quantifiable.
Including numbers and dates can help
you focus on what exactly you want to
achieve, and give you a benchmark for
measuring your success. Breaking down
large goals into more manageable
pieces (“write 1,000 words per day”
versus “write a book”) can prevent them
from being overwhelming.
4. Use tech to keep track of tasks, trends,
and spending.
Mobile apps that allow you to view and
analyze data over a period of time are
great for keeping you aware of your
progress. Productivity apps, for example,
help you manage your to-do lists, events,
reminders, and notes.
5. Focus on your own progress, not on
that of others.
A bit of career envy can be a good
motivator, but becoming fixated on
others’ achievements will only make you
feel bad about your own professional
path. Make sure your goals are geared
toward your own growth rather than
trying to impress others or achieve a
standard set by someone else. Success is
not a finite resource; others’
achievements don’t negate yours.
6. Meet regularly with people who can
help you achieve your goals.
This could be your boss, members of an
industry association, or a freelancer
meet-up group. Spending time with
people who understand the unique
challenges, jargon, and culture of your
job will help you clarify and refine what
you want to achieve. You’ll also discover
how others are meeting their own
goals. If it’s a more relaxed social setting,
you may be able to team up to help each
other stay on track.
7. Keep your goals where so you can see
them daily.
Whether you stick them above your
desk, enter them into a memo on your
phone, or write them in a planner, keep
your goals visible and accessible. Having
a daily reminder of what you’ve set out
to achieve will likely keep you motivated.
Extra credit: At the end of each day, take
stock of the little things you’ve done that
contribute toward each goal. Those daily
tasks that may seem trivial at the time
build up and have a big impact — and
serve as powerful encouragements
along the way.