The Exclusive Career Coach 207: Six Simple Career-Advancing Steps to Take Over the Holidays
Be sure to sign up for the special webinar in January – The 3 Things You Haven’t Thought About For Your Next Job Search.
Here’s what you’ll gain from this webinar:
-Clarity around EXACTLY what you are looking for in an employer – after all, how will you know if you have found IT if you don’t even know what IT is?
-Awareness of your values and skills, so you can make sure an employer meshes with your values and appreciates your skills
-Deep understanding of your professional purpose – what contributions you are uniquely designed to make
This is a hands-on workshop (no passive lurkers allowed!) where you’ll be asked to think about what you really want in your next job. You’ll do solo work, followed by small group time to share your insights and intentions with other participants.
Guaranteed: You’ll know yourself infinitely better at the end of this hour. You’ll know what you want and why you want it. You’ll have focus and direction.
Here’s the link: https://3thingswebinar.carrd.co/
The holidays are a time for family, rest, good food…a time to unplug from the hustle and grind that, for many of us, defines our work life the rest of the year.
In the midst of that family time and relaxation, you have an opportunity to reflect and journal on your professional life. Review 2021 and set intentions for 2022. Here are six simple ways to help your career during the holidays.
1. Give yourself credit.
Where did you slay it in 2021? Where did you exceed expectations? What are you most proud of?
WRITE IT DOWN. And then practice gratitude for your achievements in 2021. Give yourself a huge pat on the back!
2. Write down the not-so-great.
It’s also important to journal where you missed the mark – not from a place of judgment or condemnation, but from a place of observation. Like you are a dispassionate observer of your year.
In addition to where you missed the mark, answer WHY you missed the mark. Was it in your control or out of your control? Did you change your mind or revise the goal during the year so that it served you better?
As part of this journaling process, ask yourself these three questions:
What do I want to STOP doing?
What do I want to START doing?
What do I want to CONTINUE doing?
3. Get one big professional goal for 2022.
Remember: goals need to be SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Sensitive.
As part of this step, break that year-long goal into 90-day increments: What will you have accomplished by March 30th? June 30th? September 30th?
Keep this goal in the forefront of your mind throughout the year and check in every 3 months to measure your progress.
4. Set a big personal goal too.
Life is all about balance, so make sure you’re moving forward in your personal life as well. Use the same process to set, create 90-day benchmarks for, and evaluate your personal goal.
5. Eliminate 2-3 tolerations in your life.
Think about the things in your work or personal life that really drive you nuts – and yet, in many cases, you’ve never really thought about how to change that annoyance.
These things are creating low-level stress in your life – or maybe not low-level at all. You are diverting precious energy into these areas of your life.
Start by writing down as many things as you can think of at home and work that make you nuts.
Step two is to categorize each in the following way:
C=Continue to tolerate for now
R=Resolve this annoyance entirely
H=Get help to minimize or eliminate
Example of C:
-My suitcase is breaking down and it doesn’t roll very well anymore. I’m going to keep an eye out for a really good sale on the brand I want and purchase new luggage before my next trip.
Example of R:
-My closet is so disorganized that it stresses me out. I’m going to dedicate 2 hours this Saturday to fixing this problem myself, and I’ll buy some storage solutions to really up level my closet.
Example of H:
I can’t stand that my kitchen sink is constantly dripping. I’m going to hire a plumber or handyman THIS WEEK to get this fixed.
Here are some additional annoyances you could consider:
-Taking time out of your precious weekend to clean the house, mow the lawn, etc.
-Anything about your transportation that is causing you stress
-Anything that is disorganized and consequently requires extra time to navigate
-Anything you are overdue on – doctor’s appointments, oil change, filing taxes
-Any important conversations you have been putting off – with your boss, a co-worker, a family member
6. Drop into your future self.
It is December 31, 2022, and you’ve achieved your big personal and professional goal. You removed several annoyances from your life. You are firing on all cylinders.
Drop into this space – I recommend journaling, but you can also say it out loud or meditate on it. Picture the best possible scenario for how your 2022 has gone – and bask in your achievements.
You’ve got this!
Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.
If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more: