Blank Sheets of Paper for the New Year

The New Year is always a great opportunity to evaluate where you have been, where you are and where you want to be in terms of your career.

Take a blank piece of paper and write down the characteristics of your perfect job. If you could design your own job what would you be doing, where would you be doing it and what would your days be like? Do not limit yourself to one or two items but fill up the sheet of paper.

Now take another sheet of paper. Write down the characteristics of your current job. What do you do, where do you do it and what activities fill your day? Do not think in terms of goals and objectives but in terms of the specific job functions and activities. As with the first sheet, do not limit yourself to one of two items but fill up the sheet of paper.

Now look at your perfect job list and compare it to your current job list. Are you doing what your want to do? Are you working where you want to work? Are the activities that fill your day the matching? If not, how many do match? This is not about salary or compensation but rather about your dream job. If you are doing what you love, then the compensation will follow.

If you already have your dream job, then congratulations. You are one of a fortunate few. If more of the items on the two lists match then not match you need to ask yourself what you can do to bring your current position in greater alignment with you view of the perfect job. Then write those steps down. Finally, if your current position and your dream job are worlds apart you need to ask yourself how to achieve your dream job. Another employer? Moving to another part of the country? Gaining additional education and training and seeking a career shift? Or starting your own company at night and on the weekends?

The perfect job is within your grasp. You need to evaluate where you want to be, where you are now and map out a plan to get you to your dream job. Finally, you need to act with singular focus to achieve that dream job…and it will be yours.

Happy New Year!

George F. Franks, III is the founder and President of Franks Consulting Group - a Bethesda, Maryland management consulting and leadership coaching practice. He is a member of the International Coach Federation and the Institute of Management Consultants (USA). His web site is:

http://franksconsultinggroup.com

See his new e-zine on career and leadership topics at:

http://careerandleadership.com

George can be contacted at:

gfranks@franksconsultinggroup.com