When we want to set goals for ourselves, we often start by describing something we lack or want in the future. Then we assess where we are right now, measure the difference between the two, and outline the steps to take to achieve that goal.
Every day, I meet with executives around the world who are either focused on getting a job, changing their career path, or looking for their next move up in their current company. Invariably, the discussion focuses on what steps to take to “get there” and often the discussion lacks focus beyond the next six months.
But “getting there” usually implies a perfect, step-by-step plan that doesn’t allow for contingencies, disruptions, emotions, or simple failures. The result is that eventually they missed an outlined step, tried to go back and make it happen, and get frustrated.
In my phone meetings, I can tell when someone is trying to dig out the hole they think they’ve created by looking how far away they are from their goals. Generally expending more and more energy hoping for better results, I can sense that they are close to giving up. Often, they’ve waited too long to reach out for help and have used precious energy, resources and finances and are at the end of their rope.
Thinking about what it takes to get direction and momentum in achieving any goal, I have some insights I want to share with you. I have a different perspective when I think about success and I want you to begin setting yourself up to succeed – not matter what’s happening to you.
Insight #1: Success isn’t about achievement; it is about learning something along the way.
Things are not linear today. Stability is out the window. Using linear thinking supposes that properly lined up steps will result in achievement. But, in reality, experimentation, risk, human relationships, serendipity, chance and being in the right place at the right time has a whole lot to do with seeing results today. We must be more willing to deal with ambiguity with respect to planning out executive careers.
Insight #2: Success is deeper than arrival; it is about character, perseverance, and courage to achieve any goal.
We are in a cycle of major change that will last decades. We’ve got to get a clue that our career success must be measured differently than in the past. Our potential – the future, our ability to be agile, and our identity – must be aligned with these major changes. Executives must do much more than focusing on landing a job in a company. We must make the leap, take the risk, and do something different to transition ¬with what’s happening today.
Insight #3: Success is about “becoming” what we want, not “doing” what we need. We are not human “doings”; we are human “beings.”
As someone said the other day, “It is not where you start that counts; it’s about how well you finish.” Who you are is always going to be more important that what you do.
We must really look at what’s going on around us and determine what our lives are all about. With upwards of 90% of executives looking to leave their company as soon as the economy turns around, collectively we are not defining what is important to our lives and are just “muddling around in the middle” waiting for something new to happen to us.
To move into your future, you must abandon the past and grab what’s ahead.
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The MarketOne Executive™ Bottom Line:
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How do you set yourself up for success in your job search, career plans, or new business endeavor?
Here are some things to think about:
1.
Determine daily what is most important for your life. Make this an activity or task that you look at every morning. Ask yourself what provides you with the greatest reward, personally. Direction leads to movement when you enjoy your life.
2.
Align all other “must dos” as secondary. Organize your “must dos” from most important to least important as a result of what is most important to you today.
3.
Create boundaries that cannot be crossed by you or your loved ones. Design your day using the criteria of what’s most important, what must be done and what boundaries can’t crossed. It is the step-by-step, day-by-day efforts that get you to where you want to go.
4.
Know that what you learn is more important than what you do. Tasks completed, or not, are not definitions of success or failure. What you learn through each task you tackle is much more important. What you learn about yourself, why you completed or didn’t complete a task, and what motivates you in either direction tells something about your goals. And what you learn is how you should measure success.
5.
Reflect, revise and renew. For every task or activity that didn’t get done, ask yourself:
• Why didn’t it get done?
• Why did I not do it?
• What are my emotions around this task?
• What’s the lesson?
The measure of success isn’t whether or not things get done. The measure of success is being aware of who you are and what you’ve learned today – about yourself, your true goals, and how you want to live as a human being.
What do you think? Love to hear what you have to say.
