Goals. They're everywhere. Some work hard every day to achieve them, others simply throw them around in casual conversation. Related:3 Easy Ways To Fast-Track Your Career For those of you who are working toward a goal but can't quite seem to get there, here are my six secrets to achieving your goals and finding a satisfying career:
1. You have to be proactive.
If you’re not willing to help yourself, no one else can help you. You must be proactive about finding a job. No one is going to give you a job because you have a college degree. You can’t rely on your network to just hand you opportunities. A job isn’t going to just fall into your lap – If you want to find a job, you have to be proactive. You have to take responsibility for yourself, your life, and your career. Otherwise, you’re going to be sitting around waiting for that “perfect opportunity” for a very, very long time.2. Celebrate little wins, learn from big mistakes.
Even the littlest of wins are still wins. Celebrate them! You deserve it. These little wins keep you going. They’re steps in the staircase to success, and every little accomplishment means you’re another step closer to your goals. When it comes to your mistakes, don’t sweat ‘em. Every mistake is a learning opportunity. In my experience, the best teacher is a big mistake. With that said, don’t get caught up with either of these things – Remember, one little win doesn’t equal long-term success, and one mistake doesn’t necessarily mean failure. Celebrate your accomplishments and learn from your mistakes, then move on to your next challenge!3. Accept your weaknesses, play to your strengths.
Everyone has weaknesses – It’s just a fact of life. You’re not going to be good at everything. The important thing is to focus on the things you ARE good at – Play to your strengths. Figure out how those things will help you get where you want to go.4. Don’t compare yourself to others.
I know it’s hard NOT to compare yourself to your friends. I know it’s hard to watch them get job offers and promotions while you still haven’t received an interview or raise. When I was in college, many of my friends had already gotten job offers before second semester of senior year. Meanwhile, I was just sitting on my couch, scouring the job boards, stressed out, and jobless. It was extremely frustrating watching everyone else race past me out into the “real world.” Then, I realized that whining about not having a job wasn’t going to get me one, so I decided to stop comparing myself to my friends and just work hard to get where I want to be. I decided I’m going to focus on ME and MY goals, and not my friends’. And guess what? Not only did I feel relieved, but I also had a clearer head when it came to my job search. Everyone’s situation is different. Everyone’s goals are different. Everyone’s definition of success is different. There’s no point in comparing yourself to others. It’s just not worth your time and energy!5. When you’re having a bad day, realize it's just a bad day.
We all have bad days – some worse than others. Maybe you didn’t get the job. Maybe you didn’t get the promotion. Maybe it’s just Monday and Daylight Savings Time is seriously messing with your typical workday swagger…. (it happens). Whatever it is, you need to remember that it’s just a bad day and you’re going to get through it. If you can learn from it, learn from it. The key is to put it behind you and keep working toward your goals (remember point #2).6. Believe in yourself or no one else will.
This one is *REALLY* important, guys. You HAVE to believe you’re going to make it. You have to believe in yourself in order to reach your goals. If you don’t have that fundamental belief, you’re never going to get there. If you really want to make it, you’ve got to have confidence in yourself and your abilities. Without confidence, you can so easily get crushed by negativity and criticism. You have to be confident. You have to trust yourself. And you have to have a deep understanding that you’re going to make it. Now, go out there and achieve those goals! Photo Credit: ShutterstockRead moreShow less
