Plan for the Unexpected

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Plan for the Unexpected

Plan for the unexpected.  Whether you like it or not, the unexpected happens.  You’ve seen it.  Like it or not, we’ve all been caught in the middle of unexpected events.  It can be anything from a change in business or customer demand, a change in the overall marketplace, or event a natural disaster that impact business flow.  Like it or not, the unexpected impacts jobs, businesses, and people.

The Unexpected Happens

We’ve all been there. You are going about your work day when BOOM out of nowhere something happens that shifts the work focus for the rest of the day. The ability to adapt as the need arises makes you valuable on the job.

The unexpected can happen in bigger ways as well.  You are going along at work, then suddenly you find out that your company is downsizing and you need to look for new work.  When this happens, your skills and capabilities help you transition to a different workplace.  Your job security is in your capabilities.

Make a Plan

It is always good to have a plan.  Even when your job or your schedule seems secure, plan what you would do if a change arises.  Will you be able to adapt to the small day to day changes at work?  Can you adjust quickly? Are you able to take the bigger changes in stride?  Do you have the skills to transition to a new job or workplace?  Are you confident in what you can do?

From these questions, you can make a plan of what to do to be better prepared for the unexpected events that happen on the job or over the course of a career.  Make your plan now.

Be Prepared

As you work your plan you will be prepared to meet the changes that arise in the workplace.  Make sure you have the skills that you need to stay competitive on the job no matter what changes arise. Make sure that you understand the Mastery of Business Fundamentals, Understanding the Human Resource Function, know the basics of Employment Law Fundamentals, and can engage in Total Quality Fundamentals. A few business basics keep you prepared on the job.

As you continue to plan for the unexpected, you will find that you have the tools to adapt to workplace changes that come your way.

 

Plan and Do – The Pattern for Career Success

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Plan and Do –

The Pattern for Career Success

 

Take the time to plan and do – the pattern for career success will pay great dividends. Small changes can bring big dividends with a career.  Focus on what matters most. Do what will bring you success. If you need to make changes, do it!  Be the one who reaches the top rung of the career ladder.

Clarifying Success

This starts by clarifying what success means to you.

  • What do you want?
  • Which career goals will bring you joy?
  • What can you uniquely give to the world?
  • How can you use your skills to benefit others?
  • What are your career interest?
  • What does career success mean to you?
  • How will you know you are successful?

As you answer these questions, look deep.  Find out what really matters.  Decide what career success means to you.  Don’t compare – you are different from others.  Do what matters to you and will bring you the success you desire!

Career Success Patterns

Read up on successful patterns of behavior that have led others to career success.  Once you know what these patterns are be sure to make a commitment to integrate these patterns into what you do. Be the one who lives the patterns of success.

Make a Plan

Make a plan to integrate success into all that you do.  Like any good plan – write it down. Once your plan is written, look at it each day.  Do what the plan says.  Live your plan.

Identify career success and do it!  Know patterns lead to career success and follow the pattern. As you plan and do you will bring yourself great career success. Be the one to live the plan and achieve career success!

 

Make a Five Year Plan

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Make a five year career plan

 

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Make a five year career plan.  This takes some analysis, thought, and planning to consider where you want your career to be in a few more years.  Here are some steps to make your career plan.

Year One. Set your goals and decide what you want to accomplish within five years. Make a plan to decide what you need to do to move from here to there.

Year Two. Invest in yourself.  Make the changes you need to make to be prepared to do your dream job. This may require investing in yourself, taking a class, learning a new skill, gathering information on industry, and preparing yourself to move into your dream job.

Year Three.  Take the time to network to get acquainted with those who are doing what you want to do.  Make those in your dream job your friends, colleagues and peers.  This will make it easier to move into your dream j ob.

Year Four.   Share your new skills.  Look for ways to apply the skills, knowledge, and experience you have gained. You may be able to do this at work. Do this through volunteering.  Try to keep integrating skills into your personal life.  Use and share your knowledge and skills so that they become who you are.

Year Five. Make contact with business and others to move into your desired position.  Keep making contacts and keep positive until you are able to move into the position you desire.

 

Tools to help with a career plan

 Here are some web links to help you develop your five year career plan.

As you take the time to create a strong career plan you will find that career success comes to you!

 

 

Plan your job future

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Plan your job future

 

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Plan for your job future.  Since workplace continues to change, you need to continue to change to stay up to date with the needs of employers.  This may mean updating your technology skills, learning about job trends, learning more about the business, or expanding your understanding of leadership and management.

One way to do this is with a mentor.  Find someone who is doing what you would like to be doing in five years and ask them for tips to prepare to do well.  Ask them to be your coach and tell you how to improve and what you can do better.  You can learn a great deal from a mentor.  Of course, you want to follow the advice your receive and do what the mentor recommends.  This can allow you to have both personal and career growth.

Another way to stay up to date is to join a professional organization.  A professional organization will put you in contact with others in your field where you can develop professional relationships, have good discussions about things going on in the field and network with others.  Others may know of job opportunities, have good information, and suggestions to help you expand your career.

You could also take a class at a local college, online, or through a professional organization.  This can help you learn about something that will help you do better on the job, it can help you prepare to move up in the company, and give you more credibility at work.  Sometimes a little knowledge can go a long way.

Finally, write down your plan.  Take action to do what you plan to do.  Make the needed changes.  Learn new things.  As you do so you will have great personal growth and you will also prepare yourself for future job opportunities.

 

Create a career plan

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Create a career plan

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Create a career plan in order to achieve your career goals.  First, you must identify what it is you like and want to do.  Next, you must outline the steps to reach your goal.  Finally, you must take action to prepare for your desired job.  As you work through each step of your career plan you will move closing to meeting your desired goal.

Identify what you would like to do

Evaluate your own skills, interests, and desires in light of the job market and job needs to determine what you would like to do that will be in demand as a job and allow you to earn the salary you desire.  Consider jobs that will pay you will, give you the life style you desire, and best use your talents and abilities on the job.

Some individuals like to conduct this kind of self-evaluation annually to see how things have changed, to modify what they want to do, and to stay focused on their career plan.  Take the time for self-evaluation as part of creating a good career plan.

Outline the steps to reach your goal

Once you know what you want to do and the job you have targeted, then outline the steps that it will take to reach your goal.  As yourself the following questions to help you prepare your career plan.

  • What next step can I take to gain the skills and experience you need to work in your target job?
  • Evaluate whether you need formal training, a degree or certificate to work in your target job. If so, what is the next thing you can do to move towards getting that degree or certificate?
  • Ask yourself who could serve as a mentor for you to help you move into your target job? Is there someone in your current workplace? On the Internet? In your community who could help guide you to your dream job?
  • Ask if there are skills that build on other skills? If so, how could you outline your skill development as a step by step process to help others?

As you outline your goal consider setting short term – one month to one year goals – in addition to long term five and ten year goals.  Both short and long terms steps can keep you moving in  a positive direction in your career.

Take action to reach your goal

Once you have created a career plan, take action to reach your goal.  This involves setting aside the time and other resources needed to ensure that your plan becomes a reality.  If you have short term setbacks, start anew.  Keep at it over the short and long run and you will create good opportunities for yourself and your career. Do what it takes to reach your designated career goal.

 

Make your To Do List for Success

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Make your To Do List for Success

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Make your to do list for success. Work your way through the list and you will soon find yourself at the top of your career.

Define Success

This starts by defining what “success” means for you.  Is getting to the top of the corporate ladder?  Being your own boss? Having a good balance between work and family time?  Figure out what will make you feel happy and successful.

Focus on Individual Change

Once you have defined success, you can focus on those things to do that will really make a difference.  Apply the 80/20 rule and do the 20% of things that make 80% of the difference.  Don’t just improve once, but embark on a life time of improvement.  Keep learning and growing, so that you can grow yourself into a better position.  Leverage your to do list to do those things which are most useful to bring about your success.

For example, there are always problems at work.  Focus on solutions rather than problems and you will soon find yourself as the person everyone goes to when things need a solution. Ask around and find out what people need help with and then offer to do it.  You will soon have a reputation as a problem solver.

Help meet corporate goals

Of course, besides knowing what you want, you need to know what your company’s goals are.  Even if you run your own small business, you need to figure out how to align what you do with the corporate goals.  When you facilitate corporate success, your success is sure to follow!

Resources on Career Success

As you make your to do list for success, you can then take the time to do what is on the list and be sure that you are prepared to move your career to the next level.

Plan to invest in yourself through personal development

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Plan to Invest in yourself through

Personal Development

 

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When you make a plan to invest in yourself through personal development, then you are making a plan to invest in yourself.  As you develop new abilities and skills you will carry with you on the job. Personal development can be a lifelong process as you work to expand your capabilities, capacities in ways that will impact your job both directly and indirectly.

Here are some basic skills you will need on the job.  If you find that you are weak in one of these areas, step back and evaluate how you can more fully develop or practice that skill.  The more you do it, the easier it will become.

Core Workplace Skills

  • Time management
  • Computer skills
  • Good communication
  • Hard work
  • Punctuality
  • Focus on your work
  • Completing high quality Work
  • Basic Reading
  • Basic Math
  • Working with a team
  • Meeting deadlines
  • Learning new things
  • Accepting feedback
  • Positive Attitude

As you can see, these are all skills you need in any type of job and in any workplace.  Strengthen these “core” skills and you will strengthen your ability to do well on the job. In addition to the core skills, there are additional preferred skills.  See if you can strengthen these preferred skills as well.

 Preferred Workplace Skills

  • Critical thinking and analysis
  • Planning and multi-tasking
  • Goal setting
  • Organized
  • Creativity
  • Leadership
  • Motivating others
  • Computer programs used for your job and in your industry
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Problem Solving

When you are able to strengthen these preferred skills, then you make yourself increasingly valuable to your employer.  You put yourself in a position for a promotion or raise to a leadership position within your organization.  You strengthen your ability to move along the career path.

For more reading about workplace skills follow the links below.

Workplace Skills

As you take the time to continue to invest in yourself through personal development you will find out how easy it is to move up the corporate ladder. Don’t forget to take a moment to pat yourself on the back for a job well done!

Prepare for Retirement: Ways to downsize to a part time job

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Prepare for Retirement

Ways to downsize to a part time job

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Prepare for retirement and look for ways to downsize to a part time job.  Having a good plan now can make all the difference when it comes time to face retirement. Follow these web links to review ways you can personally prepare to retire.

Part of your retirement plan may be to downsize your job and work a part time job for a few years as a semi-retired person. This can keep you busy and interested and also keep a good income stream coming in.  Consider what will work best for you and your situation. Here are a few web links with information  about a retirement job.

As you can see, all it takes is a little planning to prepare for retirement and look for ways to downsize to a part time job.  Plan now so that you are prepared for the day you want or need to retire.