Often, a lot of people don't consider their career plans as they should-I've learned as a professional career coach. Take a few minutes to look back on the past year. Why not gain some perspective on what you've accomplished and learned? A wonderful career coaching exercise is conducting a personal annual career review provided that you look at the big picture. Annually, your career check-up should touch on how you want to live your life and issues close to you. Also, it should include creation of a plan for the next year



Eight questions to ask yourself during your personal annual career review:

1. How have I been with my job? Happy?

2. With my personal life: How happy have I been?

3. How happy have I been with what I do for myself?

4. Did I do something that expresses my most strongly held values regularly?

5. What is one thing I would change about my job if I could?

6. What of my life did I leave out that I wish was there?

7. I admire a person whose life is?

8. What should your game plan for the next year of your career look like?

A good goal has a positive end. It should be something you want, not something you hate or think you should do. "I am going to exercise more" is one of those goals that sounds nice, but will undoubtedly end up on the back shelf. Instead set goals like: "I am going to find some kind of exercise that I enjoy. I will walk three times a week for 30 minutes."

A strategy should move you toward something good that you find fulfilling, enjoyable, productive, and rewarding. What especially do you find fulfilling in your life? What makes you lose all sense of time that you do? Increasing what you find meaningful in your life can have a significant positive benefit for people around you and for you.

A good strategy should move you away from people and things you find unfulfilling, meaningless, unproductive, or unrewarding. Who do you hate talking on the phone with and what do you not enjoy doing? What feels like a waste of time in your day? If you give yourself a sense of internal control over what happens to you in your life, you will learn to decrease what you find unrewarding.

While change is difficult, you "can" lead the life you desire and make your goals a reality. Do not hesitate to contact a professional career coach for support and guidance, and remember to take baby steps toward your goals. Hiring a career coach can help you decide on what is most important; it is a smart investment. We work with you to achieve your goals.