Pursuing the career that YOU want!

You’re just getting out of college and starting a career.  Congratulations!  Perhaps you’ve been in a career for a while but you have questions.  What’s next?  How do you pursue what you’re meant to do?  I want to encourage you to don’t stop thinking about it.
I’ve thought about a few things that I hope encourages even one person to step out of their comfort zone.  I’ve tried to tie this using an acrostic for the word CAREER.  Hey, maybe some of the words are a bit of a stretch but hopefully there’s a thought within the message that can resonate at least a little.

C – Career goals (ok really could not find a synonym for Goal that starts with a C. Email me with ideas) - Figure out how to articulate your goals that once achieved will give you satisfaction. Of course, I could talk about money and how to earn the money you want, but the earnings alone will not give the satisfaction.  Doing what you’re meant to do and helping people using your talents – that’s the stuff. 

A – Ask a mentor - Find a mentor that can talk to.  This is a hard topic.  Finding a person you can have open conversations with is key.  This is probably not a immediate boss, but it could be if you think that person can set aside their biases of trying to keep you on staff at your current employment above all other counsel. Family member? Friend?  I hope you can find somebody that will be an encouragement to you. I’ve recently been around a lot of entrepreneurs. Some “young”; some “young-at-heart”.  It’s an impressive population: people building businesses from scratch!  They all have mentors though.  They’re finding people that have gone ahead of them and they ask questions!  

R – (be) Regarded - add value – learn technical skills that help you be the best you can be. You’ll know it in your heart. Are you learning skills that somebody else is telling you that you need or are you thriving in developing a skillset that you’re excited about?  There’s no doubt that work life can be a grind. You’re probably not going to “love” every minute of your work day, but are you excited about your workday in the mornings? How about Sunday afternoons when you know Monday is coming?  Are you excited about tomorrow’s upcoming meeting?  Does the work energize you?  Ask those questions and respond.

E – Excellence - Work hard! No matter what!

E – Engage - Keep talking to your mentor.  Days turn into months, which turns into years.  These are likely ongoing thoughts and you’ll always want to be talking about these matters with somebody that can help you.  Don’t let others define “it” for you, but do let them give counsel.

R – Reach! Go for it!  Take a risk, think outside the box. No regrets.  Maybe it’s being the best you can be at your current setting. Maybe it’s making a change.  Maybe it’s an even BIGGER change.  I don’t know what that means for you, but you will. 

I hope that you keep thinking, keep challenging and pursue the career that you’re meant to have.