To achieve anything in life, we all need goals.
Goals are not the same as dreams:
- Dreams are imaginings of things we would like. We need dreams. They are the vision of where we would like to go.
- Goals are our plans of what we are going to do. We need goals. They help our dreams to come true.
Goals help us to focus our attention and effort towards a particular outcome.
To be of any value, a goal must be S.M.A.R.T.
Specific (You can say exactly what it is)
Measurable (There is some objective way of knowing you have reached it)
Achievable (It is possible)
Realistic (It is possible for you, given the resources you can access)
Time-framed (You can say exactly when it will be reached)
It is best for you to set your own goals and WRITE THEM DOWN!
Having decided to pursue a particular career direction, you need to break it down into manageable steps:
- Start at the end - find out what experience, skills, education and personal characteristics would be necessary to be successful in the type of job you have in mind.
- Determine what you specifically need to do to achieve these things.
For example:
- choose particular subjects for next year;
- find out about any required tertiary studies;
- consider whether you can achieve the marks necessary to get into a course of interest;
- find out if you will be able to gain the necessary experience locally or whether you need to go interstate or overseas to receive the required training.
Some basic information regarding goals can be found at www.nexus.edu.au