Career Conversations

Chapter 6 The goal of goal setting

‘Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer the goal.'

Elbert Hubbard

Vision, articulated through goals and objectives, is the embodiment of values, purpose and meaning. It says you are what and where you want to be. While some start this process at a young age, most will not be able to develop a clear view of their career until adulthood. This chapter provides the essential tools necessary for employees to define their career direction and move towards it.

When I decided to start my first business, a friend (who was also a leadership coach), interested in my new venture, asked me, ‘Why are you doing this?' It was a simple question, but it turned out to be a very powerful one. Although I was excited to explain about my new business, I realised my response was vague and fuzzy and lacked a compelling story to match my passion. This was a game changer for me. After this conversation I locked myself away in my study until I had nutted out my ‘why'.

It took me two days to discover that the answer had been there all along, locked away in my core values. It came to me like a blinding flash of light, and it was so simple:

At careersmith, we are passionate about careers. We believe every individual has a right to career satisfaction and every organisation has the opportunity to guide and facilitate it. Career satisfaction is a fundamental contributor to individual ...