Happy New Year ? think I am crazy? - Careers and Worklife ...

?If every day is an awakening, you will never grow old. You will just keep growing?. ? Gail Sheehy

Okay ? you may be saying what gives Moran?

I shared my thoughts about new beginnings as Labor Day closed in last year, and I want to do this again because it is so important.

I am one that believes that there are two New Year?s celebrations of the year ? the calendar New Year January 1^st, and Labor Day ? a day that opens new beginnings and a return to ?doing business.

I find that as we pass that big day on the calendar, I hear from more and more professionals who have been on the sidelines for the summer and are now ready to engage to change their situation and begin their move. It is the time of the year when I often pose the question:

Are you just ?working? ? or achieving leadership in your career?

This is a tough question to answer, and makes many feel uncomfortable. ?The day-to-day of your job or your business consumes you and often doesn?t provide the time for you to pause and reflect on where you have been,? and most important, where one are going in career. In today?s employment market, it is critical that you put yourself first and not just work ? but actively manage your career. Think of yourself as the CEO of your own company ? You, Inc. This is the reality of today. It is about managing your career, not simply working.

To better understand what career management is, the following description accurately describes what career management is and is not. The last line is so important:

?The ability to actively manage one?s work life, make choices and career decisions in a rapidly changing environment.? It is accepting responsibility for the strategic and proactive management of your career and being career-resilient and in control your own career actions and satisfaction. Career management is not job hunting ? job hunting results when one does not manage their career.

The trend continued. I continue to see ?a significant increase in the number of professionals, executives and lately business owners who are not looking for a job, but rather seeking help with outlining and managing a career plan. They are looking at alternative strategies ? the ?three-legged stool?, employedpreneur, virtual work engagements, etc. There are soooo many opportunities.

47% of the working population is reevaluating their career direction ? Do you have a plan?

Developing a career management plan is an essential tool as you navigate your way through opportunities and challenges. It is becoming bigger ? a career management plan is becoming more of a life plan.

The key ? it must be specific, measurable and hold you accountable. The plan outlines your goals and establishes planned and measured actions. For example, it could be as simple as:

? Work with specialist to update resume 1/1/00 and 7/1/00 and update career journal

? Determine, with a professional, if I am right to be in my own business and drive my own destiny by 10/31/11. Determine, once and for all, my career direction which will feed my life direction.

? Attend one networking event and establish three contacts monthly

? Meet with career specialists twice yearly to discuss plan, strategy and opportunities.

? Passively monitor job activity in my chosen profession

Some of my clients will not be pursuing a new job or business opportunity for 1 ? 2 ? 3 or more years, but they are planning now, creating a career journal (accomplishments, successes, what you learned and of course, what didn?t work) and using me as their guide and face to the market, so to speak. They are truly in control of their greatest personal economic resource ? their business or their job.

Determine to take control and be in control of your career. It is truly a life change you will never forget.

Happy New ?Second? Year!

And thank you for reading this. ? Dan

Dan Moran

President & Founder

Next-Act:

Career Management & Transition Specialists

Corporate Management Services

Celebrating 24 years providing career& corporate management services in 2012!

125 Wolf Road, Suite #128

Albany, NY 12205

Phone: 518-641-8968

eFax: 586-279-4212

dmoran@next-act.com

Visit the Assessment Center: next-act.com/assessment-center.cfm

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Source: http://blog.timesunion.com/careers/happy-new-year-%E2%80%A6-think-i-am-crazy-2/1717/

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