Four Steps for Setting Goals for Your Future

There’s been a whole lot written about setting goals. Even the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland states that “if you don’t know where you want to go; any path will take you there.” Many of us go through life taking any path, often the one of least resistance, because we don’t have a destination in our minds. We don’t know WHAT we want to be when we grow up, no matter how old we are. The truth is, there are always new opportunities just around the corner; they may not even be jobs today, but they will appear as technology drives new industries. If you aren’t sure what you want to be, set short-term goals to be ready for whatever may present itself.

Step One – Figure out who you are. What do you like to do? What makes you comfortable? Do you prefer to work with people or alone? Are you a left or right-brain person? Are you best in the morning or evening? What are your aptitudes? What do you really dislike doing? Don’t rule anything out; people change; you will too. But knowing who you are now is a good first step.

Step Two – Understand your personal drive. How ambitious are you? It’s fine to set a goal of being president; but whether you’re thinking President of the United States, president of your own company, or president of your own fan club, be sure you understand what will you have to spend, to learn, and to give up, to achieve your goal.

Step Three – List the attributes you need. More people skills? More education in general or in a specific field? More practice in skills like expressing yourself, whether in writing, in conversation, public speaking or on the fly?

Step Four – Recognize that everything you do in your life (good and bad) will add to your future knowledge, abilities, expertise, and experience. Even your failures will provide insight as to how you learn and what kind of person you want (or don’t want) to be. What you learn in any endeavor will add to the value you bring to a future position.

What you learn, working in an answering service will help you in every future goal you set. This is a perfect training ground. You learn to LISTEN; one of the most important skills in any job, anywhere! You learn to speak well, to think quickly, to present a pleasant countenance no matter how you feel. You learn to be dependable, to finish tasks, and to be organized. You learn to work within a team and to be strong as an individual. What you learn here is a foundation that will be of value to you throughout your whole life, regardless of your ultimate goals. You may decide that your future is right here; this is a great place to learn, grow, and work.

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