Creating your own Future!

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Creating your own Future!

We all need to take charge of our career and lives. Every learning individual should begin to create his/her future. Everyone can create a career plan through some simple steps.

By Lars G. Harrison

Everyone from a child to the oldest human being living in France can begin today to create his/her future. We all have 24 hours each day to our disposal (or 16 hours for those who normally sleep). It sufficient to say that we need to redeem as much of our time to fruitful usage to promote our life. Our future depends on how we spend each hour of the day throughout our lives. And we should know how best spend that precious time we have been given. There is a common saying that states that, "If you don't know where you're going, any road will lead you there." Knowing where you want to go with your life and what type of a future that you want to create, may be the most difficult assignment anyone has to tackle. Finding your purpose is crucial to human happiness. Outlined below are a few steps that you can follow to develop your career plan and take charge of creating your future.
According to Peter Senge in his book "The Fifth Discipline", "the basic meaning of the "learning organization"-is an organization that is continually expanding its capacity to create its own future (Senge, pg. 14)." That means that learning, a practice that every person is involved with, takes its full meaning in how a person creates his/her own future. But how do you create your own future? You can begin by creating a career plan that answers these questions:

Determine what your future should hold. Who are you and in relation to the world? What is your purpose in life and why? What do want to give to the world? If you wrote an obituary of yourself, how would it read? Finding your life's purpose is probably the most important challenge for most people. A good book on the subject is Naomi Stephan's book "Finding Your Soul's Purpose."
Develop your personal Mission statement and identify your personal Vision. Here you may look for Stephen Covey's workbook in "Developing your Personal Mission."
Determine your Values (what is important to you, set your priorities). Have a disciplined methodology.
Set goals (list measurable goals in categories such as: physical, professional, emotional, financial, spiritual, relational, etc.) and create a plan of action on how to seek your future and reach your full potential.
Become customer focused and develop continuous performance improvement practices. How do you become better at what you do? What is quality to you in your life and work (every task and process you perform)?
Establish support systems (Find a coach/mentor and perhaps someone whose performance and career plan that you can emulate).
Assess your knowledge and skills (inventory). There are many inventory profiles that you can use, such as: Myers-Briggs, Carlson, Strong-Campbell, or you can do it yourself or ask your friends. Determine your strengths and weaknesses. Determine what resources (education, training, opportunities) and skills you need to reach your goals.
Disciplined to follow your plan (path)-conscious and consistent effort to follow your practices, because human nature is lazy and anti-success.
Begin a program of constantly learning new things and adapting to new technologies and changes in your profession without straying from your path to your future. Being able to cope with change and using change to your advantage is crucial.
Focus on results and measure your results (metrics) against your plan of action. You may work with your career coach to monthly yearly review your progress. Set up a Performance Projection for 1-3-5 year strategic career plan, and a life-plan.

Altika assist organizations and individuals in developing and creating their own future. For more information contact us. Now go out there and create your own future.

Lars G. Harrison can be reached at lars_harrison@yahoo.com.