"Working on Monday"- A New Year's Review of Your Goals for Professional Development

The holidays are usually slow in the office.  A lot of people are on vacation and a lot of the work turmoil seems to quiet itself and prepare for the new year.  This does not happen in every industry, but for the majority of people it is a time of calm.  I encourage you to relax your worries and exercise your mind.

This is the perfect time to read and absorb the content of a good book.  Not just any book, but something that supports your professional development goals for the year.  Working on Monday began with action steps to discover and effectively live out your career dreams.  As you live out your written plan, the realities of life should shape your direction and perfect your plans. I am not suggesting that you change your dreams with every difficult circumstance.  I want you to listen to the wisdom of life as it shares its invaluable truth. 

One of the best ways to hear the instructions of life is reflection.  This is a week that can be used to take inventory and make the destination to your dreams more successful.  As your discoveries unfold here are some useful questions to ask yourself.

1. What challenges have I ignored?  There are many things that happen in our lives that are easier to forget.  However, if you are ignoring problems because they are too difficult to face, it is a strong possibility these unresolved issues are holding you back.  
2. What do I need to change in order to reach my goals?  Have you ever heard the saying "doing things the same way and expecting a change is insanity?"  It is true.  If you want to move to the next phase of your dreams you have to give up doing things that cause you to fail.  If that means waking up an hour earlier or surrounding yourself with different people, do not be afraid of making necessary arrangements.  
3. What accomplishments have I made?  If you are trying to make positive changes in your life, simply making the decision is a milestone.  It is important to know you have done some good.  This makes adjustments less intimidating.  
4. Is my life well rounded?  Pursuing a career is part of what gives a person satisfaction in life.  It is also important to make time for friends, family, rest and recreation.  A well rounded life addresses the multiple needs of the sometimes complicated human being.  
5. What are the one or two major areas of change I want to focus on?  Pursuing your dreams and making positive changes can be overwhelming.  You have an entire life time to live out your dreams and many times that is how long it takes.  Tackling one or two areas of change at a time is manageable.  Many times you can resolve other issues without the additional mental strain.  

This list is short and you can certainly add your own thoughts and ideas.  Make sure you take time out to center yourself and start the new year with a fresh perspective.  Reviewing your goals for professional development is certainly worth your time.  

photos via afpp.org.uk, herd.typepad.com