Set Your Goals, Take Your Break
By Sharon Mendy, Life Coach
Think of the most successful person you know. How did they get that way? Talent, good looks, inherited money or drive and ambition? Or a fluke, being in the right place at the right time? It is likely that it started as an idea in their head. It's the ability to find ways to turn dreams into reality that makes us successful and gives us what we want from our lives.
If you’re thinking about taking a career break, goal-setting can help.
Defining goals
First, define your goals by jotting down what you’d like to see taking place, under the heading most relevant to you: work, home, relationships, health, family or finances. You’ve now got a wish-list.
Making it real
Then, specify the how, when, why and where of your wishes. For example: ‘I want to get out of the rat race for a while’ may become, ‘I want to take a three-month career break, working and travelling in a Latin American country, to learn a new language and make me smile more.’Or whatever reasons make sense to you. The more detailed and explicit you make the goal, the more real it will become.
Maximise your chances of success
A number of extra little pushes will give you the edge.
Decide what you want from your experience
A different way of life, to help a community, help others to speak a new language, learn a new language yourself, meet new people, have fun…
Write it down
Commitment is the first step to achievement.
Create a vivid picture
Of you on your career break. See the jungle, sea or village, hear the music, taste the food, smell the trees or the salty surf, feel the rhythm as you dance …and a smile spreading over your face as you think about it.
Emphasise what you want, not what you don’t wantThe brain can’t compute negatives!
Small steps
If your goal seems overwhelming, break it down into small steps.
Remind yourself
Once your goals are written down, you need to keep them fresh in your mind. Why not write them on a card and keep them with you?
Take action
Now you should be all fired up and ready to achieve anything. Follow that goal!
Sharon Mendy is a life coach based in the north of England. She can be contacted on 0113 2179084 or at s.mendy@talk21.com
