Defining Success in Your Quest for a Green Career
As you strategize to enter your green career, what do you hold as your milestone of success?
Is success…
- Landing your ideal green job?
- Starting your own business?
- Going back to school to get a green degree?
Although having a goal that symbolizes your ultimate success is important, it's not the only way you can celebrate! In fact, I recommend setting a series of milestones along your journey so you can experience the emotional boost of reaching a goal, celebrating your achievement, and then stretching toward the next one. This strategy is more likely to keep you motivated and in motion.
Success Milestones on Your Green Career Journey
As you set out on your journey to find your green career, count each of the following milestones as a success worth celebrating.
- Creating a list of the green topics you are passionate about is a huge step for many. (Some people never give themselves a chance to reach this goal…so if you have made it, celebrate this fact.)
- Being able to articulate your green niche in a clear, concise way for yourself and your network is a huge turning point for your networking efforts and your job search.
- Knowing enough about your target green industry to see where your skills fit in is momentous. When you can connect the dots for yourself, you have a much better chance of convincing a hiring manager to interview you and, ultimately, hire you.
- Developing an active network within your new field is a sign you have arrived. You are no longer an outsider looking in, but you are an insider who has connection. When you recognize this day has come, acknowledge yourself for all you've done to reach this level of success.
- Getting a gig to gain experience in your target field – whether it's an internship, volunteer position, taking a course, or landing a contract – you've made a big leap forward. Sure, it's not the full time job you've been dreaming of, but it may be just the experience that opens the door to your ultimate job. Say yes! Participate fully.
- Landing a job! If the job is a perfect fit for you, there's no doubt that you will be celebrating your achievement! If, however, the job is less than ideal, you may feel more frustration than celebration. I encourage you to embrace the idea that the job is a stepping stone into your future green career. You are one step closer! Performing your best in this position will open other doors and position you for your next job. Be strategic and make the best of this win.
(If you want to be in business for yourself, your milestones will be slightly different. Rather than celebrating your new job, you'll be celebrating the life-changing moment you came up with the idea for your business, the feedback you get from your target market that they are buying into your idea, the moment you create your business brand and identity, and finally the day you officially launch your green business.)
The exact steps may be different for each person, but the motto is the same. Celebrate each step you take in reaching your green career goal. You'll feel better, you'll get the support of your friends and colleagues, and your string of successes becomes the foundation for your green career.
Copyright © 2010 Transition Dynamics Enterprises, Inc.
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