About This Issue

We’re already more than halfway through the year, so . . . where the heck is 2008 going?  While “time flies when you’re having fun,” perhaps a more accurate (and productive) way to phrase it would be, “Time flies when you’re having fun—and getting work done.”  In this issue of The Source, we explore how you can do both, before the end of the year arrives.  And judging by how quickly the first half flew by, that should be any day now.  I hope you’re enjoying a great summer, and thanks for being a loyal reader.

—Don

Your Mid-Year Checklist
(By Don Hunter)

I was recently having a discussion with one of my business partners when our conversation turned to assessing the progress each of us has made toward accomplishing our goals for this year.  Since it’s already July, we decided this would be a good time for such a discussion.  After a quick inventory of the objectives my partner set for himself at the beginning of the year, he observed that to this point, he had failed to meet two of his five goals, including his very first one.  He promptly questioned the validity of such an assessment.

Although he was joking (I think), this is the ideal time of year to conduct an assessment of your progress in terms of the goals you’ve set for your career development in 2008.  In this day and age of hustle and bustle, it’s all too easy to become preoccupied by the day-to-day grind and lose sight of the big picture, whatever it might be.  By taking the time to conduct a mid-year checklist, you can more effectively keep yourself on track and increase the odds that 2008 will be one of your best years ever.

A career/personal Q&A session
In actuality, you should be doing two things right now—conducting a mid-year checklist and planning your vacation.  (I discuss why you’re never too busy to go on vacation in an article located on the Bay Resource Group Web site.  You can access it by clicking here.)  If you didn’t write down a list of goals for 2008 at the beginning of the year, make certain that you do so for 2009.  In fact, you might want to start thinking about that list now, after you’ve finished your mid-year checklist.

To help you conduct as thorough and as accurate an assessment as possible, below is a list of questions you should ask yourself.  And although, like my business partner, you may not be thrilled with the answers, you can use them as motivation for the second half of the year.

• Have you updated your resume with recent accomplishments?  The career reason for this is that potential employers use past accomplishments as an indication of future success with their company.  The personal reason is that your resume is a great place to document your achievements and take a moment to pat yourself on the back.

• Have you updated your references and checked in with key references?  The career reason is that ideally, you should have five solid references on your resume.  By contacting them, you not only ensure that their contact information is accurate, but that you remain top-of-mind, as well.  The personal reason is that these people had an effect on your life, and your life will be richer by staying in touch.

• Have you done anything in terms of enhancing your professional development?  The career reason is that learning new skills and acquiring new knowledge is crucial to advancing your career and reaching your long-term objectives.  This is an area you should be addressing each and every year.  The personal reason is that when you stop learning, you start ending your life.  You’re too young to look at that now.

• Are you actively participating in associations?  I can’t stress enough the importance of attending industry functions like conferences and conventions.  The career reason is that you’ll enhance your professional development through both training and networking efforts.  The personal reason is that the relationships you build in your industry and outside of your direct employment are often incredibly rewarding.

• Have you updated your contact/networking list?  If you’re not already, you might consider utilizing some of the latest networking and contact tools, such as LinkedIn.  According to PC Magazine, “LinkedIn is by far the most developed business- and career-oriented networking site and service out there; it's the way millions of career-minded people will find their next jobs.”  If you use LinkedIn, click here to link to my profile.  If you don’t use it, click here to get started.  The career reason is that it’s not just what you know, it’s who.  The personal reason is that you might hear from an old friend.

• Have you struck a healthy work-life balance?  If you’re not sure, ask two people—your boss and your spouse.  If one of them feels as though they’re getting short-changed, they’ll be sure to let you know.

Discover what works for you
So—how did you do?  The good news is that no matter how off-base you feel you might be, there’s still plenty of time to reach all of your goals and objectives for the year.  If you’re feeling ambitious, you might even want to schedule a quarterly checklist and review your progress again at the end of September.

The key is to discover what works best for you.  You might need to check your progress four times a year or just once.  And keep in mind that you don’t have to limit your checklist to the questions above.  You can add to it as you see fit.  What do you want—ultimately—for your career?  Where do you want to go and what do you want to do?  The answers to these questions will help you to set short-term goals in the interest of reaching your big-picture objectives.

In the end, it’s all about doing what you have to do to get where you want to go.  Unfortunately, it’s easy to lose focus and to get caught up in the present at the expense of the future.  By using a career development checklist on a consistent basis, you can stay on target and take the steps needed to achieve both your short-term and your long-term goals.

(“Your Mid-Year Checklist” is the first of a two-part series of articles.  The second article in the series—“You’re Never Too Busy to Go on Vacation”—can be found on the Bay Resource Group Web site by clicking here.  And while you’re visiting the site, be sure to view our offering of job opportunities.  Remember, these are opportunities that represent the “hidden job market” and reflect positions that companies are highly motivated to fill.  As always, thanks for being a loyal reader of The Source.)