Goal setting is a huge component of the career planning process and has the potential to change the course of your life. Your goals, and the steps you take to achieve them, will make up your action plan. Life change doesn’t happen overnight. You need to make a plan, set goals and follow through!

How to Approach Goal Setting

If the goal is important to you and attainable, you have to commit to it completely. It’s not enough to have a goal, you’ll need to decide how to reach it. Not all goal-setting is equally effective. Learning to set the right goals – and learning how to best achieve them – takes time, practice, and a little bit of guidance. Milestones will help point you in the right direction and keep you motivated throughout the process.

Set an End Goal

Think about the results you want to see. Before you set a goal, take a closer look at what you’re trying to achieve. If it’s a new career, set something as your big end goal to strive for. Think about your goal as much as possible, visually reaching it. When you visualize your desired outcome, you’re able to see the possibility of achieving it—and you can start taking steps to create a plan.

Create Milestones

If your goal involves changing your career, you may have to undergo some training. Learning new skills could take the form of earning a certification or taking a training course. Use these requirements as milestones guiding you towards your end goal.

Have a Realistic Timeline

No one likes to wait, but the bigger the goal, the more time it’s going to take. Don’t cut corners or set unrealistic expectations. Creating a timeline takes your goal from something that will happen in the future and moves it into the present. A timeline also creates a commitment to achieve your goal. Creating a timeline consists of the following steps: Decide on a reasonable amount of time that it will take to complete your goal.

Find a Mentor

Identify a few key mentors to help guide you through the process, since they’ve already successfully navigated it. Each time you make some progress, share it with your mentors. They can help you make tweaks to your milestones based on what you’re learning. Having a feedback process allows you to stay motivated, stay on track, and feel a sense of accomplishment throughout the process.

Set a New Course

If you encounter barriers that threaten to impede your progress, don’t give up. Instead, modify your goals accordingly. Set a new course that will still get you where you want to be.

Interested in using this information to start a new career as an HVAC technician? Reach out to us, we’d love to chat.