Why You Should Choose an ISMM Qualification:
For most of us formal study is part of the journey to reach another aspiration, such as getting a job promotion or making a career change. The qualification in itself does not provide fulfillment, but what we do with it afterwards does. So, before you set off on your journey you need to be sure you’ve set the right goals for you. But how do you it?
1) Identify your goals
The first step in the process is to identify and write down your goals. Be honest with yourself and ask: What is it that I want? What can I see myself doing in five years?
If you’re not honest with yourself at the outset and you don’t identify the real goals, you might find yourself moving towards the wrong ones. This can quickly lead to a drop in motivation and, ultimately, goal failure.
Typical goals might be:
- Getting a good job
- Getting a job in a specific field that you enjoy
- Getting promoted within the company where you work
- Transitioning to a different team or project within the company
- Preparing for upcoming changes in the industry
- Making the world a better place
2) Identify the paths to your goals
You probably already have some ideas for paths that can be taken to reach your goals. So next, write down these possible paths. Start with the ones you can think of off the top of your head. This could be getting an accredited qualification, building a portfolio of work or learning new skills.
3) Identify your constraints
Fortunately, not all of the paths identified in step 2 above are possible. Each of us have constraints that prevent some of these options from being possible. So now write down your personal blockers. Again, be honest with yourself. This will put you in the best possible position to achieve your goals.
Some of the constraints you might identify could be:
- Money – do you have the necessary funds?
- Time – do you have the time required?
- Geography – do you resources you need exist in your area?
4) Make your plan
You should now have a draft of a plan of what you want to achieve and the routes to achieving your goals.
5) Get started
Ask yourself: What can I do, starting right now, to reach my goals? Look at the easiest steps to take and begin. It’s natural to hesitate at this stage but don’t let hesitation paralyze you. It is better to start on the journey than to never start at all.
You might find that after spending some time on the path you’ve chosen that you need to pause and revise your goals, your paths or your constraints. This is not a sign of failure! This simply makes your next plan even sharper. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll learn and the sooner you’ll reach your goals.
