If anyone ever asks you if you like your job, it is important to identify exactly what that individual means. Are they asking you whether you enjoy engaging in the particular task at hand or if you like the company and work involved with the career that you are building? According to Webster’s Dictionary, a job is “something that has to be done / regular employment.” Again, referencing Webster’s, career is defined as “vocation / go at top speed.” While “regular employment” and “vocation” denote virtually the same thing, let’s look at the alternate definitions of each word. “Something that has to be done” connotes that you are going to work only because it is totally necessary. “Go at top speed” indicates that you have drive, direction, and interest in quickly making things happen for yourself.
No matter what career path you choose to take, you must identify whether you are working every day to earn a paycheck to cover this month’s living expenses, or if you are interested in further developing yourself so you can continue to grow within your particular company and / or industry. Once you have made the commitment to focus on your career, you must identify ways to effectively communicate your commitment to the management within your organization so they recognize your willingness and desire to march up the career path, rather than allowing yourself to stagnate within a given position. Of course, during your planning you need to identify how far along the path you are comfortable moving. What is your ideal position? Are you content in your current role or do you feel that you have what it takes to run the company you work at or even your own company someday? Remember, nothing that you decide upon today is set in stone. Perhaps you are just starting to raise a family and feel that until your children are old enough to attend school, you do not want to put in the extra time and effort to take the next step. If that is the case, make that your plan. If the kids will be in school in five years, you will need to prepare yourself for advancement when that time comes. It is critical that you review your short and long term plans (i.e. one and five year plans) every three to six months to ensure that those plans are still congruent with your current intentions.