Crafting A Career Vision

Clear long-term plans let me “retire” as an Amazon VP at 50, travel 5 months a year, and still make money. Here’s how I did it and how you can apply the same thinking to your own life. Bill Gates once said, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year but underestimate what they can do in 10 years.” I agree. Here are four real long-term plans I’ve created: – A 5-year savings plan that let me retire – A 10-year travel plan to see the world – A 10-year business plan for impact – A 40-year health plan to stay fit through age 95 Plan 1: Retire in 5 Years As my career progressed, I started thinking about financial independence. I followed three simple financial rules throughout my life to make this a possibility: 1. Live on less than I make 2. Invest for the long term 3. Max out my 401(k) match In my 40s, I calculated how much I needed to retire and I realized I was about 5 years away. The plan stretched to 7.5 years, but I made it. Even if plans shift, having one gives you clarity and options. Plan 2: A Business Plan for Purpose Post-retirement, I built a 10-year business plan to help others find career success and satisfaction. The plan includes scaling my impact and reaching 1 million people. Like all good long-term plans, this one evolves, but the overarching vision stays constant. Plan 3: See the World I made a list of everywhere I wanted to go and started planning travel around those dreams. Galapagos. Iceland. Switzerland. This is my “active years” travel plan, and it only works because of Plan 1—financial freedom. But you don’t need to be wealthy to travel, just committed to a plan. Budget, partner with others, and get creative. Plan 4: Be Healthy at 95 This is the longest-range plan I’ve made. Inspired by Dr. Peter Attia’s concept of the “Centenarian Decathlon,” I mapped out what I want to be able to do at age 95 and then worked backward. If I want to lift a grandkid off the floor at 95, I need to be strong enough today. The details of each of these plans are in my newsletter. But before I link that, I want to give you some specific tips to create powerful long term plans: 1. Decide what area to focus on (my four plans were financial, business, travel, and health) Trying to create a single holistic life and career plan at this scale is likely too complex. Take it on in pieces. 2. Figure out where you want to be in 5, 10, or 40 years. What is the ultimate goal. 3. Work backwards from the end as well as forward from where you are. Meet in the middle. 4. Iterate. You can draft the plan all in one sitting, but these plans benefit from periodic revision. I have clarified, updated, and changed all of my plans once to twice a year. The end goals have rarely to never changed, but the next steps and priorities within the plan definitely do. 5. Be flexible. The plan exists to help you, not to constrain you. Link: https://buff.ly/03hEvz2 Readers—share your long-term plans.

Marsha was in her 50s and hoping to make a career pivot. "Have I got chance?" she asked me. I'll tell you what I told her: Ageism in the job market is real. But, if you are prepared, you can overcome the obstacles. It had been years since she'd applied or interviewed for a job. We worked together on her resume, LinkedIn, networking, and interviewing to package her for the job she wanted. When she called to say she'd gotten an offer for a great new job in pharma, with a 30% pay increase, I was jumping up & down!! I want to be clear that this was not easy. It took a lot of focus. Here is the multi-pronged approach we worked on together: 🎯 Resume Strategy: ↳ Focus on impact ("Delivered $2M in savings" vs "25 years of experience") ↳ Go back no more than 15 years  ↳ Highlight current technical skills, leave off old ones ↳ Take the graduation year off all degrees ↳ Contact info should include only city, state (no street address) ↳ Ditch the AOL, and hotmail email addresses; they date you 🌐Networking Strategy: ↳ Reconnect with former colleagues & give them an update ↳ Practice talking about your skills and abilities ↳ Speak to others who've successfully overcome the age barrier ↳ Make sure your LinkedIn profile follows best practices ↳ Work toward 500+ connections ↳ Post and comment on LinkedIn weekly 🏢 Employer Strategy: ↳ Target 40-50 companies with age-diverse cultures ↳ Talk to people in similar roles & ask about key skills ↳ Ask HR/recruiters about their hiring process ↳ Follow each employer on social media to learn priorities 💡 Interview Strategy: ↳ Lead with energy and genuine interest ↳ Show you've done your research with deep preparation ↳ Be ready with stories that include cross-generational work ↳ Share examples of your adaptability and growth mindset ↳ Talk about new skills you've built and show you're on top of trends ↳ Communicate your experience working with diverse people 🤵🏼Personal Strategy: ↳ Take additional courses & certifications to keep your skills fresh ↳ Stay current in your field with podcasts and social media ↳ Make reasonable adjustments to your appearance ↳ Clothes should fit well and be current, but not "trendy" ↳ Avoid language that "dates" you (ask a trusted younger friend) Remember: You're not "overqualified" You have battle-tested wisdom. That, along with these strategies, will set you up as a strong candidate! ♻ Repost to help people who are facing ageism in their job search 🔔 Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for more strategic career insights

Can we Plan, Control, and Improve our careers? Yes, we can. The answer lies in a classic quality management principle: Juran's Trilogy. Dr. Joseph Juran's Trilogy - Quality Planning, Quality Control, and Quality Improvement - has transformed organizations worldwide. What if I told you these principles can also transform your career? Career Planning Just like quality planning, start by defining your career goals and aligning them with market demands. Identify the skills you need, map your gaps, and chart a roadmap. Career Control Regularly monitor your progress. Are you delivering on your potential? Are your actions aligned with your goals? Think of this as checking KPIs for your career - like skills acquisition, visibility, and performance. Career Improvement Constantly look for ways to enhance your value. Learn new skills, adapt to changes, and take on stretch assignments. The goal is to make your career trajectory sharper and stronger over time. I recently coached Preeti, a mid-career professional stuck in a stagnant role. We mapped her long-term career goals (planning), set measurable milestones (control), and introduced skill upgrades and thought leadership efforts (improvement). Within 18 months, she transitioned into a leadership role with a significant pay hike. And I have used these principles myself. And you can see, I haven't done badly either. ☺ Your career is your product. Manage it like a quality professional. ++++++++++ Photo - My career isn't as bright as the background, but its not too bad either.

Ever found yourself just going through the motions, ticking tasks off your list but unsure if you're really on the right track? You're definitely not alone. Just last week, on the Career Shifts Podcast, I spoke with Phani Pattamatta, who shared his unique approach to self-assessment, "Chintan Baithak," or what he calls a personal brainstorming session. Imagine this: sitting quietly in a corner, reflecting on the past year, jotting down your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT), and setting clear "North Star" goals. Then pinning these goals on a soft board to keep them in view daily, which helps you stay aligned with your aspirations. Well, this is exactly what he did all these years. In many corporate settings, it's the season for annual appraisal conversations, where managers review our performance. Sometimes, their views differ significantly from our self-assessment. While organizations mandate these annual reviews, there’s a huge opportunity for us to adopt Chintan Baithak in our personal lives. Why consider integrating Chintan Baithak into your routine? Here are some compelling reasons I've discovered: ➡ Enhances Clarity and Focus Regular sessions help dispel the fog around your goals. By revisiting what you aim to achieve, you stay on a clear path and avoid drifting from your core objectives. ➡Promotes Accountability This reflective practice demands brutal honesty about your successes and failures. This level of honesty increases your accountability, urging you to own your progress and adjust as needed. ➡Facilitates Continuous Improvement Acknowledging what didn’t work isn't just about recognizing failures; it's about turning those insights into actionable steps. This fosters a habit of continuous self-improvement. ➡Helps Manage Stress Understanding what needs adjustment and having a plan reduces anxiety. When you're clear about your direction and next steps, the stress of uncertainty fades away. ➡Strengthens Decision-Making Regular Chintan Baithak sessions improve your ability to make decisions that are aligned with your long-term goals, based on a clear understanding of past outcomes and current objectives. As we navigate the season of annual reviews, why not apply a similar reflective approach to your own life? Like formal performance reviews, this practice can spotlight your growth areas and celebrate your achievements. The keys to benefiting from Chintan Baithak are consistency and absolute honesty with yourself, which I had also heard from my other mentor, Tarun Nallu. Trust me, the clarity that comes from this exercise is a game-changer! Also, don't forget to join me for the next episode of Career Shifts tomorrow, Wednesday, 15 May 24, at 7 PM IST, where I'll be speaking with Raja Krishnamoorthy (Kitty), an acclaimed actor & distinguished Talent & Organizational Development consultant. #SelfReflection #ChintanBaithak #careershifts

𝐀 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞. 📈💼 Many mentees have asked for a framework to help them brainstorm and set career goals. Having faced this myself multiple times, I know that this exercise can be exhausting without a structured approach. Here’s a simple yet powerful framework that has worked for me consistently. 👇 Step 1: Capture your current state in detail (professional only or both professional + personal). ✍️ Step 2: Define your future aspirations without limitations—list everything that comes to mind! 🌠 Step 3: Identify the “swimlanes” that matter to you. These may vary, so be clear on what’s important for you. 🏊♂️ Step 4: Set milestones within each swim lane. For example, if “financial safety” is a swimlane, your milestones could include buying a house, creating a corpus of ₹X crore, etc. 🏠💰 Step 5: Establish timelines. Map out concentric zones with achievable milestones over time. ⏳ Step 6: Track your progress regularly. 📊 Having a mentor can be invaluable here, as they can act as a sounding board, providing guidance and helping you stay aligned with your goals. Having this mental map will significantly help you plan your career transformation. 🌟 I hope this helps! Let me know your thoughts in the comments. 💬 #CareerPlanning #GrowthMindset #CareerTransformation #GoalSetting #Mentorship #Framework

One startling realization that is common among young professionals is their lack of self-awareness. Young professionals simply go from school to the workplace without taking the time to consider their strengths, weaknesses and uniqueness. If you would like to build self awareness, do this: 🌎 1. Journaling: Regular journaling is one of the best ways to build self awareness. Journal regularly about your experiences, thoughts, and emotions can enhance self-awareness. 🌎 2. Take personality assessments: If your company allows it, take personality tests such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or the Big Five Personality Traits, to gain insights into your personality and preferences. 🌎 3. Seek Feedback: Request feedback from peers, mentors, or supervisors. Other perspectives can provide insights into your strengths and areas for growth. 🌎 4. Reflect on Your Values: Identify and prioritize your core values. Consider what matters most to you in life and in your career. ___________________________ Specifically to your career, here are some questions you should ask yourself: 🍀 1. Observe how you work. What aspects of your job excites you? What aspect do you not mind doing over and over again? 🍀 2. What aspect do people say you excel in? What aspect do superiors like you working on? 🍀 3. How would you rate your work ethic? How would your colleagues and supervisors rate your work ethic? 🍀 4. How aware are you of the office dynamics going on around you? How do you fit into the mold? 🍀 5. What are your key strengths and how can you leverage them in your career? 🍀 6. In what work environments do you thrive best – collaborative, independent, fast-paced, etc.? 🍀 7. What are your long-term career goals, and how can you align your current path with them? _______________________ The essence of this is to help you develop self awareness. Now note, self awareness is not necessarily a goal. It is a journey. You arrive at new destinations of knowing yourself. To your best self, cheers 🥂

Stop guessing your next move—let a Personal Development Plan guide your progress. A while back, I mentored a professional named Rahul, who felt he was being repeatedly overlooked for promotions. We conducted a competency mapping session and discovered a key gap in his ability to work cross-functionally and lead diverse teams. 🧩 Rather than feeling discouraged, Rahul saw this as an opportunity. We built a Personal Development Plan (PDP) to close those gaps. By enrolling in relevant courses and taking on cross-departmental projects, Rahul not only improved his skills but also earned the promotion he had been aiming for. 👉 What is a Personal Development Plan (PDP)? A PDP is a roadmap for your career growth, detailing the specific skills you need to develop to advance in your role. Here are the Key Sections every PDP should include: 💢Self-Assessment: Identify your current strengths and areas for improvement based on feedback or a competency mapping session. 💢Goal Setting: Set clear, measurable goals for what you want to achieve in your career (e.g., leadership skills, cross-functional collaboration). 💢Action Plan: Outline the steps you’ll take to close the gaps, such as enrolling in courses, seeking mentorship, or participating in projects. 💢Timeline: Assign deadlines to each action item to track your progress and stay on course. 💢Evaluation: Regularly assess your progress through self-reflection or feedback from peers and supervisors. 💡 Key Action Points: ⚜️Use competency mapping to identify specific skill gaps. ⚜️Develop a Personal Development Plan to close those gaps. ⚜️Engage in practical experiences like cross-functional projects or targeted training. Feeling stuck in your career? Start building your personal development plan today and tackle those skill gaps head-on! #CareerDevelopment #SkillGaps #PersonalDevelopmentPlan #LeadershipSkills #CompetencyMapping #ProfessionalGrowth

"Where do you see yourself in six months?" Your manager asks you out of the blue. You freeze. That feeling of being caught unprepared hit me particularly hard in my early 20's. I'd ramble about wanting "more responsibility" or "growth opportunities." My managers would nod politely. Nothing would really change. I was making a crucial mistake, waiting for my manager to outline my career paths for me. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱: 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵. 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲. When I joined Dropbox in 2015, I discovered a simple career planning framework that helped me map out my direction. It broke down into four core components: 🎯 Personal brand - What do you want to be known for? 📅 Short-term goals - What do you want in 3-6 months? 🚀 Long-term goals - What do you want in 1-3 years? 💪 Key strengths - What are your superpowers? But having the framework wasn't enough. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀. Last week, I was talking to my friend about pitching their manager about a role that doesn't exist yet. Here's how I'd prepare: • Identify the skills gaps • Build a plan to acquire these skills • Identify people who can support me • Craft a business case connecting my goal to value But now we also have fancy AI tools! So recently, I've leveled up the process by using an AI career copilot (inspired by Tal Raviv). I set up a Claude Project with my career growth plan and company context. Then I ask it to challenge my thinking, identify blind spots, and help me role-play difficult conversations. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀. It suggests daily actions for my short-term goals. It helps coach me through career conversations. It makes the whole process less dreary and more strategic. Here's how to try this out yourself: 1. Have a career chat with your manager or mentor. 2. Setup Tal Raviv's prompt (link in comments). 3. Adapt and use your AI copilot to prep for the chat. Own your career development instead of waiting for others to drive it. The reality is that no one will care about your career as much as you do. Have you tried leveraging AI copilots in your own career growth?

Are You Charting Your Path or Just Wandering? I often meet people with a vague idea of where they want their career or life to go, yet they spend no time mapping out their journey. As a result, they flip-flop from one opportunity to the next, without a clear direction. Years ago, I dreamed of traveling with work, raising three children, driving a specific car, and living exactly where I wanted. I made a plan. That plan didn't just give me clarity, it gave me a laser focus that was crucial in achieving those dreams. Now, I'm crafting an even more ambitious plan because if there's one thing I've learned, it's that I wasn't ambitious enough the first time around. The best advice I can offer anyone looking to find a new role, make an international move, or take the next step in their career is this: Reverse engineer your goals. Identify your target, plot the steps to get there, and seek mentors who've already walked that path. They can help accelerate your journey. MCG Talent

Mistakes your making in your 20s that are slowing down your career 1/ Stop chasing immediate networking wins. Most people network to get their manager to like them, secure this year's promotion, or solve today's problems. But this short-term thinking kills your long-term potential. 2/ Identify your future self's needs. Map out where you want to be in 5-10 years - whether that's starting your own business, landing your dream role, or becoming an industry leader. 3/ Target relationships that serve your future vision. Instead of schmoozing with peers for quick favors, build connections with senior leaders who could become angel investors, potential co-founders, or future customers. 4/ Recognize the compound effect of strategic networking. Those VPs who can double your salary this year won't matter if you quit to start your business next year - but the relationships that fund your startup will change everything. 5/ Audit your current networking approach. Ask yourself: "Will these relationships help me build my dream career, or are they just helping me climb a ladder I don't want to be on?" 6/ Shift your networking timeline from months to decades. Start building relationships with people who align with your ultimate career vision, even if they can't help you today. Your future self will thank you.