Have you ever made plans in your career but never fulfilled them? Or have you fulfilled a plan but found that you have gone in the wrong direction?

Life is full of choices that involve risk. And as we become older, we are more fearful of making such decisions.

Making That Career Decision

If you are looking for a career that is most suitable for you, you will need to take time to understand what you do best. What are the job tasks you find mot energizing and what are those that drain you at the end of the day?

Knowing what you love to do is just one part of the equation. Analyzing your personality profile helps you to understand yourself and how you would relate to your work environment. For example, if you are good at what you do, but do not know how to work well with others, it is going to be difficult to have a successful career especially if you have to work in a team. Teamwork is the key ingredient to a good working relationship. If you can get the support of others, you are likely to be more successful.

On the other hand, if you know your personality but do not know what tasks or jobs are suitable for you, you will find yourself job-hoping or feeling that your job does not bring you fulfillment or value.

To find out more about your personality, you can get feedback from friends, relatives, colleagues or even your career coach.

Dont get your feedback blindly. Find out specifics such as on which occasion you were highly motivated and what was the cause. Or why certain behaviour was deemed undesirable and when it took place.

Act On Your Plan

In his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey states that one of his key principles is to begin with the end in mind. When you have identified what you want to do, draw out a road map on how you would like to get there. Plan out the milestones and celebrate each success.

Share your milestones with a supportive friend or relative who will provide support and celebrate those winning moments with you.

Create objectives for yourself. This means understanding what must be achieved and by when. Also, list down those who can help you support your plans. Find out where to get your resources and who you can get advice from whenever you have a problem.

The most difficult part of the exercise is staying on course. No job is 100 per cent fulfilling, and in life you will meet peculiar people and jobs that do not really appeal to you. However , at the end of the day, if you come out smiling, you would have met most of your basic criteria.

Invest in Yourself

Nothing comes for free. In whatever you do, three main resources you need to invest in are money, effort and time.

If you are unwilling to work on any of these three resources, you may find it difficult to get to where you want to go.

So be prepared for the long haul. Persevere in whatever you do. Once you finish the race, you know you have made an achievement in life. By then you will be prepared for greater challenges.