1. Planning Your Future Section 1.3: Achieving Your Dreams Taking Charge: Chapter 1 © 2010 TSTC Publishing

2. Professional Goals © 2010 TSTC Publishing Now, in college, is the perfect time to discuss professional goals Find out whether your career offers advancement opportunities

3. SMART: Specific Specific Visualize yourself working in your chosen field Write your vision in your journal Be as detailed as possible © 2010 TSTC Publishing

4. SMART: Measurable Measurable Set your goals in measurable units Incremental success builds job satisfaction and self-confidence Focus on factors you can control © 2010 TSTC Publishing

5. SMART: Attainable & Realistic Attainable and Realistic Unrealistic expectations only bring disappointment Reach for high standards that stimulate and challenge you Goals should be flexible and transient so you control them © 2010 TSTC Publishing

6. SMART: Timed Timed Consider if the career you choose offers advancement opportunities Set a tentative time line for reaching various levels © 2010 TSTC Publishing

7. Steer Your Ship to Safe Harbor Check your expectations against the SMART rule and the THREE P’s Know the facts What does your career pay What education is required Keep your journal close © 2010 TSTC Publishing

8. One Final Thought Be aware of dream stealers People in your life Distractions Time management © 2010 TSTC Publishing

9. Further Reflections What goals have you already set for your professional life? How do you vision yourself in your career? Where do you want to be in five years? © 2010 TSTC Publishing

10. Additional Resources Salary.com http://www.salary.com U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov http://www.bls.gov Setting & Achieving Career Goals http://lifeskills.endlex.com/article/career_goals.html http://lifeskills.endlex.com/article/career_goals.html © 2010 TSTC Publishing