A step-by-step guide to Help You Excel in Your Career

Many people do not know what exactly to do to succeed in their career. It’s not an easy task to climb up the ladder, but it all starts with you. You start by evaluating yourself, and then set goals with strategies to meet them. It takes self-determination and dedication to meet your goals.
Growth and success is a result of hard work (in activities) and there is no development physically or intellectually without effort; and effort means work. So the greatest role to play in order to succeed in everything you do is inputting the greatest effort in your area of concern and soon you will realize the progress.
There are five steps which foster the process of career success. Following these steps is a wise decision that will lead you to what you’ve been looking for, which is success.

 1) Evaluate your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOTs).

This is the very first step to take in order to succeed. It means assessing yourself to realize what you have and what you don’t have. It is examining your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOTs) that surround you. By this, you get to know what you can do and your dis-functionalities which may slow down your progress.
You could find out that you have not been planning the right way, or you have been wasting a lot of time doing less-meaningful things away from your vision. This calls you to sharpen and fully utilize your strengths as you improve your weaknesses.
At the same time, you need to be aware of the opportunities around you and see if you can be able to create one for yourself. Keep searching for available opportunities as you brainstorm and think outside the box to come up with new activities to engage in, that can possibly lead you to success.
Additionally, awareness of the potential threats present in your area of interest helps you to think and plan on methods to face or neutralize them in case they occur. This way, you increase your focus and objectivity. When you have fully evaluated your SWOTs, you can then proceed to the next step, which is goal-setting.

 2) Set your goals.

This is the time for setting your desired results for your activities. Setting goals and objectives helps you to direct all (or most of) your efforts and resources towards achieving the goal. Whether you work in affiliate marketing, a business person or any other industry, your target should be achievable and realistic.
At the same time, you should set them as high as you can imagine so that if you don’t reach them, at least you will be near and will have achieved something good. As they say, ‘land to the stars if you don’t reach the sun and moon’.
As you do this, you need to consider all possible pre-defined social, political and economic issues which may pull you back or hinder you from achieving your goals, either directly or indirectly. Also, you need to set the time schedule required to achieve your goals. This helps you to remain focused and determined as you perform your activities because you won’t want to be caught by time. You can set short-time goals such as weekly, monthly, quarterly, half or one full year goals, or long-term goals that might go for several years.
Goal-setting is a very crucial step in every development which creates basis for the activities for the activities required in order to succeed. Then, proceed to the next step.

3) Strategize (Plan).

Now, you need to plan on the methods that you require to use in order to achieve your set goals and objectives. It’s wise to identify several methods or activities which could possibly lead you to succeed in your area of concern. Consider their availability and cost, and then go for the cheapest and one that you think you are more convenient with.
Set plans on each activity with the time required to accomplish it. Plan your work and work your plans. Strategize on how your activities follow each other and also come up with ways to improve them as you proceed.
Also, consider the potential threats that may arise as you progress and plan on how to face them in case they happen.  When you have chosen the method best suitable for you, then you can go ahead and identify the resources you need in the fourth step.

4) Identify the resources.

This starts with identifying the resources needed to achieve the set goal, as well as those available to you. Get to know all materials that you may require for you to achieve the goals that you’ve set. Examine their cost and the availability or sources from which you can get them. Again, go for the ones that you can afford. But do not stress yourself for lacking the reach of these resources. Use the ones that are available and those that will not leave you hungry.
Take this note;- you could get assistance from family, friends or any other source, but do not go for a loan when you have not fully analyzed or evaluated your project and have enough confidence that it will be a success. Loans can make you bankrupt in several hours. When you are done with all these, now align the resources with the plan in the next step.

5) Alignment.

This is the last step that will lead you to achieving what you ought to. Implement the strategies you’ve set in step 3 above using the resources that you identified in the previous step. This is the actual work now.
Engage in the activities you identified previously being keener on time management which happens to be the major cause of failure of a well-planned project. Make sure you do not harm anyone through whatever you might be doing. Stay focused and determined to achieve your set goals. Neglect those activities that push you against your vision.
In case of pessimistic friends, never pay attention to them as you may end up wasting a lot of precious time and this would possibly lead you to failure. Alignment of the strategies and resources with a great focus on the set goals and objectives will definitely impart great success to you.
And when you have achieved what you wished/planned for, do not be selfish; remember you can’t live in this world alone. So, share with those who need it the most. Do not let someone suffer when you know you can help. This makes your life more meaningful as a human and impresses our creator, who in turn blesses you more and more. Be happy with what you have achieved and share with those who do not have- even if it’s an idea.

 In Conclusion, 

The one and only addition to the above is putting your creator first. God is our creator and praying, worshiping and praising Him are great ways to say thank you to Him. He sees us and knows what we are composing in our minds. And I suppose that He is the source of the positive ideas in our minds. He helps us to cope with problems and overcome threats surrounding us. I found it very wise to give thanks, glory and praise Him always and I believe He is always with me even in difficult times. Only He has the capability of blessing who do positive things and curse/punish those who do not obey His commands. So, stay positive and never harm others with your actions.
This way, you will find yourself in places you never even dreamt of. You will succeed in whatever you do. Remember, what your mind can conceive, you can achieve it. Stay determined, focused, hardworking and positive. You will never regret in life.
I like to see you succeed in life as you inspire and awaken those around you. Sharing this post is a way of inspiring our beloved brothers and sisters, for a better tomorrow. Also, your comments and/or queries are warmly welcomed.
Thank you and May God bless you as you apply this in your lives.
If you find this post helpful, leave a comment below and be sure to share with others.
Keep tuned on ‘Best Life Quotes & Lessons’ for more and more relevant guides.