The First Step

It’s now the beginning of November. You might be asking yourself “where did this semester go?” Before you know it you’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving, preparing for finals, and then off to enjoy winter break before you start it all over again. Or maybe you’re graduating in December, and getting ready to jump into the real world. Either way, the future is right around the corner.

Which makes now the perfect time to prepare for that future. Setting goals can not only help you clarify what exactly you want to accomplish, it can help you see the steps you need to take in order to get to that desired result. The word “goal” can scare people sometimes; it makes them think of all the hard work that lies ahead and the possibility of failure. Many times people can be scared to commit to something in the case that they may not be able to accomplish it.

However, goal-setting and future-planning go hand in hand, and they don’t have to be threatening. If you know the desired end result, it makes it easier to take the baby steps that are needed to get there. Whether you choose to share that goal with others or keep it to yourself (sharing it is recommended, but chose your confidants wisely), that goal can keep you in line. It’s like those commercials for the financial planning firm, where the consultant draws the green line for the customer to follow; goals create the boundaries for the paths that people take into their future.

At this point in the semester, when Thanksgiving is approaching and finals are still a month off, think about your future. It doesn’t have to be years from now, it could be a few weeks or months. Identify something that you know you want to do, realistic or not. You can always name something that is a “pie in the sky” type of goal, and endeavor to achieve it (or get as close as possible). Before next week, try to take one step in the direction of a future goal. It could be as simple as opening a resume template and typing your name, or as involved as visiting Career Services to attend a workshop on how to amaze in a job interview. Just do something. To use an old aphorism, it’s better than nothing.

Everybody, whether they are an artist, an entrepreneur, a lawyer, or a teacher, sets goals for themselves. Because everybody is thinking about their future, and what they would like to do. Whether it’s called a “goal” or not, that type of foresight and planning can only benefit you. This consideration is two-fold however, because now is important too. Use introspection and a forward-focus to make now a useful time; your future depends on it.

Questions, comments, or suggestions for a future blog post? Let me know:
Sara.Christenson@asu.edu
480/884-1675