Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some really smart people – some really dumb ones too, but that’s another post. For years I tried to emulate their sayings, ideas and swagger until I woke up one day and realized the best thing I could do for myself is just be me.

One thing that has amazed me about too many of these “smart” people is how little focus they placed on planning their careers. When I would ask, “What do you want to do?,” many of them couldn’t give me a clear answer. But, if I asked about the intricate planning they put into their upcoming vacations, they would respond with all of the detail they could emit and great glee.

Why is it that so many people want a great career, but won’t put forth the effort that’s required to get it? Would these same people ever plant a seed into the ground and expect it to produce a massive harvest without cultivating that seed?

In 1979, Harvard University surveyed their MBA graduates and asked how many of them had clear, written goals for their career. Eighty-four percent had no specific goals, 13 percent had unwritten goals. Only three percent had clear, written goals and plans. Ten years later, they surveyed this same group and discovered that the same three percent who had clear, written goals and plans in 1979 were earning 10 times more than the other 97 percent combined! The three percent used their goals to keep them focused and hold them accountable to help them ensure they achieved their goals – it worked!

So, the next time you start planning for a vacation, stop and ask yourself, “When was the last time I focused on planning my career?”

Until next time….