By Ross Macpherson, President, Career Quest

Well, 2005 is here and we’re all psyched up for the New Year. Chances are, even if you’re not the type of person to write out a list of formal resolutions, you at least have some thoughts running around your head about how you can make this year better than the last. Here’s the problem, stats show that most people drop their resolutions by February, and forget about them entirely by spring.

Let’s commit to making this year different, at least with respect to our careers. Here’s my challenge to you: put together a career advancement plan for yourself. Call it “THE 2004 [YOUR NAME] CAREER ADVANCEMENT PROJECT.” Below is a list of some career goals to set for yourself as part of your project. Use them all, select only a few, or add some of your own. The point is to do it, stick to it, and make 2004 the year that your career takes a quantum leap forward!

1. Take responsibility
In order for this to work, you have to realize and accept that your career is YOUR responsibility – no one e lse’s. YOU are responsible for your success, YOU are responsible for your failure. There’s no blaming your boss, your colleagues, your spouse, or anyone else. Yes, there will be setbacks and there will be things beyond your control, but it’s up to YOU to decide how you are going to respond to them.

2. Look forward, not backward
Last year was last year, so don’t get bogged down in what was. 2004 is a new year, a fresh start, and a clean slate. Commit to looking forward and setting your sights on what the year 2004 will bring for you.

3. Assess your current career situation
Take an honest look and evaluate where you are right now, what you like, and what you’d like to see changed. Make it a point to get some honest feedback on your job performance to date – your strengths AND your weaknesses. You don’t want to base your future decisions on any misconceptions, so get a clear and realistic view of your current career position.

4. Assess where you’d like to be
Develop a vision statement for your career, at least for this year. Perhaps it’s a next step up, or a completely different move. If you don’t think you can make it all the way this year, how far do you think you can make it in the next 12 months? Set yourself a goal, determine a deadline, develop a strategy, and set the wheels in motion.

5. Update your skills
Take a look at your goal in #4. What do you need to get there? Would new training or accreditation help? How about more management or leadership experience? Whatever you think you need, do it. Sign up for it now and commit to improving the most critical skills in your career toolkit this year. And don’t get stuck in the idea that it has to be a course – think outside the box and see if there are opportunities to develop these skills on the job – set up a job sharing arrangement, volunteer for new projects, whatever.

Warning: Don’t fall into the trap of using new courses and education as a means of delaying or avoiding real career action. Updating your skills is only one step in the process–don’t make it the only step at the expense of the other key steps.

6. Don’t let setbacks set you back
Be prepared for setbacks, frustrations, and challenges — chances are you’ll run into a few. The key is not to let them overwhelm you. Ask yourself, “OK, so what can I do about this?” If you need to change your approach, do so. The key is to adapt to challenges, not to get side railed by them.

7. Work your career each week
If you’ve developed a good plan – one with measurable goals, specific deadlines, and accountability – then you can break it down into smaller chunks and make a point of dedicating some time to it every week. If you’re currently unemployed, you’ll want to commit considerable time to it each day – if you have a job right now, try to schedule at least 15 minutes every week. You may even want to team up with someone (KEY: a motivated and positive someone) and hold each other accountable. The point is to be persistent!

8. Commit to marketing yourself more
Professionals who have to market themselves — actors, public speakers, etc. — often employ publicists to get their names and faces in front of the right people. Be your own personal publicist. Volunteer for more public speaking opportunities; offer to represent your area in key meetings; volunteer for new projects, etc. Make yourself visible!

9. Update your marketing material
I see this all the time. People call me and ask if they can have a resume updated by the end of the day because “the opportunity of a lifetime” has just come up and they need to have a current resume ASAP. Don’t get caught. Commit to ensuring that your resume is up-to-date, your references are current, the resume you have posted online or with a recruiter is accurate, etc.

10. Increase your current value
Your best career move may not lie with your next job, but may in fact result from a major shift in how you do your current job. How can you increase your performance and value in your current role? Setting and reaching goals for improving your current contributions can go a long way to improving your visibility, marketability, and future opportunities.