Personal goals
To ensure the social, financial, and emotional well-being of my family
This is the main objective that I want to attain. Admittedly, there can be some things that can become obstacles, in particular, the possible conflict between my family and professional life, increasing workload, or lack of time. Overall, there are several approaches that can resolve these problems. First of all, I should first try to understand other people and then seek to be understood (Cover, 1990, p. 221). This mindset will enable me many conflicts with family members and colleagues. Secondly, I should find ways of prioritizing my daily and weekly activities. Skillful planning will enable me to reconcile family and professional life.
To establish my own business
Although I do enjoy working in my current organization, in the future, I want to become an independent entrepreneur. I should be aware of such obstacles as increasing competition, lack of time, or failure to gain the support of other people. In part, a person can overcome these barriers by changing one’s attitudes toward them. They should be regarded as challenges that require the strength of character, rather than insurmountable obstacles. A positive outlook is a necessary condition for success. Moreover, proper planning, willingness to cooperate with others, and the ability to put oneself in the position of other people will help me surmount possible obstacles and eventually establish my own business.
To make sure that my children achieve success in their lives
This goal is closely tied with the first objective. I want my children to have an excellent education, establish their families, and fulfill their talents. The major challenge for me will be the necessity to reconcile the needs of my family, especially children with my career. My task will be to establish priorities and draw a distinct line between my professional and family life. Moreover, I will need to develop a schedule for my daily activities and make sure that the needs of my children are not overlooked.
Professional goals
To achieve success in my professional career
There may be some barriers that can prevent me from achieving these objectives. For instance, I can mention workplace conflicts, stress, or lack of confidence. To some extent, these obstacles are related to my character traits. Stephen Covey’s book offers several strategies for coping with such problems. One of them is thinking win-win which means a person has to search for solutions that benefit both sides (Covey, 1990, p. 145). This approach will help to avoid potential conflicts. Additionally, by being proactive and interested in the opinions of other people, I will be able to pursue my career.
To become a good leader who helps the organization achieve success and assist other people in fulfilling their talents
I do understand that I will have to cope with several challenges such as competition for the position of leadership, the pressure that is often put on leaders, and lack of support from colleagues. These challenges can be resolved by using different methods. A person, who wants to be a leader, should try to understand other people, in particular, their needs, motives, intentions, and priorities. This knowledge will enable me to better motivate other people and gain their support.
Educational goals
To obtain a Bachelor’s degree and later apply for Master’s and Ph.D. degrees
Overall, I intend to continue my formal education because this is a great opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills. They will allow me to become a good professional. I understand that there can be several challenges that may prevent me from reaching this objective, for example, work overload or responsibilities to my family. Yet, it seems to me there is a way of reconciling these things. As it was argued by Stephen Covey, a person should “put first things first” (1990, p. 65). In other words, planning and setting priorities for activities can help me find the time for family life, academic studies, and career.
To become a person, who continuously acquires new skills and knowledge. In other words, life-long learning is one of my objectives
There are several obstacles that may prevent me from achieving it. Very often people become too involved with daily chores and job routines that often prevent them from continuing their learning, especially after graduating from colleges or universities. I will adopt several strategies that can help me overcome potential obstacles. For instance, Stephen Corey suggests that schedules can be useful tools for prioritizing different activities, including learning (Covey, 1990, p. 161). Secondly, I will try to connect my learning to my professional activities. This strategy will make education more productive and fulfilling.
To achieve a very high level of expertise in my area of study so that I could act as a real leader whose authority lies in knowledge, experience, and expertise
My current educations will help me to attain this goal. However, in the course of my career, I will have to face situations that may not be directly related to my studies. This is why it is necessary to read as much as possible about every field that is potentially relevant to my future profession. Moreover, continuous education even after graduation will help me to gain the necessary expertise in my profession.
Reference List
Covey, S. (1990). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New York: Free Press.