Stage 1 Success Stories

An Example of a Strategic Career Plan

Here's a great example of a successful career-plan document:

I am a general operations manager/executive in a highly specialized industry. I bring the qualities of organization, focus, and even temper to a dynamic environment.

I hold an MBA and possess the self-confidence of a successful businessman. I am an able manager, with a background in competitive sports which lends itself very well to today's concept of the workplace "team."

I have risen to the top of my profession, and it shows in my sense of independence. I am highly flexible, which is good, but that flexibility doesn't extend itself to working in an "inflexible" environment.

Give me a position where I have authority, responsibility and independence and I will "get things done." I will work long hours and will be a loyal and steadfast employee.

I am not good at jobs that require a lot of political maneuvering. I probably would not be happy in a sales position, especially if it required me to "BS." I am not opposed to a pay scale tied to concrete results (variable compensation) but I do not enjoy risk for risk's sake, nor socializing beyond a normal day's interaction with people.

I can handle number-crunching, but it holds no real joy for me. I am leery of a "9 to 5" job, doing the same thing over and over—a groundless worry in today's economy and at the level of authority I would occupy.

I am an excellent communicator and writer. I will come off well in job interviews, especially once some answers can be crafted to anticipated questions (see "Challenges.")

• I would like to increase my income from my current level.
• I function best when I feel I am growing and advancing, both professionally and within a company. I would only be interested in a job where advancement was not possible if it were part of a strategic job-jumping framework. However, empty titles hold little appeal to me. I am only interested in personal and financial growth, not a "promotion" to a "Sr. VP" slot.
• I am conscious of the link between my efforts and my success, and want a job where there is concrete evidence of this. I would be very demoralized if I got paid the same whether I worked hard or not.
• I would like to make a change happen sooner rather than later.

My sole barrier to entry in any upper-level management position can be summed up in one word: golf. My very first description of my career had the word "golf" in nearly every sentence, and my first attempt at a broadcast resume fairly screams golf.

I must get in the habit of recasting myself in my own mind and learn ways to present my qualifications so that they speak to general business applications.

Got a question for Gordon? Ask it here.

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