Step by Step

by Jules Reubin
(UK)

Sometimes it is helpful to see those kids who turn up for auditions on American Idol and similar talent shows and when asked what they want reply: "I wanna be a star". As though there's no work involved there; as though sheer slog isn't what's required. I think it's absolutely fine to aim high, as these kids do, but you still need to be realistic when setting your personal goals and deadlines by which those goals will be achieved.

So, learning from the excruciating experience of seeing those youngsters who are doomed to failure and heartbreak (i.e. in terms of reaching their goals as they've set them and expressed them, not in absolute terms), I take care to do the following:-

1. Be realistic. What is realisable? What are your gifts? What can you actually hope to achieve e.g. in terms of qualification scores (there's no point aiming to be a brain surgeon if you can't pass basic math).

2. Once you've carried out a realistic assessment of your own potential and (importantly) motivation, you need to set a timetable, complete with the steps along the way - the milestones if you like - to achieving your career goal.

3. Be immediate. These shouldn't be 'wishing for the stars' sort of steps; they should be realisable and measurable and, most of all, reasonably near in time to where you are now. Otherwise, how will you tick off the achievements along the way and boost your self-confidence.

So, in conclusion, from my personal experience, having a genuine idea of what you want, what - realistically - you can achieve is crucial. Without that, you'll be like one of those misled wannabe stars on American Idol, set for a fall.