Knowing what you want and WHY you want it Analysing Pros and Cons - Helps in decision making Finding a Mentor or a Coach with whom you can have candid conversation Putting yourself out there - When you share with the universe on what you want, opportunities find their way Dropping FOMO - Every choice comes with some gains and pains Be part of community of authentic people

I think identifying self values really takes long time sometimes. May be sometimes we go in totally wrong directions by looking at others' values. I would say observing self peace may help to find the right value. Means, we should evaluate our daily/monthly routines to find out which type of works we really enjoyed. May be our values lie there.

One of the best ways to identify our values is to think about times when you have felt wonderful and have loved what you were doing. It is likely that your core values were in play. Then think about times when you felt miserable, upset or angry. It is likely that your core values were being trampled on. Questionnaires, journaling, feedback and cards can be helpful tools as well but none provide the same level of visceral insight.

I would say a great way to find the opportunities is through reach out to the people who are really working in the field and ask for an informational interview. In person meetings are the best but if not may a virtual meet-up will at least serve.

Good to remember that a career path is a continuum rather than a one time decision. The next job might not be a great opportunity in isolation but it might be a stepping stone to the next opportunity which could be exactly what you are looking for. An example might be taking a job that is not exactly what you want in an organization that you would love to work for so that you can then focus on an internal career path.

This might sound controversial but I think SMART goals and milestones are over-rated in this space (and generally). They are based on what you know and your view of what will happen in the future. This might be possible in a static or steady state environment where little changes over time but in an increasingly dynamic and unpredictable world it is of less value. Keeping your ambition and intention top of mind, gravitating to your values and being open and ready for opportunities is likely to be more fruitful.

I really believe in accidental careers/unexpected careers, which can really change our lives. This requires an open mind. When opportunities arise which are completely different from our tried and tested path, asking the question "Why not?" can really open new doors. I also like to ask myself from time to time, if my career is making me happy and satisfied and really creating some cool memories that I will look back on and smile. The part which is linked to purpose is also very important (so, we do need to identify our purpose, which may take some time) and checking whether we are really aligned with our purpose is an important one while pursuing career success. If it is not aligned, it is time to think about changing your career path.

Nobody has the same journey in life or career!!! Never look 👀 at anyone else but always have role models instead 👊🏽 There will be times when your values will be questioned, you will need to balance what you want to do, with what you need to do ⚖️ There are times when you need break 🆓 and go out of your comfort zone ⚠️ Being at a company for 20 years and not growing 🪴, developing 🖥️, innovating 🍿 or changing with the times ⌚️ is not acceptable to leaders and should not be acceptable to you 🫵🏽 Plan your career paths and adapt them with the challenges life throws at you!!!

Plan-do-check-act model can really help to adjust the career path. In the beginning of the career, we really should be micromanaging ourselves before someone else micromanages us. That's the only way we can rectify ourselves and find a better path to navigate towards the right career path.

I agree with @Mukta Arya about wiggly career paths and also love the question "Why not?" for the reason stated in the question above about SMART goals. Every single day we are writing our life history, personally and professionally. This year, 5% of our Chapter 2024 is already written and at midnight on 31st December 2024 our Chapter will be written, set in stone and unable to be edited. What story do you want to write for your family, friends, colleagues, peers and connections to remember you by? Also good to remember that YOU hold the pen.

Celebrating achievements is a very important part of enjoying your career journey. They can act as a catalyst to keep one motivated to grow further personally and professionally. One of the thing that works for me is writing down my small and big achievements in my notebook (electronic), whether it is visiting a new place, completing a project, attending a hobby class, learning a new song on my keyboard. When things are written down, they give much more satisfaction and happiness. Another way is to treat myself is to a spa treatment or buying a pair of earrings or shoes. It gives me great happiness when I link them as celebration of my achievements -big or small. These self-rewards can be a great motivator to move forward.

To align your career with your values, start by clarifying your core principles. Identify industries or roles that resonate with these values. Seek companies with similar ethical standards. Tailor your resume to highlight relevant experiences reflecting those values. Network with professionals in your desired field. Stay informed about industry trends and opportunities. Continuously refine your skills to match the demands of your chosen path. Embrace challenges and demonstrate resilience. Finally, maintain a proactive mindset, regularly reassessing your alignment with values and adjusting your career path accordingly.

When you reach a major milestone, complete a challenging project, or learn a new skill, an interesting way to celebrate your achievements is to consider how this outcome came about, the role you played in this, the role other people played and the external factors that played a part. It might surprise you how often your role was more indirect than direct ie an enabler/contributor rather than 'making something happen'.