What's the fastest way to take control of your career? How can you steer yourself to destinations of your choice? Consider using the same type of strategic planning steps businesses use to position yourself competitively in your field.

Here are five steps to take to treat your career as a business and yourself as a competitive product:

1. Define yourself as a competitive product. Identify those things that you do better than other people and seek to understand the perception others have of you. Review your assets and liabilities, determine your differentiators, and obtain customer feedback. Challenge yourself by facing any weaknesses, and commit yourself to systematic improvement and upgrades.

2. Identify and evaluate your competition. Strive to be your best by understanding not only yourself, but also your competitors. Competition is a fact of life; embrace the fact that you must compete for what you truly want. When you view what you can learn from your competition positively, you learn how to compete more wisely.

3. Determine your goals and create a strategic plan. Your goals reflect what you want to improve about yourself.  A clear strategic plan is like a roadmap—it helps ensure you achieve your aspirations efficiently and quickly. As you pursue defined aspirations, they will undoubtedly lead you to a greater sense of commitment and motivation.

4. Implement your strategic plan and check your progress. An effective personal strategic plan requires that you review it periodically to ensure it is helping you to progress toward your goals.  If not, then make corrections to an unsuccessful plan straight away.  Change course immediately. Do not procrastinate!

5. Stay focused and be sure to celebrate and reward achievements. Essential elements to achieving your career aspirations are: tenacity, courage and commitment. You must be prepared to overcome obstacles, but remember to focus on the positive along the way. Be sure to give yourself encouragement and rewards to motivate yourself as you continue to work toward your goals.

It's possible to put yourself in the driver's seat and steer your career to destinations you choose.  Never doubt that your dreams are worthy of your best efforts. Take control and be proactive by following these five tips. Your dreams take hard work and you're worth the investment. You can manage your career, your way!

For 10 essential steps to creating Your Personal Strategic Plan, purchase Your Career, Your Way!

career woman