If you are like most accountants and professional people you probably spend a lot of time at work. In many ways it goes with the territory of being a professional. As you progress in your career the demands on you tend to increase.
You are at the start of a new year. You may well have had some time off over the holidays. It’s now time to get back to work and all the challenges that this brings.
So how will you start off 2014? Will it just be a case of just picking up from where you were in 2013 or will you consider what you want to achieve in your career?
The truth is the vast majority will just get on with what they have to do. The minority will take a bit if time to take stock and determine what they want to achieve from their career in 2014.
Part of the reason is that it takes a bit of work on your part. On the other hand it can be a very quick process. All you really need is about 30 to 60 minutes to do a bit of thinking. Once you have done this you can set a few specific intentions of what you want to achieve.
I deliberately say a few intentions of what you want to achieve. The reason for this is that it is all too tempting to go for a long list, find that you are making little progress and then give up. In fact some suggest that 20-25% of people will give up within the first month.
So what might you consider when determining what you want to achieve in your career in 2014? 
Experience
Maybe there is a specific area of experience that you want to get in 2014.
Skills
This could be a skill that you want to acquire or one that you want to improve.
Promotion
Perhaps you are ready to move to the next grade or level in your organisation or in another organisation.
Pay Rise
Maybe you feel that what you are doing is not being fairly rewarded.
Leadership or Management
It could be that you want to take on a project, go on a secondment or even cover for maternity or other leave because you are lacking leadership or management experience.
Contribution
It might be that you are cruising at the moment and want to make a really significant contribution to business success in 2014.
Personal Growth
You might be someone who has allowed their own development and personal growth to fall by the wayside because of work pressures and are ready to do something about it.
The Bottom Line: While career success does not come with a guarantee, setting some intentions will ensure that you continue to move forward in your career.
Duncan Brodie helps accountants in industry; commerce and the public sector achieve more career success. He invites you to sign up for his free report The 7 Biggest Barriers To A Successful Career In Accountancy
