markSaunders
Programmer
As part of the Teaching Company Scheme I am employed under I am contractually (UUUruuurgh) obliged to prepare a five year vision of where i want to be heading in terms of career etc. further to this i (had to) prepare a 2 year detail plan of how to set off in that direction.<br><br>i include courses/seminars etc and list out all the resources (time/financial) that would be required to fulfill the plan.<br><br>if this is prepared *with* the company and benefits for both parties demonstrated then you should get the backing of your company to fulfil, at least, the shorter-term plan (which by definition is NOT suboptimal to your longer-term aims).<br><br>every 6 months i review the plan with my supervisor and assess if new things need adding (if so how can i/the company achieve them), remove fulfilled short-term plans etc. i find this method has now helped to give me real focus in everything i do - particularly in choosing new courses/things to learn and what areas to read around etc.<br><br>with so much information out there it helps to be sure that you know what it is you want and more importantly (for me at least) - WHY it is important to ME!<br><br>mark