Understanding the type of career you want to pursue isn’t always that simple, and the journey is different for everyone depending on what their goals are. Whether you are just embarking on your career or you have been at it for certain years, with a firm strategy, one can always reach their maximum potential in their respective field. Doreen Kakuru, a certified accountant, says it’s important to analyse certain areas both individually and career wise for one to be able to recognise available opportunities for growth. She recommends that it’s important for one to first understand what they want and where they want to be. “This will help you in taking the right steps. Don’t pursue a certain path because you think you should, go after something that you love and are connected with. This is the ultimate way of passionately pursuing a career and its growth,” she says. She adds that a number of people fail to achieve their career goals because they are working towards other people’s expectations. She, however, says it’s only important for anyone to make their journey personal, going after only the goals they want. Kakuru also says people shouldn’t fear changing careers along the way. “If the career you chose in the start isn’t giving you what you hoped for, you can switch to something else. Trying out different roles and positions can help you discover what you really want and how best you can go about it,” she says. For Frank Intare, an entrepreneur, training is an important step for those who want growth in their careers and in other areas of their lives, explaining that a coach can help you identify your strengths, personal and professional goals; areas that are vital in terms of career growth. He, however, highly recommends creating a career plan first, identifying this as the most important aspect when it comes to unlocking one’s career potential. “Set targets for yourself depending on what you envision for yourself, but also, know and get the skills you need to get to where you want to be,” he adds. Embracing failure is another aspect, Intare points out, explaining that achieving career goals takes effort and determination. “To be great at something, you have to fail. This is one of the unavoidable ways to success. To be able to learn from your failures, however, you need to self-reflect and be honest with your strengths and weaknesses,” Intare explains.
