Hope is Not a Plan:

Recognizing Your Value

and Career Potential

Keith Micoli, PhD

9th Kentucky Innovation

& Entrepreneurships Conference

Lexington, KY

August 29, 2013

“Believe and

act as if it were

impossible to

fail.”

Charles F. Kettering

Rather than…

When it is obvious that the

goals cannot be reached, don’t

adjust the goals, adjust the

action steps.

-Confucius

Consider…

Success will never be a big step

in the future, success is a small

step taken just now.

-Jonatan Mårtensson

Individual Career Planning

1. Self-analysis

2. Short-term goals (1-3 years)

3. Long-term goals (5-10 years)

4. Very long-term aspirations (20 years)

5. Annual Work Plan (IDP)

6. Monthly review

Career Planning Cycle

Self-

analysis

Short-term Goals

Long-term Goals

Aspirations

Annual Work Plan

Periodic

Review/Reality

Check

“He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is

enlightened.”

-Lao Tzu

Self-Analysis

Success begins with

introspection

• What drives you?

• What are your

interests?

• What are your values?

What Drives You?

"When you follow your bliss...

doors will open where you

would not have thought there

would be doors,

and where there wouldn't be

a door for anyone else. "

— Joseph Campbell

Your Interests

Campbell Interests and Skills Survey www.pearsonassessments.com/tests/ciss.htm

Strong Interest Inventory https://www.cpp.com/products/strong/index.aspx

Your Values

• Values • Working conditions

• Workplace values

• Workplace rewards

• Personal/Family considerations

When your values are clear

to you, making decisions

becomes easier. -Roy E. Disney

Workplace Values

____ Independence/ Adventure/risk-taking- activities with high risk/reward

____Ethical standards

____Expertise/Competence

____Utilize Skills- making the most of the skills you have at your job

____Creativity/Problem-solving

____Precision work- requires extreme attention to detail, with little margin for error

____Intellectual challenge- requires constant learning and thought to be effective

____Social contribution- work that focuses on improving society

____Personal fulfillment- work that gives a sense of personal satisfaction, with or without

external recognition or reward

Personal Values

____ Regular hours- working a set number of hours per week on a set schedule

____ Flexible hours- allows you to choose the time and days you work, so long as the

project is completed

____ High compensation/benefits

____ Easy commute/Work at home option

____ Diversity in the workplace

____ Leisure opportunities- good vacation benefits, balance between work and home is

expected and valued

____ Location- the job fits my desire to live in a certain region, city, or climate

____ Family-friendly- the workplace values people with families, and makes allowances

that do not negatively affect their evaluations

Workplace Environment

____ Relaxed atmosphere/ competitive atmosphere

____ Energetic work/slower pace

____ Large company/ small company

____ Private office/ shared working area

____ Caring co-workers

____ Respectful Supervisor- a boss who understands and respects your needs

____ Competitive atmosphere

____ Variety/Uniform work assignments

____ Travel

____ Working alone/ Teamwork

List Your Critical Values

•Social Contribution

•Variety

•Independence

•Competitive Atmosphere

Your Skills • Transferable Skills

• External Perspective

-Ask what sets you apart from others

If your only tool

is a hammer,

everything looks

like a nail.

-Abraham Maslow

Transferrable Skills

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www.sciphd.com

Short-term goals (current job goals)

1-3 years from now

• Envision yourself at completion of this job

• Accomplishments

• Skills learned

• Competencies acquired

• What will your relationship be with your

current supervisor?

• What will you need from them to be

successful?

Never mistake activity for

achievement.

John Wooden

Individual Development Plan

• What are the 2-3 most important things you

need to accomplish in the next year?

• Prioritize- importance to YOUR career

• Collaborate- who can help you?

• Responsibility- focus on what you control

and make no excuses

• Use myidp.sciencecareers.org to create a

plan

If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have

time to do it over? -John Wooden

“A Year From Now, You

May Wish You Had

Started Today”

-Karen Lamb