Defining SuccessStart at the end, not the beginning

This is the vision the Egyptians hadIt wasn't the patch of desert they first started clearing

There are 5 categories of SuccessRankPositionLocationNumber of Years of ServiceSkill set or knowledge achieved

5 Categories BreakdownLet's say you define success as Rank and Position, "I want to be the DIV CMD SGMOr, Rank and Location, "I want to be a 1SG in Sauk CentreHow about, "I want to learn a trade working at Camp Ripley - Diesel/Turbine Mechanic, Payroll Accountant, or Instructor at RTI"

So rather than asking yourself what is the next step in trying to achieve that goal, you need to begin by identifying where it is that you want to end up.

In other words, when you take your uniform off for the last time, what is going to define success for you. What are you going to proud to say to your friends and family when they ask you the question, "what did you get out of serving?"

The Road MapSo rather than looking at the next step, let's define where success is and what it looks like

The "I" Gate at Camp RipleyThis is where success lies. Your goal is to determine what that means to you

Some factors to considerHow much time do you havewhere are you at currently (Rank, # of years remaining, MOS/Position)What do you need to do to get thereWhat are you willing to do to achieve successHow does your family timeline fit inside your goal(s) (e.g. graduating H.S./College, marriage, grand kids, spouse retirement, etc)*IS THIS GOAL REALISTIC*

Establishing your benchmarksIn order to succeed, you need to next identify (a) the steps you need to take to get there, (b) about how long it should take you to reach each benchmark, and (c) about how long you should be staying in each area The map of Camp Ripley provides an excellent visual marker because it has natural built in phase line

1-5 Years6-15 Years15-20 Years

The path to get thereOnce you have defined success and figured out your timeline now you must layout the path you want to take to get you there.

Starting at your goal, identify 2-3 positions that will absolutely attain that goal for you.

From there, identify those positions that feed each one of those positions.

Lastly, identify the positions you need in order to make your way there

SOUND SIMPLE ENOUGH?

Some Other Things to ConsiderYour career cannot and should not look like a ladder but more like a cargo net. With a ladder there is only one way up, with a cargo net you can move in all different directions to make the best path for you.Watch out for DANGER ZONES!Who is your competition

SO WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

The Next StepsIdentify all of the positions you need to lay out your timeline - this may take some time and some assistancePut it down on paper!!! Actually do the work to lay this outStart/Complete your Multi-Source Assessment and Feedback (MSAF) 360 AssessmentContact your Mentor Coordinator - he/she will have some additional items to fill out and return.

Getting Assigned a MentorOnce these items have been returned, your Mentor Coordinator will sort through the list of trained mentors and find one that can help you reach the next step or phase in your journey

What your Mentor will help you withThe mentor you are assigned is there to help guide you and offer advice on where to go from where you are currently at.

They are not there to do the work for you, only to offer advice, give recommendations, provide tools and resources, and give you some lessons they have learned along the way.