Welcome to Academic Strategies for the Business Professional Unit 7 Seminar Robert Sullivan.

Welcome toWelcome to

Academic Strategies for the Business Professional

Unit 7 Seminar

Robert Sullivan

AgendaAgenda

• Unit 6 Summary• Unit 7 Prelude• Seminar Case History• Goals & Planning• Getting to Where You Want to Go• 12 Goal Setting Steps• Networking• Questions

Unit Six SummaryUnit Six Summary

• As a recap, In Unit Six you Explored tips and strategies for improving reading comprehension and note taking strategies, read material using the scan, read, interpreted methods and explored two areas of the LASSI modules to learn personal improvement strategies.

• There was a Discussion Board worth 50pts and an

Assignment (Taking notes on LASSI Modules) worth 60pts associated with this unit.

Unit Seven PreludeUnit Seven Prelude

• In Unit Seven you will understand the importance of goal-setting and planning, setting goals for completing the interview portion of the Unit 8 project, and networking.

• There is a Discussion Board worth 50pts associated with this unit.

• IMPORTANT: IMPORTANT: The Interview with a Professional will be due in Unit 8. Again, you should be planning and making this one of your short-term goals in order to be successful. Note that there is no Project due the week of Unit Seven so that you will have the time to plan and complete the interview before Unit 8.

Seminar Case HistorySeminar Case HistoryDid anyone have a chance to view/read the

Seminar Case History for Unit Seven?

Seminar Case HistorySeminar Case HistoryDid anyone have a chance to view/read the Seminar Case History

for Unit Seven?

Basically the Case History stated, Lara is a stay-at-home, married mother of two small children. The past few years have been financially difficult for the family, so Lara has decided to go back to school to get a good paying job and help support her family. She would like a career that allows her to stay at home with her children as much as possible. Her goals right now are to get in and out of college quickly and start earning money as soon as possible.

Lara is into arts and crafts and has always been interested in

starting her own business to sell them. Although she has no prior experience or knowledge about owning a business, she frequents craft shops and fairs and has some knowledge of what other people sell. She has decided to go back to school to become an entrepreneur.

Seminar Case HistorySeminar Case History

Did Lara identify both her long-term and her short-term goals, and did she plan appropriate steps to achieve them?

Seminar Case HistorySeminar Case History

Did Lara identify both her long-term and her short-term goals, and did she plan appropriate steps to achieve them?

How would talking to a shop owner or other entrepreneur help Lara formulate her own goals?

Goals & PlanningGoals & Planning

In order to set realistic goals for yourself, you must first have a clear understanding of what is important to you!


• Having a clear direction for your future and a picture of what you plan to do is extremely important for maintaining a positive attitude.

• Having clear goals is a key to creating and maintaining a positive mindset even when “things get tough.”

• Also, you will also begin planning ahead for your project assignment by setting up an interview with a professional in your chosen field.


In order for goals to be useful, they need to have the following qualities:

• The goals that you set for yourself must be

based on your values and beliefs.

• No one else can choose goals for you. Others can make suggestions, but you must "own" your goals for them to be useful.

• You must decide what you want to achieve.


Studies have shown that people who set goals for themselves are more likely to:

• Suffer less stress and anxiety

• Concentrate and remember better

• Demonstrate greater self-confidence

• Perform better and achieve more

• Be happier and more satisfied


The length of time you have to achieve your goals is important in determining how you are able to approach them.


Short-term goals are generally those which are attainable within a short time (days, weeks, or months). You need to plan how to attain these goals, but can see the results soon.


Short-term goals are generally those which are attainable within a short time (days, weeks, or months). You need to plan how to attain these goals, but can see the results soon.

Have any of your set Short-term goals?


Long-term goals are those which may take years to complete.

To accomplish these, you need to think and plan well ahead. Your degree program is likely to fit in between those time frames. Although you are working on your degree now, you will be in school for several terms to learn the things you need for your career. Your Kaplan University degree is an important stepping stone towards your long-term goals.


Long-term goals are those which may take years to complete.

To accomplish these, you need to think and plan well ahead. Your degree program is likely to fit in between those time frames. Although you are working on your degree now, you will be in school for several terms to learn the things you need for your career. Your Kaplan University degree is an important stepping stone towards your long-term goals.

Have any of your set Long-term goals?


Here are some guidelines to follow:Being Realistic: Performance vs. Outcome There are two basic kinds of goals, performance and

outcome. Outcome goals are those which concentrate on the end result: did you get the job, did you invent something new, did you complete the task?


Here are some guidelines to follow:Being Realistic: Performance vs. Outcome • Performance goals, on the other hand, concentrate on the path

leading you to the result.• Even if you didn’t get the job, you put your resume together and

practiced interviewing.• Even if you didn’t invent something new, you discovered small

things that could be put to use later.• Even if you didn’t complete the task, some of the steps you took

accomplished something of value. • Performance goals are much more realistic than Outcome goals

and provide you with more control.

Getting to Where You Want to GoGetting to Where You Want to Go

• How can you get to where you want to go without knowing the destination or how to get there?

• That would be like getting into your car and just driving without a purpose. If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else.


Your Course Reading States: In order to learn, grow, and change, you need to set

goals for yourself. It is very important that your goals are realistic enough for you to achieve them.

Every goal you plan, whether short, intermediate, or long-term, should be S.M.A.R.T.:• Specific• Measurable• Action-oriented• Realistic• Timed


[S] Specific. What do you really want to accomplish?

• Your goal needs to be specific enough to be able to determine what actions are required to achieve the desired result.


[M] Measurable. How will you know you have reached your goal – what marker or milestone will identify success?

• Remember that Performance goals will provide better control than Outcome goals, so it’s best to measure the steps along the route to your destination.


[A] Action-oriented. What exactly will you do (what verbs can you use?!) to reach your goal?

• You will need to take a pro-active stance. Some sources say “A” stands for “Aggressive,” or working with purpose and diligence towards your goal.


[R] Realistic. A goal must be achievable.

• Have you researched enough to know it’s possible?

• Do you know someone else who has accomplished this goal?

• Goals set too high may be discouraging, but setting the bar too low will not provide motivation.


[T] Timed. Each goal must have some sort of deadline.

• Some flexibility may be necessary, but deadlines help keep us motivated and focused towards completing our goals.


[T] Timed. Each goal must have some sort of deadline.

• Some flexibility may be necessary, but deadlines help keep us motivated and focused towards completing our goals.

Any questions at this point?

12 Goal Setting Steps 12 Goal Setting Steps

Completing the following steps will help you set goals effectively so you can achieve positive results.

1. Decide what you want to accomplish. The goal should be very specific. If you want to move into a different job, what are the characteristics of that job?


2. Determine a deadline for accomplishment. A goal must have a deadline. If you do not have a date on it, the goal is only a wish or a dream.


3. Determine that the goal is believable to you. You must feel that the goal can be realized. If you believe it is impossible to achieve, you will never take the action necessary to make the goal a reality.


4. Where are you now? Take a current inventory. You will never know how far you have to go if you don’t know where you already are.


5. What obstacles do you need to overcome? Is there something that may make it difficult to achieve your goal? Be aware of the obstacle so you can make plans to overcome it.


6. What knowledge will you need to acquire? Will you need to earn a professional designation or take certain courses? Will you need to research new markets?


7. What organizations and groups should you associate with? Are there certain groups of people that can make it easier for you to accomplish your goal? How can you become affiliated with them?


8. What are the benefits to you? Write down as many benefits as possible. The more benefits you can come up with, the more likely you will be to stick to the goal until it is achieved.


9. Develop an action plan. Determine the specific steps that will be necessary to achieve the goal. Start at the accomplishment of the goal and work backwards.


10. Visualize yourself accomplishing the goal. See yourself in clear detail as if you have already achieved the goal. Do this over and over again until it becomes part of your subconscious mind.


11. Take daily action towards the goal. Dreams and goals require action. The best goal in the world will never materialize unless consistent action is taken.


12. Resolve to never quit. Decide that you will never give up, even when times get tough, until your goal is reached.


Most jobs are found through networking, not online or in newspapers. Yet, it is so much easier to stay home, browse the Web for openings and apply to those openings.

NetworkingNetworking

Job Search Networking Tips:

• Conduct information interviews with your contacts and ask for referrals for additional meetings.

• Follow through with referrals, and always thank contacts in writing (email is fine).

• Create an inventory of your accomplishments, including your educational background and work history, to keep at hand should a chance encounter become a contact.

• Make a list of the assets you will bring as a prospective employee.


Job Search Networking Tips:

• Bring business cards and a pen.

• Write some notes so you'll remember the details on who you have just met on the business cards you collect or in a notebook.

• When networking online, keep track of who you've emailed and where you have posted so you can follow up.

• Finally, if you haven't memorized all your strengths and strong points write them down - you'll need to articulate these in your resumes and cover letters well and emphasize them during interviews.


Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?

Thank you for attending!

Welcome to Academic Strategies for the Business Professional Unit 7 Seminar Robert Sullivan.

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