What are your professional goals?

Chancie · 01-17-2011, 06:43 AM

What have you set out to accomplish?

How will you know when you have been successful?

Kobi · 01-17-2011, 07:15 AM

I knew I was successful the day I walked away from a prolific career.
My health, well-being, and peace of mind was more important.

Chancie · 01-17-2011, 10:39 AM

I am thinking of this thread as a place to share professional goals and successes.

My goals, which I hope to accomplish by the time I turn 50 in May
To earn a CAGS in Math, Science and Learning Technologies

To begin a viable robotics program at the public high school where I teach math

To complete the requirements for my professional license

Linus · 01-17-2011, 10:46 AM

My professional goals:

1. Get my company's highest certification (means doing full paper and defense of that paper)
2. Write at least one technical book.

moxie · 01-17-2011, 10:53 AM

My goals:

To be accepted into National Health Service Corps this fiscal year. I'll be able to work in a Health Professional Shortage Area and be free of my student loans.
Get back into working with the clients I enjoy the most.
Have my own office again (sounds silly but long story)
Always be learning. Once that is gone I will know my passion for my career will be gone and I really don't want that to happen.

citybutch · 01-17-2011, 07:47 PM

Professionally I have many goals... but the one that is on top of my list for this year has to do with Charitable Giving. I have worked long and hard for many years in the Non-Profit world.... and I am finally setting up my first Planned Giving Program for a local Non-Profit where I once served on the Board... My goal is to have accomplished this effort for three different Non-Profits in the San Diego area. I love working with charitably minded people... a LOT... and I love doing work for these types of organizations. To be known as one of the top financial planners for small Non-Profits is a goal of mine... and one that is within reach!

turasultana · 01-17-2011, 07:51 PM

oh gawd, just had an hour long "development" meeting last week. we need to submit goals in another month I believe.

I do think if they'll reimburse the cost, I'll get a digital marketing certificate at NYU. Not sure if they'll cover non degree work and since I already have an MBA I think I'm done the official school stuff.

Laerkin · 01-17-2011, 07:59 PM

Great thread. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone is working on and striving for! I'm always shocked at the huge range of professions and accomplishments.

Personally, I have quite an ambitious list that I'm excited to tackle:

1. Complete my degree (December 2011, baby!) in Business Leadership and Management - hopefully with a 4.0 GPA.

2. Finish the Management Succession Academy that I was selected for at work and move into an upper management position within the next year.

3. Take the GRE and enroll in a Masters program within 2-3 years (hopefully in Communication or Public Policy).

4. Take over the world.

girl_dee · 01-17-2011, 08:03 PM

I hope to help people thru reflexology at a wonderful clinic and keep the household clean and full of healthy meals, taking care of this wonderful leather family as that is the most meaningful thing in my life right now.

Isadora · 01-17-2011, 08:31 PM

Retirement.

dixie · 01-17-2011, 09:16 PM

I am currently one of the managers of a domestic violence shelter. I would like to further my career in this field and perhaps branch out to other similar areas.

Currently enrolled in classes to obtain my degrees in human services and in substance abuse counseling. Will hopefully follow it through to the masters level.

One goal/hope is to maybe one day work in the prison system with battered women who have "fought back" and are incarcerated for doing so.

The other goal/hope would be to continue working with abuse survivors within our community.

Oh, and then retire early on a beach somewhere.

Venus007 · 01-17-2011, 09:35 PM

My goals are the next step in my plan for a master's degree and getting a job teaching that actually pays similarly to what I could make in the health care industry. . .

This year is a busy year . . .
1. Become a certified ICD-10 trainer, scheduled for July
2. Sit for and pass my RHIT, scheduled for June
3. Get a job making beaucoup dough so I can fiance the end of my degrees without student loans, (after 1 and 2)
4. Run ICD-10 training seminars around the US (after 1 and 2)

Blade · 01-17-2011, 09:59 PM

I had professional goals for a very long time. Now after aging and maturing and wasting the best working years of my life for a company that has a "boys club" mentality, I need to rethink the rest of my working life which is only 20 more years and set some new goals.

I met most of my professional goals several years before I had intended to. The one goal I didn't achieve, I realize now was because I am "nonpenile". Being penile is an unspoken requirement to achieve supervisor or management status in my company or even in sales. We have no female bodied people in outside sales.

Sooo I'm kicking myself in the ass for wasting so many years of my life being loyal this company. I'd like to go into something in the medical field but either there is a long waiting list and I don't test well on written test anyway or there are no schools close to my hometown that offer what I'm looking for that probably doesn't have a waiting list. So maybe before I'm 50, I'll have made another plan.

Michi · 01-17-2011, 10:45 PM

I am 42 years old. I had a very bad upbringing because of my gender identity and my parents lack of acceptance.. As a result, I was denied a good education to the point of where I dropped out of school because of the stresses at home and because of bullying.. I got my GED in 2000.

This year, I am starting classes to go for an AA degree with a main course of study being on the Japanese language. If I can go to a 4-year college, I will pursue East Asian Studies and Journalism or Mass Communications.

One of my professional goals is to work in Japan which would be a double challenge for me considering that I am over 40 and transgender. There's a lot of discrimination in Japan still, mainly around age and gender but things are getting better.

Good luck to everyone and I hope you all achieve your goals! (*^u^*)/

=m

katsarecool · 01-18-2011, 03:00 AM

I went out on Disability in 2005 when it became obvious trying to work was killing me. I was an accountant for years and before that office manager/accounting. Because of injuries to my lower back and discs it was so painful and degenerative. I was accepted on the first round without an attorney and 120 days after submitting my application. Managment experience was extremely helpful in preparing my case and collecting the documentation needed.

I have thought often of doing this for a living and it is legal and very lucrative. But it would require a lot of sit down work, following through with clients and a great deal of stress. So I just gave that up and began working on my artwork which I love.

Great topic!

daisygrrl · 01-18-2011, 05:40 AM

What an inspirational thread!

My current professional goals:
* Continue to hone my pedagogy to reach and help diverse student populations
* Publish my dissertation, which is very dear to my heart (about confession and trauma)
* Earn tenure and work in administration
* Balance my professional ambitions with love, health, and happiness

MsTinkerbelly · 01-18-2011, 03:26 PM

My professional goals have changed as I have aged (whose haven't)...I actually did all of the being in charge of everything that I ever wanted to do, and now I would settle for playing Blackjack professionally for the rest of my life.

A girl can dream....

adorable · 01-28-2011, 08:41 PM

It's interesting that you asked this question because I've been thinking about this a great deal lately. I thought I was settled, although I did want to own my own business eventually. Then out of nowhere I applied to graduate school this week. I might not get accepted, but I decided that after being in business management for over 10 years that it's time for a change. I would like to work as a LMSW for a maximum security prison or at a VA hospital working with people that suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. The money won't be as good, but I think the work would be more satisfying.

JustJo · 01-28-2011, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blade

I met most of my professional goals several years before I had intended to. The one goal I didn't achieve, I realize now was because I am "nonpenile". Being penile is an unspoken requirement to achieve supervisor or management status in my company or even in sales. We have no female bodied people in outside sales.

I hear you on this...I can remember sitting at breakfast with my best friend and saying "If I'm ever going to get beyond where I am now...I either have to grow a penis, or get my Masters degree."

I chose going back to school.

Seriously, I have achieved many of my goals. I got my MBA and have a wonderful job that lets me work from home and have great flexibility in my life.

I'm enjoying project management work tremendously (it lets me use my pushy side to great advantage), and will be working on getting my professional certification in that field as well...especially since my company will provide the course work for free.

Other than that, I have always wanted to publish...and possibly teach...and that's next on my list.

EnderD_503 · 01-30-2011, 09:25 PM

-Finish my second BA

-Masters

-Phd

-Open my own gym, or at least enter a position at a more welcoming gym that would allow me to focus on training/providing an athletic/physical outlet for LGBT youth. Gyms are not always the most welcoming places for those who don't fit the norm, and fitness is so important in our age that I'd honestly like to provide a more welcoming physical space.

-Find a way to balance my love for academics, physical culture and incessant, sporadic travel

01-17-2011, 06:43 AM	#1
Chancie Senior Member How Do You Identify?: queer femme-inist Relationship Status: I'm lucky. Join Date: May 2010 Location: Western Mass Posts: 3,697 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,218 Thanked 14,354 Times in 2,670 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	What are your professional goals? What have you set out to accomplish? How will you know when you have been successful?

01-17-2011, 07:15 AM	#2
Kobi Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Biological female. Lesbian. Relationship Status: Happy Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hanging out in the Atlantic. Posts: 9,234 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,840 Thanked 34,661 Times in 7,652 Posts Rep Power: 21474860	I knew I was successful the day I walked away from a prolific career. My health, well-being, and peace of mind was more important. __________________

01-17-2011, 10:46 AM	#4
Linus The Planet's Technical Bubba How Do You Identify?: FTM Preferred Pronoun?: He/Him/Geek Relationship Status: Married to my forever! Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,440 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,929 Thanked 10,743 Times in 3,176 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	My professional goals: 1. Get my company's highest certification (means doing full paper and defense of that paper) 2. Write at least one technical book. __________________ Personal Blog \|\| [] \|\| Cigar Blog "We become Human Doings instead of Human Beings." -- Ram Dass

01-17-2011, 10:53 AM	#5
moxie Senior Member How Do You Identify?: a cynical princess wannabe Preferred Pronoun?: lipgloss junkie Relationship Status: yep Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: the ville Posts: 3,027 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,544 Thanked 6,770 Times in 1,847 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	My goals: To be accepted into National Health Service Corps this fiscal year. I'll be able to work in a Health Professional Shortage Area and be free of my student loans. Get back into working with the clients I enjoy the most. Have my own office again (sounds silly but long story) Always be learning. Once that is gone I will know my passion for my career will be gone and I really don't want that to happen. __________________ "Accept what people offer. Drink their milkshakes. Take their love." - Wally Lamb

01-17-2011, 07:47 PM	#6
citybutch Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Preferred Pronoun?: I answer to "hey you" (either works for me!) Relationship Status: 19 years together- Very Married for 10 years Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 556 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 835 Thanked 1,196 Times in 355 Posts Rep Power: 6220116	Professionally I have many goals... but the one that is on top of my list for this year has to do with Charitable Giving. I have worked long and hard for many years in the Non-Profit world.... and I am finally setting up my first Planned Giving Program for a local Non-Profit where I once served on the Board... My goal is to have accomplished this effort for three different Non-Profits in the San Diego area. I love working with charitably minded people... a LOT... and I love doing work for these types of organizations. To be known as one of the top financial planners for small Non-Profits is a goal of mine... and one that is within reach! __________________ Take care of your body, take care of your health... You never know when the walls cave in and it all changes for good.

01-17-2011, 10:39 AM	#3
Chancie Senior Member How Do You Identify?: queer femme-inist Relationship Status: I'm lucky. Join Date: May 2010 Location: Western Mass Posts: 3,697 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,218 Thanked 14,354 Times in 2,670 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	I am thinking of this thread as a place to share professional goals and successes. My goals, which I hope to accomplish by the time I turn 50 in May To earn a CAGS in Math, Science and Learning Technologies To begin a viable robotics program at the public high school where I teach math To complete the requirements for my professional license

01-17-2011, 07:51 PM	#7
turasultana Member How Do You Identify?: Queer Femme Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: spoken for Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: brooklyn Posts: 432 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 226 Thanked 715 Times in 250 Posts Rep Power: 2043784	oh gawd, just had an hour long "development" meeting last week. we need to submit goals in another month I believe. I do think if they'll reimburse the cost, I'll get a digital marketing certificate at NYU. Not sure if they'll cover non degree work and since I already have an MBA I think I'm done the official school stuff.

01-17-2011, 07:59 PM	#8
Laerkin Member How Do You Identify?: Girlie with a touch of bossy Preferred Pronoun?: She, but not hung up on the details Relationship Status: Parenting our furry family with SmoothButch Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Washington DC Posts: 385 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 772 Thanked 963 Times in 257 Posts Rep Power: 4366970	Great thread. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone is working on and striving for! I'm always shocked at the huge range of professions and accomplishments. Personally, I have quite an ambitious list that I'm excited to tackle: 1. Complete my degree (December 2011, baby!) in Business Leadership and Management - hopefully with a 4.0 GPA. 2. Finish the Management Succession Academy that I was selected for at work and move into an upper management position within the next year. 3. Take the GRE and enroll in a Masters program within 2-3 years (hopefully in Communication or Public Policy). 4. Take over the world.

01-17-2011, 08:03 PM	#9
girl_dee Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: dee Relationship Status: Hitched up Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Livin’ the Dream Posts: 24,079 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 30,560 Thanked 54,956 Times in 13,922 Posts Rep Power: 21474873	I hope to help people thru reflexology at a wonderful clinic and keep the household clean and full of healthy meals, taking care of this wonderful leather family as that is the most meaningful thing in my life right now.

01-17-2011, 08:31 PM	#10
Isadora Member How Do You Identify?: Momma, Ma'am Preferred Pronoun?: She/Her Relationship Status: I am in love. Truly Madly Deeply Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: California Posts: 997 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 502 Thanked 2,128 Times in 560 Posts Rep Power: 2369287	Retirement. __________________ "I have a respect for manners as such, they are a way of dealing with people you don't agree with or like." Margaret Mead Read me! www.leatherati.com

01-17-2011, 09:16 PM	#11
dixie Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: I usually just poke it with a stick. Preferred Pronoun?: Bitch Relationship Status: Intertwined deeply Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: We're all a little mad here. Posts: 6,627 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 10,972 Thanked 21,385 Times in 4,808 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	I am currently one of the managers of a domestic violence shelter. I would like to further my career in this field and perhaps branch out to other similar areas. Currently enrolled in classes to obtain my degrees in human services and in substance abuse counseling. Will hopefully follow it through to the masters level. One goal/hope is to maybe one day work in the prison system with battered women who have "fought back" and are incarcerated for doing so. The other goal/hope would be to continue working with abuse survivors within our community. Oh, and then retire early on a beach somewhere.

01-17-2011, 09:35 PM	#12
Venus007 Member How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: Serene Highness ;} Relationship Status: Dreamily contemplating some outrage against conventional morality Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Houston area Posts: 1,362 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,417 Thanked 4,767 Times in 1,144 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	My goals are the next step in my plan for a master's degree and getting a job teaching that actually pays similarly to what I could make in the health care industry. . . This year is a busy year . . . 1. Become a certified ICD-10 trainer, scheduled for July 2. Sit for and pass my RHIT, scheduled for June 3. Get a job making beaucoup dough so I can fiance the end of my degrees without student loans, (after 1 and 2) 4. Run ICD-10 training seminars around the US (after 1 and 2) __________________ . "I need no warrant for being, and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant and the sanction. " Ayn Rand, Anthem "So you'll die happily for your sins. You'd rather die in guilt then live in love?" Timothy Leary

01-17-2011, 09:59 PM	#13
Blade Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: TG Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: once in a while someone amazing comes along...and here I am! Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Down on the farm Posts: 5,492 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,850 Thanked 14,400 Times in 4,049 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	I had professional goals for a very long time. Now after aging and maturing and wasting the best working years of my life for a company that has a "boys club" mentality, I need to rethink the rest of my working life which is only 20 more years and set some new goals. I met most of my professional goals several years before I had intended to. The one goal I didn't achieve, I realize now was because I am "nonpenile". Being penile is an unspoken requirement to achieve supervisor or management status in my company or even in sales. We have no female bodied people in outside sales. Sooo I'm kicking myself in the ass for wasting so many years of my life being loyal this company. I'd like to go into something in the medical field but either there is a long waiting list and I don't test well on written test anyway or there are no schools close to my hometown that offer what I'm looking for that probably doesn't have a waiting list. So maybe before I'm 50, I'll have made another plan. __________________ Yeah so what if I'm triple dipped in awesome sauce? The best way to predict the future, is to create it.

01-17-2011, 10:45 PM	#14
Michi Junior Member How Do You Identify?: MTF Pre-op Bi Preferred Pronoun?: Female Relationship Status: In a relationship Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 10 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1 Thanked 23 Times in 3 Posts Rep Power: 2656	I am 42 years old. I had a very bad upbringing because of my gender identity and my parents lack of acceptance.. As a result, I was denied a good education to the point of where I dropped out of school because of the stresses at home and because of bullying.. I got my GED in 2000. This year, I am starting classes to go for an AA degree with a main course of study being on the Japanese language. If I can go to a 4-year college, I will pursue East Asian Studies and Journalism or Mass Communications. One of my professional goals is to work in Japan which would be a double challenge for me considering that I am over 40 and transgender. There's a lot of discrimination in Japan still, mainly around age and gender but things are getting better. Good luck to everyone and I hope you all achieve your goals! (^u^)/ =m

01-18-2011, 03:00 AM	#15
katsarecool Member How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: She, Her, Woman Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Between Athens and Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,236 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,849 Thanked 1,765 Times in 734 Posts Rep Power: 323365	I went out on Disability in 2005 when it became obvious trying to work was killing me. I was an accountant for years and before that office manager/accounting. Because of injuries to my lower back and discs it was so painful and degenerative. I was accepted on the first round without an attorney and 120 days after submitting my application. Managment experience was extremely helpful in preparing my case and collecting the documentation needed. I have thought often of doing this for a living and it is legal and very lucrative. But it would require a lot of sit down work, following through with clients and a great deal of stress. So I just gave that up and began working on my artwork which I love. Great topic! __________________

01-18-2011, 05:40 AM	#16
daisygrrl Member How Do You Identify?: mouthy but adorable; kinky Gerbera Preferred Pronoun?: hey, cutie (or dudette) Relationship Status: xoxo Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The South (Gooogia peach) Posts: 475 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,157 Thanked 531 Times in 226 Posts Rep Power: 1065209	What an inspirational thread! My current professional goals: * Continue to hone my pedagogy to reach and help diverse student populations * Publish my dissertation, which is very dear to my heart (about confession and trauma) * Earn tenure and work in administration * Balance my professional ambitions with love, health, and happiness __________________ You can’t change that system by just getting your own rights, tinkering with the engine and leaving. You have to take on the whole machine. --Riki Anne Wilchins Hold on to the lessons, let go of the pain. --Leslie Feinberg

01-18-2011, 03:26 PM	#17
MsTinkerbelly Timed Out - TOS Drama How Do You Identify?: ... Preferred Pronoun?: ... Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: ... Posts: 6,573 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 30,737 Thanked 22,958 Times in 5,020 Posts Rep Power: 0	My professional goals have changed as I have aged (whose haven't)...I actually did all of the being in charge of everything that I ever wanted to do, and now I would settle for playing Blackjack professionally for the rest of my life. A girl can dream....

01-28-2011, 08:41 PM	#18
adorable Member How Do You Identify?: Sarcastically Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: Unavailable Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Home of the Yankee's Posts: 752 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,708 Thanked 2,645 Times in 590 Posts Rep Power: 12725118	It's interesting that you asked this question because I've been thinking about this a great deal lately. I thought I was settled, although I did want to own my own business eventually. Then out of nowhere I applied to graduate school this week. I might not get accepted, but I decided that after being in business management for over 10 years that it's time for a change. I would like to work as a LMSW for a maximum security prison or at a VA hospital working with people that suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. The money won't be as good, but I think the work would be more satisfying.

01-30-2011, 09:25 PM	#20
EnderD_503 Member How Do You Identify?: Queer, trans guy, butch Preferred Pronoun?: Male pronouns Relationship Status: Relationship Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 1,329 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,090 Thanked 3,907 Times in 1,032 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	-Finish my second BA -Masters -Phd -Open my own gym, or at least enter a position at a more welcoming gym that would allow me to focus on training/providing an athletic/physical outlet for LGBT youth. Gyms are not always the most welcoming places for those who don't fit the norm, and fitness is so important in our age that I'd honestly like to provide a more welcoming physical space. -Find a way to balance my love for academics, physical culture and incessant, sporadic travel