Being Proactive – A Guest Post by Gale Bowman

This week we have a special guest post by Gale Bowman from WhatCollegeForgot.com.  Gale has become an expert in professional development for Generation Y and beyond. Be sure to check out her website and the NEW online course she has available!

One of the most commonly used buzz words in Corporate America is “being proactive” which means taking initiative and adding value without being asked. But what about being proactive outside of work? Should you spend time worrying about your own personal proactivity?

According to Stephen Covey, the definition of proactive is more than taking initiative; it means that we as human beings are responsible for our own lives. In other words, proactive people make things happen. Below are five strategies for living a proactive life:

1.       Set goals for yourself

Take some time to think about all the long-term goals you’d like to accomplish in the next two to five years.  Set SMART goals which stands for specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and time-bound.

2.        Write down your goals

You increase your chance of achieving your goals by 80% when you write them down. So go get a pen and write them down. For bonus points, keep your list of goals in a place where you can re-read them every day.

3.       Stop worrying and take charge

Your list of goals might be really long, and require a lot of hard work. But worrying won’t do you any good. Remember the definition of proactive is taking charge to make things happen rather than stalling or worrying.

4.       Act on what ‘s actionable

This sounds redundant but recognizing what’s actionable takes a little bit of work. Select one of your goals and ask yourself the following question: “What’s the next action I need to take to start inching toward achieving this goal?” These actionable items become your short-term goals.

5.       Celebrate your successes

When you accomplish something make sure you take note and pat yourself on the back. Do whatever it is that will help you savor even the small moments of success on your journey to achieving your long-term goals. Long-term goals take two or more years to achieve but you don’t have to wait that long to celebrate!

Remember, reactive people allow their lives to be a product of their environment. But if you choose to live a proactive lifestyle, you truly can make things happen to achieve your long-term goals and live a rewarding life.

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