OGL 482 Pro-Seminar II

Unit 3 Assignment:
Career Plan Template
Section 1: Creating your BHAG
Following the information in the “Good to Great Connections” PowerPoint presentation and all
of the additional information provided under the content area, and taking your Personal Mission
Statement development efforts into consideration, carefully develop your own personal long-
term BHAG (***one amazingly HUGE, your world-changing goal***). The timeframe for your
BHAG is 10-25 years out, however, it will depend upon your age. For example, a 55-year-old
person might be closer to the 10-year BHAG, whereas a 30-year-old or younger person should be
considering a BHAG 25 years out. This BHAG may be related to your overall life/lifestyle
aspirations, or it could be related to some organizational, protean, or entrepreneurial vision you
have for the future. Dig deep and go beyond the job. That is up to you. What it needs to be is
BIG! HUGE! REALLY HAIRY! STRETCH YOURSELF! LOOK BEYOND A GRADUATE
DEGREE! LOOK BEYOND A JOB! HOW WILL YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS
WORLD?

Answer the following:

1) What is your BHAG (***one amazingly HUGE, your world-changing goal***)? THIS
SHOULD NOT BE A JOB BUT YOUR MISSION IN LIFE!

By 2030, I will lead initiatives that contribute to creating a world where environmental

sustainability is ingrained in every aspect of life. This includes fostering communities committed

to security, loyalty, and genuine care for others while championing practices that promote a

harmonious work-life balance, prioritizing meaningful personal connections and well-being for

all.

2) Why is this your BHAG?

I have chosen this BHAG as it reflects my commitment to sustainability and community well-

being. By envisioning a world where environmental sustainability is seamlessly integrated into

every aspect of life and expressing a passion for fostering positive change on a large scale. Many

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sustainability platforms and offerings are not always user-friendly or fully understood by many. I

hope to find a way to bring simplicity, ease, and a sense of belonging to the masses.

3) How does your BHAG align with your vision statement from Unit 2

This BHAG serves as a guiding light for my endeavors, encapsulating a personal desire to not

only make a meaningful impact on the environment but also to cultivate thriving communities

that prioritize the interconnectedness of personal, professional, and environmental well-being.

4) How does your BHAG align with your mission statement from Unit 2?

With an emphasis on security, loyalty, and genuine care for others aligns with the values of

strong communities, creating a foundation for a more interconnected and supportive society.

Additionally, the goal to champion a harmonious work-life balance underscores your

understanding of the importance of personal well-being in contributing to overall community and

professional success.

5) List your top five (5) obstacles in order from number 5 being least difficult and
number 1 being the most difficult you need to overcome in order to obtain your
BHAG and explain the relevance of each one.

Cultural and Behavioral Barriers: Cultural norms and ingrained behaviors pose the biggest

challenge to sustainability efforts. Resistance to change, reliance on convenience-driven

lifestyles, and a lack of awareness about the consequences of certain behaviors can hinder the

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adoption of sustainable practices. Overcoming these barriers requires targeted efforts to shift

cultural norms towards more sustainable behaviors.

Economic Considerations: The perception that sustainability measures are costly and may

negatively impact economic growth can discourage corporate and public support. Bridging the

gap between economic interests and sustainable practices is crucial for fostering a more

comprehensive understanding of how sustainability can contribute to long-term economic

prosperity. This is one of the biggest hurdles in many large organizations when it comes to

simple things like recycling or composting.

Complexity and Lack of Clarity: Sustainability is a multidimensional concept encompassing

environmental, social, and economic factors. Communicating these complexities to the public in

a clear and understandable manner poses a significant challenge. The jargon and technical nature

of sustainability issues can create confusion and hinder effective communication. This needs to

be simplified to gain better acceptance and practice.

Short-Term Focus and Instant Gratification Culture: Many sustainability challenges require

long-term thinking and collective action. However, the prevalent culture of instant gratification

and a focus on short-term gains can impede public understanding and support for sustainable

practices that may not yield immediate results.

Greenwashing and Misinformation: Greenwashing, where companies or initiatives falsely

claim to be environmentally friendly, contributes to public skepticism. This is seen often when a

foodservice company or restaurant offers compostable wares, but no means of collecting

compostable items is available. Additionally, misinformation and conflicting messages about

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sustainability issues can create confusion and mistrust, making it difficult for the public to

discern accurate information from misleading claims.

Section 2: Career Vision

Consider your long-term vision for your career. Respond to the following questions, and make
connections to your personal mission statement, your BHAG(s), the themes you developed in
Unit 2 and the textbook/supplemental readings (as applicable).

Answer the following:

1) Analyze the type of career you want to have, in terms of an organizational career or
a protean career, and make sure it is clear you understand the concepts as outlined
in the textbook. Why?

In my envisioned sales career, I see myself embracing a protean approach marked by individual

autonomy, self-direction, and adaptability (Harrington, Brad; Hall, Douglas T.. Career

Management & Work-Life Integration. p. 11). This means taking charge of my own career

development and personal growth, allowing for a dynamic and flexible trajectory. In the sales

field, success is closely tied to personal skills, networking, and the ability to navigate changing

market conditions. Opting for a protean career aligns seamlessly with my values of security,

loyalty, and genuine care for others, creating room for a harmonious work-life balance. This

approach not only grants me the freedom to pursue these values but also resonates with my

overarching life mission of fostering meaningful personal connections and well-being.

2) Analyze your career with an explanation as one that moves you up the organization
or one you develop seeking alternative career paths. If you see yourself taking an
alternative career path, which one(s) sounds the most likely? Why?

Given my emphasis on autonomy, adaptability, and a desire for work-life balance in my current

sales career, exploring alternative career paths that offer flexibility and align with your personal

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values would be a strategic move as there is limited growth in my current organization. I can see

myself transitioning into a consulting role that offers the chance to leverage my expertise and

experience in sales and operations across the food service industry. Consulting provides

flexibility in terms of project selection and work arrangements, allowing me to tailor my career

to my lifestyle preferences.

3) Discuss and explain if you see yourself working an alternative or flexible work
schedule/arrangement? If so, which ones and why?

For the past 25+ years, I have been in an outside sales position, and for only about 6 of those

years, I was close to the office of the company I worked for. I am accustomed to a more flexible

and self-run schedule. This schedule allows me the freedom to schedule customer meetings and

travel as needed as well as it does help with some work-life balance. I can make personal

appointments, run errands, or participate in my kids’ school activities at times.

Section 3: Long-Term Strategy

Develop a strategy for moving toward your ideal future work/life situation and the realization of
your BHAG(s). Consider the timeframe for your BHAG(s). Provide a vivid description of life
“the way it will be” once your BHAG is realized.

1) Critically think about and then list out (not a narrative format) the interim steps or
milestones you have laid out for yourself that will aid you in reaching your BHAG
(you should have at least 10 to earn a rating of excellent and be referenced by time)

1. Complete BA with a minor in Sustainability from Arizona State University, Spring

2025

2. Work toward a certificate in Sustainability management or citizenship and

reporting. Winter 2025

3. Become involved with my current employer, “Green Team,” in Spring 2024.

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 4. Learn more about what sustainability practices are available locally. Spring 2026

5. What are local municipalities doing to encourage/ support community sustainability

efforts? How can this be improved upon?

6. Connect with large organizations to discover the pain points in getting staff/

employees to participate in sustainable efforts such as recycling and composting.

Winter 2026

7. Discover what the cost and social benefits of offering/ supporting sustainability

mean to an organization. Summer 2027

8. Work to find a solution that will work for both corporate/ large organizations and

everyday citizens. Winter 2027

9. Develop a plan based on the above-learned knowledge to simplify and make

sustainability more approachable and seamless at work and at home. Winter 2028

10. Present the solution(s) to organizations and government groups to increase

sustainability participation and support. Spring 2029

2) In addition to career-related roles, consider your other life roles in relation to your
career goals. What are the 3 most precious things you are willing to sacrifice,
besides time, to achieve your BHAG? Why?

With the full understanding that this will likely cost me full credit for this section, I can honestly

say there is nothing that is “precious” to me at this time that I am willing to sacrifice to achieve

my BHAG goal. At this point in my career and life, being 50 years old with a family and two

very active daughters, I have already sacrificed a lot of time, relationships, and energy to finish

my degree and career.

Section 4: The one to two year plan

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Using a SMART goals-based approach, as well as project planning and management skill best
practices, create a detailed project plan for at least two specific goals. At least one must be
related to your long-term BHAG. The other may be related to some other aspect of your career
development or career-life integration. Both of these goals need to be things that you are
passionate about accomplishing.
Your selected goals and SMART plan (see SMART goal information provided in the unit)
should be structured based on a one to two-year timeline. It should include specific milestones,
action items, sub-tasks as well as task-related interdependencies as applicable. With respect to
each goal, critically think about what specific things you will do in the next one to two years to
achieve these goals.

Develop a clear and detailed SMART plan, with facilitating goals and steps/actions required
to accomplish your selected goals. It should be evident, by looking at the format and structure
of your plan, that you have developed some significant skills respect to project management.
Include Gantt charts (T) or other visual project representations as you see fit, and be sure to
address your approach to tracking/measuring your progress (M).

1) What is your #1 Goal? (at least one of the following must be related to your BHAG)

Recently, there’s been a major shift in my organization. Within this first year there is
going to be a lot of changes and adjustments merging two business units together. My
goal is by the end of the year to be at the top 5 of sales leads and be one of the most
knowledgeable persons in the field.

a. Specific: Be in the top 5 in field sales Leads.

b. Measurable: This will be measured by a few different platforms. We have 3 Key

Performance Indices (KPIs) that we are assigned every year, and I use these to

indicate progress and help plan my actions. Additionally, there are two primary ways

to track our sales performance: Pipeline for new business secured and Sale Tracker

for overall year-over-year (YOY) sales performance.

c. Attainable: This goal is possible as I was in the top 15 in the pipeline last year with

less than 8% separating the 8-15, including me “delaying” 2 major new account

openings and exceeding 2 of 3 KPI goals. With several new high-performing

accounts to open this year, this goal is within reach.

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 d. Relevant: Being one of the top leads in the county can lead to better compensation

financially as well as place me in a great position to move to my next career role.

e. Time-Based: 12/31/2024

2) What is your #2 Goal? (at least one of these must be related to your BHAG)

a. Specific: To work on enriching my knowledge and experience in Sustainability to

reach my BHAG by completing my minor, certificate in sustainability management

and learn from our Green Team at work.

b. Measurable: I will keep track of my progress by completing my journey at ASU, join

the Green Team and find a certificate program(s) geared to what will best suit my

BHAG goal.

c. Attainable: I have been working toward my Sustainability minor over the course of

my time at ASU and only need one additional course to complete the requirements. I

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 am currently signed up for that class Spring 2024 semester. Green Team

applications just opened recently, and I already have the support of my manager.

d. Relevant: These goals will help in understanding the needs that will need to be met

to accomplish my overall objective by gaining insights as to what is perceived, what

is reality, and how best to reposition the thoughts and actions of sustainability to

make it viable to everyone.

e. Time-Based: These goals are very attainable over the next 12 months as I work to

complete my classes at ASU. Positions on the Green Team just became available for

immediate applications.

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