Step Four In middle column, The Gap, list education, skills, or experiences you need to close gap between where you are now and where you plan to be in future.

Now that you have identified your long-term goals and elements in gap, instead of focusing on title or hierarchy of your next job, focus on skills and experiences you will gain to close gap. For example, if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you may look for a job that will strengthen your planning skills. You may consider anopportunity to work more closely with marketing or sales department. Or, you may look for a specific type of leadership experience in your next job.

Don't overlook opportunities within your current organization. If your goal is to strengthen your skills -- instead of to climb that mythical ladder -- you may find a lot more options internally than in an outside organization. As a known quantity, your current organization is more likely to risk letting you experiment with a new field of expertise. So, a lateral move within your organization could give you opportunity to gain new skills and experiences.

To close gap, you can also look for experiences outside of your job. Build your entrepreneurial skills by take a workshop on business plans at your local Small Business Development Center. Volunteer to manage financials for a small non-profit organization. Or, take some business classes at your local college or university.

By using a Career Gap Analysis, you can create your own unique, flexible career plan and banish career ladder to pages of history, where it belongs.

2. Subscribe to motivational emails. There are may great websites out there that offer free motivational and inspirational emails. Get on google and find some sites that appeal to you and subscribe. I just recently got a Motivational Kit from a website called motivation123. It was free and I got some great ideas for staying motivated. I also subscribe to a newsletter by a guy named Rene Godefroy. He has a very interesting story to tell. Check out his website at www.villagehero.com.

3. Post motivational tidbits around your home and office. Posters are great! Find some here. Or try our Motivational Memos (below) every week for great mini index cards you can post anywhere.

To access links, visit www.careercalling.com/Archives.htm and read original article in March 11, 2005 edition of The Coach’s Career Tips and Resources! "Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly." - Stephen Covey

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."- Mark Twain