Today marks the third week since I officially became a homeowner. I have to admit that it feels great to have accomplished this major life goal. LYJ blogger Suzanne Grossman encouraged me to post some reflections on the process that translate to setting long-term career goals:

• The first step in moving forward on your goal is simply to state it out loud and then share it with your network. When I moved into my apartment three and a half years ago, I told my friends that it would be the last apartment in which I lived—the next place would be a place of my own. This set me on my path to home ownership even before I had saved the first dollar of the down payment.

• Do your research and mobilize your resources. Real estate is a language unto itself—I had to learn the lingo. I logged countless hours watching “House Hunters” and “Property Virgins” on HGTV, I read a couple of books and stayed on top of The Washington Post’s weekly Real Estate section, and I talked to friends who had recently bought homes in the area (my new home ownership mentors). In my case, I embarked on this goal with my husband, so I had to take inventory of what we could each contribute (financially and emotionally) to the process. When approaching a major career goal, researching the field, the steps you need to take, and who can help you get there will be key to your success.

• Create a visual reminder of your goal. Earlier this year, I placed two important items on my fridge: 1) a wipe board where I simply wrote my savings goal, two pieces of furniture I want to buy for the new house, and the phrase, “Buy a house,” and 2) a photo of a house in one of our target neighborhoods and in our price range. Despite the numerous types of homes we viewed, the house we bought actually looks very similar to the house that adorned our fridge for many months. Whether you enjoy making crafty collages or prefer a simple approach, an informal “vision board” can do wonders (and perhaps stir a little magic) in helping you stay focused to accomplish your goal.

• Be patient and persistent—you’re in it for the long haul. My home ownership plan became a two-year process full of many small, weekly steps. I monitored my credit score, researched the price ranges for different neighborhoods, set up an ING savings account and made automatic monthly contributions into my “house fund,” identified my realtor, viewed properties, etc. When I first started, I probably spent about an hour or two each week on this project; in the final three months of the process, I spent 30-90 minutes each day. It certainly took a level of dedication and focus, but it was do-able. I often acted on the good advice fellow LYJ bloggers have suggested of tackling one thing a day. 

What can you start doing today that will get you where you want to be in two or three years?