T R I N I T Y W E S T E R N U N I V E R S I T Y
LDRS 432
Building Leaders II: Vocation and Career Planning
Possible Paths
(adapted from the Odyssey Plan in Designing your Life)
1. Name 3 possible career paths that you can take in life. The 3rd path must be something that you
would do if time, money, talent was not an issue.
2. List 3-5 things that you would like about each career.
3. List 3-5 things that you would dislike about each career
4. What education or training or experience is required for this career path? Use the following
websites:
a. www.workbc.ca
b. www.onetonline.org
5. What skills are required?
6. List three things you would need to do to reach each path. (Action steps)
7. Who are 2-3 people in your network who can help you reach this path and HOW can they help
you?
Path 1
School counselor
Path 2
Business Owner
(coffee shop)
Path 3 (must be
“outrageous”)
Writer/Speaker
What might you
like about the
path?
-Help students
-Every day is different
-Great schedule
(weekends/summers
off)
-Rewarding job
-Work in education
which influences young
peple
-serving customers
-making coffee and
preparing food is
something that I like
-using my business to
serve my community
-potential to make
money
-Flexibility
-Potential to make money
-Share my thoughts and ideas
with the world
-be inspirational
What might you
dislike about the
path?
-the pay is not great
-it can be hard helping
troubled kids
-stressful working with
teachers and parents
-When you own a
business, you always
are working
-risk of losing money
-finding good
employees
-run out of ideas to write
about
-pressure to write/speak
-time away from family
-potential to not make any
money
Education/Training/
Experience
-Masters degree in
School Counseling
-experience working in
education system
-experience working in
food service
-Might need a degree in
Creative Writing, but mostly
just need a lot of experience
and practice writing ideas
T R I N I T Y W E S T E R N U N I V E R S I T Y
-knowledge of
bookkeeping (or hire
someone to do it)
-need money for initial
investment
Required Skills -Active Listening
-Written and Oral
communication
-Knowledge of
psychology and
education
-Multitasking
-Service Orientation
-basic knowledge of
business…purchasing,
payroll, government
requirements
-Written and Oral
communication
-time management
-ability to sell my skills
(promoting)
Action steps -Volunteer in a high
school
-Find a university that
has a Masters’ in
School Counseling
-Complete MA degree
and internship
-Look for job openings
-Find investor or save
money or take out loan
-Acquire supplies
-Hire employees
-Promote and Market
-Get an agent
-try to write a book
-Promote my writing or ability
to speak on social media
-offer to speak at churches or
other local settings
Network
(People who can
help and HOW they
can help you)
-Aaron – is a school
counselor and can tell
me about the job
-Lisa – is a teacher and
can tell me about the
school system and let
me know if she knows
of any opportunities
-Kim – is a therapist
who used to be a
school counselor. She
can tell me more about
the job
-Vince – own a local
bakery. Can give
suggestions on what
works well for a
business
-Lionel – accountant I
can hire to help with
bookkeeping and
paperwork
-Matt – my friend who
owns a building and
could rent a space to
me
-Sue – my friend is a writer
and speaker for churches.
Talk to her to see how she got
started and get tips on how I
should start.
-My dad – has some
connections and could maybe
help me find some
opportunities
-my husband – is a pastor and
maybe I could speak at church
or write something for church
