28
Chapter 1 Entrepreneurial Careers
Values
Values are the beliefs of a person or a culture. Personal values
are sometimes called core values. What do you value? Values guide a
person when making decisions and choices. Therefore, a person who
understands and clarifies his or her personal values has a better sense
of purpose. For example, a teacher values education and wants to
make sure that students learn while in class. You may value a clean,
healthy environment and join the school’s environmental club.
Goals
A goal is something a person wants to achieve in a specified time
period. We all have goals. You may have a goal to get a good grade on
your next test. Your friend may have a goal to save enough money to
take a trip over spring break. Well-defined goals follow the SMART
goal process. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable,
realistic, and timely, as illustrated in Figure 1-4.
Specific
How will you know if you have reached your career goal? You
must be specific about it. For example, “I want to be rich” is not a very
specific goal. Instead, you might say, “I want to have $100,000 in a
savings account.”
Ethics is a set of rules that
define what is wrong and
right. Ethics helps people
make good decisions in
both personal and pro-
fessional lives. Business
ethics is a set of rules that
help define appropriate
behavior in the business
setting. It is important for
an entrepreneur to set the
example of ethical behav-
ior for the business.
Entrepreneur
Ethics
Figure 1-4. Set SMART
career goals.
S
Are my short- and long-term goals specific?
Exactly what do I want to achieve?
M
Are my goals measurable?
How will I know when a goal is achieved?
A
Are my goals attainable?
Am I setting goals that can be achieved?
R
Are my goals realistic?
Have I set goals that are practical?
T
Are my goals timely?
Are the dates for achieving my goals appropriate?
SMART Goals
© Goodheart-Willcox Publisher