After establishing a long-term target role during Goal Setting, what does the text suggest is the most immediate action step for an individual building their personal career path?
Focusing on skill acquisition relevant to the target role.
The process of building an individual career path begins with Self-Assessment, followed by Goal Setting to define the long-term destination, which serves as the 'true north.' Once this target is established, the next crucial phase transitions from planning to execution via Gap Analysis, which determines the necessary missing hard skills, certifications, and experience. The text emphasizes that the most immediate and concrete subsequent action after this analysis is focusing intensely on skill acquisition relevant to that target. For example, if the goal requires advanced statistical modeling proficiency, the critical bridge is not passively waiting for a promotion but actively engaging in dedicated coursework or spearheading a relevant pilot project to prove that capability.
