With the fourth and final quarter of the year already underway, we want to draw your attention to the need to take stock of your media career progress so far this year and do what is still possible to make 2026 count positively for your professional aspirations.
This is a good time to review the goals and aspirations you set for yourself at the beginning of the year—assuming you had some—and be intentional about making up for what you have not accomplished as planned. You may no longer be able to accomplish some of the targets you set for the year due to various factors, but you can still achieve some of them if you redouble your efforts and refuse to leave your career progress to chance.
At the beginning of this year, we published the Nigeria Media Career Outlook 2026, which was our way of helping journalists and other media professionals understand some of the factors likely to shape career progress during the year. As we enter the final quarter, we are back to remind our readers to keep in view the recommendations of the contributors to the report, as well as their own career aspirations and plans.
Congratulations if you are still on track with your plans for the year. If you are not, you can still get back on track and make the year count for you in ways that are still possible.
It is better late than never to review, refocus and take action.
Here are some things you should do:
- Review your plan for the remaining months
You no longer have 12 months to work with in 2026. You have only the remaining weeks of the year. Review your original plan and develop a realistic one for the time you have left.
- Be realistic about what you can still achieve
Critically assess the requirements for the things you still want to accomplish. Determine what is possible within the remaining period and what may need to be rescheduled.
This is not the time to dissipate your energy and resources on unrealistic targets.
- List what you want to achieve and set timelines
If your goals are not clearly spelled out and listed, you can easily lose sight of them, as may have happened in the previous months.
Set specific timelines for each goal. This will guide you on what needs to be done, and when.
- Commit to accomplishing your targets
Decide to do all that is required to achieve your goals and give them your best effort. Excuses will not get you far.
- Get an accountability partner
You are more likely to stay on track when you have someone with whom you can share your plans and who can help you monitor your progress.
An accountability partner can help you know how well you are doing, remind you of your timelines and point out when you are falling behind.
You still have time to make a difference in your media career in 2026. Don’t give up on the year because some of your plans have not worked out as expected.
Review. Refocus. Act. Make 2026 count.
Let us know if there is any way we can help you make 2026 count for you.
Email: info@mediacareerng.org
WhatsApp: +234 805 049 8530
