Week Three

1. Call every targeted company to see if they are accepting reels, portfolios and resumes. Check spelling of names and addresses of people you are targeting.
2. Make sure all marketing materials have current contact information on them, including reel breakdown list.
3. Attend a software user group meeting.
4. Follow up with any leads from SIGGRAPH meeting. (Send notes to speakers and other people you've met.)

Week Four

1. Implement mailing and keep track of where every submission goes.
2. Plan a schedule of telephone follow ups for next week. (Make sure company received your submission.)
3. Follow up with any leads from user group meeting.
4. Attend Women in Animation meeting.

Every week:

1. Read the trades (Daily Variety, Hollywood Reporter) and related Websites (www.awn.com, www.highend3d.com, www.animationmagazine.net, etc) regularly to keep up on the business and on who is doing what. You can do this in the library.
2. Read other resources and publications every week (Animation Magazine, Cinefx, etc.).
3. Maintain a database of the contacts made during meetings that week. Include new contacts to pursue and leads to follow up on. Follow up on at least two leads per week, whether obtained through networking or reading.
4. Submit self for everything appropriate.

The business plan will give you a record of the tasks you have accomplished and help highlight the new tasks you need to undertake to reach your goals.

Your business plan should reflect your greatest career aspirations and how you intend to get there. It must be realistic and affordable to implement and full of ideas that will translate into your personal road map to success.

Follow your business plan with diligence and it will lead you to the work you want and build the career you desire. Success can be yours but it is up to you. You are the one person who can help you most in your career. Your business plan will help you make the commitment and keep the promises to yourself.

Pamela Kleibrink Thompson is a career coach, recruiter and hiring strategist who helps clients to achieve their dreams in their personal and professional lives. Recruiting clients include Disney, Fox, Framestore, Digital Domain, Big Idea Productions and Simex Digital Studios.