Setting realistic career goals can help you stay motivated, improve your current work performance, and help you get that promotion to a job that you're qualified for as long as you are sure that each goal is both specific, but more importantly something that can be attained. The best place to start in mapping out your goals, is to gain the input you need from your boss regarding your strengths and weaknesses. Having his/her opinion opinion on skills that will boost your chances of advancing and then keeping in contact to learn about your performance will help you continuously revamp and reevaluate the goals and priorities you have established for yourself.