Have you thought about creating a professional
development plan for your life? It’s a way to
stop drifting, pick a direction, build momentum, and
avoid that weird career limbo where you aren't progressing the way you want. Whether you're in a dead-end job, considering an entrepreneurial endeavor, or doing fine (job-wise) but are quietly bored, you need a professional development plan to orient your career.
Start With the Stuff You Usually Avoid
Forget your
job title. Forget your résumé. Do a gut-level, honest self‑evaluation of your skills. What are you
solid at? Where do you fake it? What do you avoid because you’re low-key
terrible at it?
Stop Dreaming Big. Start Getting
Specific.
If you want a career that’s not
on autopilot, get clear about what you want now — and where you don’t
want in the future. Choose a balance of short-term and long-term career goals to ensure you’re not just climbing a ladder, but building a ladder worth climbing.
Make sure it’s leaning against the right wall.
Formal Education Isn’t Dead. It’s Just
Flexible Now.
Degrees used to feel like all-or-nothing.
Now? Degrees are simply tools — especially when they’re built to fit your life. If you're
trying to pivot into something more technical or want credibility that
backs your skills, online technology degrees can do some heavy
lifting. The best part? Online degrees don’t ask you to pause your life. You can keep
earning, working, and living while still moving forward.
Feed Your Brain Like You Feed Your
Phone
Let’s be real: you scroll, swipe, and
click every day. If even half of your scrolling went toward career stuff, you’d be
dangerous. Carve out space for continuing education to stay competitive. A
podcast here. A newsletter there. One weird blog post that takes you somewhere
unexpected. Keep your brain on the edge of something new — that’s where the fun
is.
Plans Don’t Matter If You Don’t Give
Them Teeth
Intentions don’t get you anywhere.
Calendars do. Write down what you want to do — and set a completion date. Start
simple: create a plan with actionable steps and deadlines. Try “block 20 minutes on Mondays to map out the week.”
Make small moves. Rinse, adjust, repeat.
Mindset Isn’t Magic. It’s Maintenance.
People love to act like they’ve
“unlocked” some growth mindset and now they’re unstoppable. Nah. It’s more like
brushing your teeth. You show up, even when it’s boring. Especially when it’s
boring. The people who keep learning — even when no one’s watching — are the ones
who don’t get stuck. Doesn’t matter if it’s a webinar, a book, or a PDF that opens your eyes to something new. Continuous learning as a career advantage
is essential. Stay in motion.
Check Your Plan Like You’d Check Your
Budget
Don’t set your plan and forget it. That’s how it
dies. Once a month, crack open your plan and ask, “Is this still right?” Give yourself permission to change the plan without
feeling like you messed it up. Treat it like a living doc, and do a regular review and adjustment of your plan.
Don’t Wait Until You’re Ready. You
Won’t Be.
You don’t need to feel motivated. Or have
the perfect system. Or read five more articles before you act. Pick
one small, sharp move — and do it. Send that email. Sign up for that course.
Write down one goal that doesn’t feel ridiculous. This isn’t a grand
transformation. It’s a shift. One that builds fast, if you let it.
Unlock your
potential with WiserU
and master LinkedIn to elevate your career or business with expert training and career coaching from Kathy Bernard!
- Businesses hire Kathy Bernard to maximize their use of LinkedIn for sales, marketing, and fundraising through expert LinkedIn training and services. Learn more
- The unemployed and miserably employed hire WiserU for LinkedIn training, career coaching, and LinkedIn profile and resume services. Learn more
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