We are Personally Responsible for our own professional development.

by Melissa Patrick

We are Personally Responsible for our own professional development. What does this mean exactly? Do I have to have a career plan with clear-cut goals and action steps that set me up to achieve my goals? Well, probably the better prepared you are the easier it will be on you. If you've got a road map to where you want to go, chances are you'll get there and if you get lost, you can refer to your handy dandy map and get yourself back on track! BUT the reality is it's very hard to be clear about where you're going and how you want your career to develop. So what do you do if you don't have a plan?

For starters, don't panic, that only confuses matters. Sometimes it's actually better not to have a definite plan because often times those unforeseen "unexpected" pop up in life that force you to revisit your original plan. The important piece to keep in mind when thinking about your professional development is your happiness and satisfaction.

Think about what your interested in. It may be music or science or writing. Whatever you choose as your interest, follow that course. Oftentimes, people choose careers for themselves based on the amount of money they will make. And that is fine for some. But if you make that choice for yourself, think about the consequences. There may be many tasks you'll have to do on a day to day basis that make you miserable. When you're miserable, no matter how much you're getting paid, you're going to be miserable! Doesn't it make more sense to study and get real good at something that excites you? Something that when you leave it, you look forward to returning to it. Something that just can't seem to get enough of. You want to learn more, more, and more. Your thirst for knowledge in your chosen area of interest just can't seem to be quenched. It seems you could study and learn about it every day This is a good indication that you've found an interest and you may seriously want to pursue it.

Once you get to the point that you've identified a one maybe two interests, then talk to people who have developed careers in this area. Most people have much to say about themselves and the work they do. Find out what they had to do to get to where they are. Really investigate and ask hard questions. After all, this is YOUR professional development.