It’s no secret that the workforce has drastically changed in the past few years. The pandemic has accelerated a shift towards remote work, digital communication, and flexible schedules. More and more people are considering their long-term goals and how they want to shape their careers. Whether you’re staying in your current job, starting your own business, or joining the Great Resignation, it’s important to have a personal development plan to guide you towards success.

But what exactly is a personal development plan? Think of it as a roadmap for your career. It outlines your long-term goals and the steps you need to take to achieve them. Having a personal development plan can help you stay focused, motivated, and accountable for your own growth.

Before you start creating your own personal development plan, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, it’s important to turn inward and listen to your intuition. Steven Spielberg once said, “Listen to that voice that tells you what you could do. Nothing will define your character more than that.” Take some time to reflect on what you truly want and what you’re passionate about. Your goals should be compatible with your strengths and interests, and you should genuinely enjoy working towards them.

Another important aspect to keep in mind is to start in the negative. This means that you should eliminate any options or goals that don’t align with your personal values or don’t contribute to your long-term objectives. Instead of focusing on what you want to do, focus on what you don’t want to do. This process of elimination can be a powerful tool to help you narrow down your options and focus on what truly matters.

With these considerations in mind, here are five steps to creating your own personal development plan for career success:

1. Start in the negative
Eliminate any goals or options that don’t align with your values or contribute to your long-term objectives. This process of elimination can help you focus on what truly matters.

2. Write a mission statement
A mission statement outlines your overall objective and approach. It should be clear, attainable, and show a touch of your unique personality.

3. Research the fundamentals
Identify topics that will help you advance towards your goal and double down on foundational skills and knowledge. You can do this through formal continuing education, online platforms, or networking in person.

4. Decide how to measure progress
Create a list of milestones you’d like to achieve along the way to your long-term objective, and set a regular calendar appointment with yourself to check whether you’re meeting them.

5. Take your own temperature
Regularly check in with yourself and ask, “Does this feel good or not?” Consult your gut as well as your objective milestones to ensure that you’re on the right path.

With these steps, you can create a personal development plan that works for you. Here is an example of what a personal development plan might look like:

Mission Statement: To lead an online technology publication and shape today’s tech coverage.

Fundamentals:
– Research Editor-in-Chief career paths.
– Schedule informational interviews with three tech EICs.
– Take online courses in technology to gain specialized expertise.
– Enroll in advanced editing certification programs.

Measuring progress via milestones:
– Complete two advanced editing certification programs.
– Get 10 bylines in tech publications this year.
– Get published in a monthly tech column by next year.
– Launch tech newsletter.
– Reach 10k subscribers after one year.

Creating a personal development plan takes time and effort, but it can lead to long-term success. It’s important to regularly check in with yourself, eliminate distractions, and focus on what truly matters. Your personal development plan can shape your career and guide you towards achieving your goals.