1. Before you jump in, understand what a career plan is and why it's important. “Fail to plan, plan to fail.”

2. Prepare for obstacles, failure, and changing priorities. “It’s a lot easier to map out alternative routes when you have some distance and perspective."

3. Start planning. “This is where you imagine the future you want to build.”

4. Consider creating a classic five year plan. "A lot can change in five years. The future might not look exactly how you expect it to, in fact, it almost definitely will not. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a plan."

5. If the classic five year plan isn't a good fit, try Odyssey Planning. “Thinking about possibilities rather than current actualities.”

6. Career planning helps you identify milestones. Professional development provides the stepping stones to those milestones. “You and only you are responsible for managing your career and ensuring that you are getting what you want out of it.”

7. A few simple professional development ideas to get you started. “This is a great time of year to take a step back, reflect on where we are professionally and strategically plan for our growth and the development of others.”

8. Lacking motivation? Don't give up! Instead pause, take a step back, and reassess. “Getting clear on your priorities is a great first step to goal-setting.”

9. Sometimes, the professional goals we achieve don't feel as meaningful as we expected. That's okay. Growth and change are part of the process. “We should all seek to focus our lives on what makes us fulfilled. For me this was a blend of creativity, helping others, and play.”

10. Finally, consider these reflections from a seasoned professional. “For others, including myself, purpose emerges over time. it may even be discovered by looking back and recognizing a pattern.”