“You gotta have a plan.”

Take Abraham Lincoln’s life as an example. Prior to becoming the 16th president of the United States, Lincoln worked as a lawyer, postmaster, and business owner. He made extraordinary efforts to attain knowledge.^[1] Each job he held was a step toward his ultimate objective. His professional path is proof of the value of careful planning and the significance of anticipating your next step.

A career plan is a compass that guides your professional journey. It gives you a distinct viewpoint that will help you overcome the difficulties associated with any position you are now holding. Without a strategy, it is impossible to retain the intentionality required to develop a strong career that enables you to make the biggest imaginable impact.