Your plan is a guide, not a prison.

At the beginning of this year, I didn’t do the usual vision board thing.
No cut-out pictures. No Pinterest mood board.
Instead, I sat down with a pen, a notebook, and the quiet weight of reflection—and I drew a career plan.

This wasn’t a “go with the flow” moment. It wasn’t a dreamy list of where I hoped to be.
It was hours—days even—of honest thinking.
I spent the whole of December 2024 asking myself:
Where am I going?
What do I actually want?
What gaps do I need to fill to get there?
What skills, what knowledge, what mindset shifts do I need to make this year?

Because let’s be honest—
For most of us, the script is simple:
After your degree, you go for a master’s.
That’s how we were taught, right?
That’s what we were told success looks like.

But somewhere along the way, I realised that learning isn’t linear.
It’s not a straight path from degree to master’s, from master’s to PhD.

Sometimes, what you need is a diploma to sharpen a skill you overlooked.
Sometimes, what you need is a short professional certification that bridges the gap between where you are and where you need to be.
Sometimes, what you need is to pause the formal education track and look at what the Polytechnic is offering—those practical, hands-on courses that give you real skills for the real world.

This season has taught me that a master’s degree is good—yes, it’s valuable, and if that’s the next right step for you, go for it.
But a master’s isn’t the only step.
It’s okay to say:
“I don’t need a two-year program right now.
I need a six-month certification in something that will add immediate value to my work.”

If you’re at a crossroads, wondering where to begin—let me share a few steps that helped me when I was developing my own career plan:

1️⃣ Reflect on where you are now.
Be honest: What are your strengths? Your weaknesses? What do you enjoy? What drains you?

2️⃣ Identify your long-term vision.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? What kind of work would excite you?

3️⃣ Pinpoint the gaps.
What skills, knowledge, or certifications are missing between where you are and where you want to be?

4️⃣ Research the learning options.
It’s not always about a master’s. It could be a diploma, a short course, a professional certification, or even a mentorship program.

5️⃣ Prioritize and take action.
Write down the one step you’ll take this year to close a gap. Start there.

6️⃣ Stay flexible.
Your plan is a guide, not a prison. Life may shift—be willing to adapt.

Let’s stop chasing titles blindly.
Let’s chase growth.
Let’s build capacity, not just collect qualifications.

Because at the end of the day—
Your career isn’t built on degrees.
It’s built on skills, wisdom, and strategy.

What knowledge gap do you need to close this year?

Tirikuita dambudziko rekuti vanhu vanoenderera mberi nedzidzo asi vane knowledge gap yakanyanya pane chimwe chinhu. Ayewa taramba kungodzidza kusina direction. Fill in those knowledge gaps before becoming a doctor that doesn’t know how to comprehend. Tanga ka wagadzirisa comprehension gap iyo.