Career plans should leverage your assets, set you in direction of your aspirations, and account for the market realities.

• Articulate educated hypotheses about each. “I believe I am skilled at X, I believe I want to do Y, I believe the market needs Z.” 

• Speak confidently, be concise, and try not to repeat yourself. 
• Give the appearance that you truly know what’s right from the beginning, even if you don’t have all of the facts. 
• Facts that can support your stance is helpful, but being convincing matters ...

If you do not spend, somebody else will - somebody else must.

What then do you think the old practice that they should take who have the power and they should keep who can is less iniquitous when the power has become power of brains instead of fist? Though we may not take ...