Stop Winging It. Start Planning It.
- Latoya Baldwin
- Aug 2
- 2 min read
You’ve been the go-to. The fixer. The one they call when things need to get done.
You’ve climbed, performed, and led without a map.
And maybe you’ve done pretty damn well.
But at some point, the question creeps in: Where am I actually going?
You’re not lost. But you’re ready to stop winging it.
It’s time to trade “accidental achiever” energy for intentional growth.
Why Most Career Plans Don’t Work for Ambitious Women
Let’s be honest. Most career planning advice was built for a world that’s behind on who you’ve become.
Here’s why the old way fails us:
It’s rigid, outdated, and focused on climbing a ladder that was never built with you in mind.
It centers on linear growth, not leadership evolution, visibility, or soft power.
It ignores your identity shifts and the kind of alignment that actually keeps you energized.
It leaves out the strategy behind negotiation, voice, mentorship, and momentum.
You don’t need a checklist.
You need a compass.
A Real Career Plan Asks Better Questions
Forget “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
Let’s ask better questions:
Where do I want to be in the next 12 months, and who do I want to be?
What rooms am I ready to step into?
What will I no longer tolerate in my work life?
What support do I need to rise without burning out?
When I started asking these questions, everything changed.
I stopped chasing the next promotion just because it looked good on paper.
I started designing a career that felt like me and honored the woman I was becoming.
The 3-Part Career Planning Framework I Teach
This is the framework I wish someone had handed me years ago.
Not a generic path. A real one, rooted in clarity, not conformity.
1. Clarity
What does success look like for you now?
Not what you thought you wanted three roles ago.
What actually excites you now? What makes you feel like you?
2. Strategy
What moves matter most?
Which stretch assignments, visibility opportunities, or bold conversations will open the next door?
3. Support
Who’s helping you think bigger?
Who’s in your corner, challenging you, connecting you, and making sure you don’t shrink back into your comfort zone?
Your Rise Won’t Be Accidental. It’ll Be Intentional.
You’ve already proven you can grind.
This next chapter is about alignment. Expansion. Bold, conscious moves that match your evolution.
You don’t need to earn the right to plan ahead.
You get to own your next move now, with strategy and soul.
And if no one ever told you this, let me be the first:
You’re not here to just be good at your job. You’re here to build a career that lights you up and reflects who you’ve fought to become.
Let’s do it on purpose this time.
Want support mapping your next move with strategy, clarity, and community?
The Career Collective was built for you.
A space for ambitious women ready to rise with intention.
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