Laura's Corner - Do you Have a Growth Plan?

"Do You Have a Growth Plan?" by Laura McAlister, April 2026

I Thought Someone Else Was Responsible for My Career… I Was Wrong.

No one ever told me I was responsible for designing my own career. For years, I believed it was my supervisor’s role to plan my path.

I was waiting:
- For direction
- For opportunity
- For someone to tell me what was next

And then one day, it hit me…
No one was coming to do that for me.
That was my turning point.

Around that same time, I was introduced to John Maxwell’s work, and I heard something
that stopped me in my tracks:

“You will either accept your life… or you will design your life.”

I didn’t get that memo early in my career.
But once I did… everything changed.

Recently, I had a moment I didn’t expect. I came across an essay I wrote years ago—on my 38th birthday. And as I read it, I had to pause.

Because the questions I was asking then are the same questions I now help others answer every day.
- Where am I going?
- What am I meant to do?
- Why doesn’t success always feel like fulfillment?

And in that moment, I realized something deeply personal:

This isn’t something I just decided to do.This is something I’ve been walking toward my entire life. For me, it felt like confirmation of God’s plan.

And here’s what I see now—every single day:
So many talented, capable people are stuck in the same place I was.

They have:
- Goals
- Drive
- Potential
But they’re not moving forward.
Because: Goals without a plan are just wishes.
And hope is not a strategy.

There are two ways people approach growth

Accidental Growth
- Waits for the right moment
- Hopes things improve
- Reacts to life

Intentional Growth
- Gets clear on what matters
- Takes ownership
- Builds a plan and follows it

The difference? One keeps you busy.
The other changes your life.
Let me be real with you…

Growth is uncomfortable

It looks like:
- Having the conversation you’ve been avoiding
- Showing up before you feel ready
- Choosing discipline over distraction

And here’s the truth: All real growth happens outside your comfort zone.

And here’s something I believe deeply: Encouragement is oxygen to the soul.

Most people aren’t lacking ability.
They’re lacking someone who:
- Sees them
- Believes in them
- Challenges them to grow

So let me ask you…

Who are you surrounding yourself with? 

Because you will become the sum total of the 5 people you spend the most time with.

This is personal for me. I’m incredibly grateful for the mentors in my life who saw things in me that I didn’t yet see in myself.

They challenged me.
They encouraged me.
They helped me grow into who I am today.

And now…
It’s my joy to do that for others.

So let me ask you:
Do you have a growth plan?
And do you have a mentor?

Not a goal.
Not a wish.
A real plan—and someone walking alongside you.

This is exactly why I created Career Blueprint.

Not another course.
A structured, supportive experience where you:
- Get clear on what you actually want
- Understand how you’re wired
- Build a plan that fits YOU
- Stay accountable and keep moving

If you’re ready to stop waiting…
And start designing your life with intention-
Let’s build your plan. Together.

 — Laura