Even the nomenclature of career guidance has changed. Redirection rather than planning has become the operative word. In the future, you will be required to change course frequently as career paths become fuzzy, lead nowhere, or dissolve only to reappear in new forms. Be clear about where your loyalties lie. One of the principal distinctions between average and outstanding performers pertains to the way each group thinks about loyalty.
Average performers expect a certain amount of loyalty from their employers.
High achievers, on the other hand, have different priorities. For them, loyalty to oneself is paramount, followed by loyalty to one's group and, as a distant third, loyalty to one's organization. Based on the popularity of downsizing, one could reasonably conclude that employers as well put themselves first. Start with the assumption that you don't communicate well. If you're a recent college or MBA graduate, you may think that you've been taught to write and speak correctly, if not eloquently.