Whether you're an entry-level or C-Suite professional, career goals are vital to your professional growth and development. While you should definitely have goals that are unique to you and what you're looking to accomplish, every professional should incorporate the following goals into their plan each year.

In order to be successful in today's workforce, it's critical that you master soft skills. While technical skills provide you with the know-how to complete your assigned tasks, soft skills are essential for building and sustaining rich relationships.

Gone are the days of getting a “good job” with minimal effort in your youth and staying there for decades until you retire with “the gold watch package.” If you’re still following that overly optimistic way of thinking, we’ve gotta break it to you; you’re behind on the times, and you need to catch up! Those who don’t get left behind, and we all know how that story ends.

Whether you're feeling like you've lost control of your career (or feel like you never had control in the first place), taking control of your career is vital to your success. Too many professionals are leaving their fate to chance and ultimately suffering as a result. It's time to tell whoever (or whatever) has been controlling your career to "step aside."