As the saying goes, "The only thing worse than training employees and losing them is not training them and keeping them." The potential loss of revenue invested in professional development is paltry in comparison to the certainty of productivity lost by retaining mediocre workers. Yet despite this commonly accepted wisdom, many organizations still fail to allocate the necessary time and funding to properly train their workforce. If this is the case, it falls to the employee to take responsibility to develop professionally. One of the best ways to take professional development into your own hands is to get a certificate in your field. Depending on the industry, there are numerous certification programs that will expand your professional skills. Online courses also can be beneficial; a la carte coursework is another great way to add skills to your portfolio. Volunteering to speak at a conference or seminar is another way to develop your career; although it can be intimidating, it will kick-start your communications skills and increase your chances of succeeding.