What's a five-year plan? (And why bother with one?)
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
If you recoil at the question, bear with me.
There are two types of answer that are likely to happen when you read that question: Either ‘I see myself….’ or ‘Five years? WTF, I’m working towards five minutes’ time!’
So why does it matter where you see yourself in five years’ time? It’s important because it determines what you do now, what you prioritise and what you focus on (and what you don’t).
Take a moment to imagine that very leap to five years from now. How old will you be? Where do you physically see yourself? What kind of work might you be doing?
I’m 46 now, so in 5 years’ time I’ll be 51. I see myself still living in the Cotswolds, possibly with another dog. In a house with a bigger garden, and driveway.
When it comes to work, one thing is very clear for me: I won’t be sat at a desk/computer all day. I see my work in the future as being people-focused, and if I’m being brave and dare to show off in front of you, I envision myself doing speaking gigs, at events, having written a non-fiction book about work and careers, and be coaching a lot. To be approached for work, not approaching.
Five years can seem like a strange goal parameter. But thinking ahead like this gives you a framework to then come back to the present and think: ‘What am I doing towards that end goal?’
It might be that for now, you browse the estate agent windows, dreaming of that other house. For me, adding to my coaching hours so I can get the next level of coaching accreditation is on the list. A slow and steady thing.
Once you begin to think of the 5-year goals, you can make adjustments in your life right now that work towards them. Not just doing things, but saying no to things.
Deciding to do some training, or to adjust your work set-up so that you are moving in that general 5-year direction.
For those who just can’t bear to think about 5-year plans, it might be worth thinking about ‘this time next year’.
It’s a very visual thing. Try and imagine where you’ll be sitting, even the room and chair. What’s around you? How do you FEEL?
That’s another key part of a five-year plan: how do you want to feel in five years?
This then brings in the health and fitness side of things for me: I know at 51 (before, really!) I want to feel stronger, fitter, and healthier. Not to lose weight but to feel those things.
To feel like I am thriving in my body which, by then, will most likely be menopausal (I’m peri now).
I actually prefer the idea of a five-year plan to all the narratives we’re seeing on social media right now about ‘making the last three months of the year count’.
If you’re curious now, here are three questions to ask yourself today (Try this with a pen and paper)":
When you think about yourself in five years’ time, how do you see yourself? where are you, what does the space around you look like? What do you look like? (Think about ‘look’ in terms of ‘I’m free/happy/successful’). Write down key words and elements that come to mind.
What job are you doing? Expand on this - is it a short or long term one, is it with the company you work for now? Is there a title you would give to the role?
How do you imagine yourself feeling? What kind of emotions do you want to associate with five years from now you?
Let me know how you get on!
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