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If I hear one more person describe to me in detail the significance of a 5-year plan I’m going to scream.
From financial tips to general life advising, all I hear is “you must be prepared.” For what exactly?
Being a pseudo-typical “J-type,” I’m a fairly organized person. Obsessed with post-its and to-do lists, I make my life work with the aid of logical planning tactics, at least for the day to day stuff. In all other aspects of life I have a ”wing it” attitude–perhaps it’s the Top Gun in me or maybe I’m just directionally challenged, but I hate being confined into anything I don’t like–be it a job, an apartment or a relationship. I like my freedom to choose, to change.
So obviously when it comes to long term goals I’m screwed. I have an idea about what I think I want, but no way to detail it. Planning for the future seems absurd to me. There’s no crystal ball. I get planning for potential crises (i.e. saving six months salary for backup) or the controllable what-ifs of daily life, but how do you plan tomorrow? It’s nice to have an idea of what you’d like to occur, but unfortunately you can’t create a finite map for it.
So in lieu of formulating a 5-year plan, I’m going with a 3-year intention.
Similar to the 5-year plan, my 3-year intention will detail everything I’d like to happen, as well as suggestions on how to accomplish them. However unlike the stubbornly static 5-year plan, my new policy will build in room for error and my more-than-occasional mood swings.
For example, in three years I want to complete my master’s, advance a little in my career and move further South (yeah, I know, sue me). That’s what I want the most right now and those are the things I intend on making happen. But I’ll build in some wiggle room to accommodate for any kinks that may pop up–like if I were suddenly inspired to drop my current profession and fulfill my long suppressed dream to become a competitive ice dancer. It could happen.
So what’s your plan? How do you detail your goals for the future?
I like that - 3 year intentions. It might as well be 5 year intentions. And plans are too volatile these days.
I'm much the same way. I'm a "J" too, so I love me a good plan, but I also love the freedom to grab fleeting opportunities and course-correct along the way. Last year, I was certain that I wanted to be in HR and has no idea what a blog was. Now I'm a professional blogger. Life is funny like that.
Oh my god, I can barely keep my head in today, let alone 5 years from now.
I don't have a plan (and I'll pass on the you-have-to-have-a-plan-get-anywhere advice); I honestly just try to stay in today because you just don't know what life is going to throw at you. I've been doing it this way for the past 17 months, and I must say it's exhilarating. Because I would never have thought I'd own an IT company, have a fairly successful blog, or be up for a job in a new & exciting city.
What I do is plan to stick with my values. I value good work, ingenuity, passion, creativity, and connecting with people. That's what I pursue. The what is not important; it's the how.
Make plans, sure. But remain flexible and always be choosing your choices. Ask if it's in line with your values, and don't be afraid to throw it all away for a new path.
Two awesome quotes that apply here:
"Life is what happens while you're making other plans" (John Lennon).
"You can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards… Believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the WELL WORN PATH…" (Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, Inc.).
You should check out Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech if you haven't already (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc).
I think less people actually have a 5 year plan than say they do. I also think that 5 year plans are total BS.
Successful people are flexible, and don't get stuck on some obsessive goal or path that they are just too stubborn to reevaluate. So I like you're idea of the 3 year intention. It's more like a plot of guidelines.
I wrote an article on my blog that touches on this kind of thing. Maybe it will help ease your thoughts: http://generationbreakthrough.com/blog/36-blog-philosophy/54-the-how-to-...
Amen! In this research-centric age of over-thinking, you certainly can plan your way out of a life.
A full on five-year plan might be a bit much. I say you go with the Chinese menu approach and take a little from Column A and a little from Column B. A simple time line or list of keywords can also be helpful.
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans...." - John Lennon.
And it's true. Plans are great, but don't expect you'll actually be able to to go through with all of them. Things change too quickly. Spouse? Children? The new boss doesn't like you? Your company starts lay-offs? You get sick? A family member becomes ill or injured?
And then what happens to your plans? Do you panic? Or march forward? Or what?
I'm lucky I can make it from week to week. And I've experienced all the above scenarios.
Oh yeah, you got this right! Three year intention sounds perfect for most people. The idea of having a plan is great, but having goals (like getting your masters) makes it more likely to happen, which is what it's all about.
I was recently reading "Made to Stick" and a quote from that book is "A well laid plan fails when confronted with the enemy" - translated this means that all plans fall apart when the pressure of reality hits.
Your mention of intent is valuable. I personally keep "to-do" list and now every day, week, month, and year I have an "intent" once I and my team realize the intent they are able to achieve the intent by their owns means. Business plans cause confusion and interpretations vary widely.
Stop using your companies pre-printed thank you notes. Hand write a thank you note! Hand writing is much more personal and it shows you care. More...
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