What is your 5 year plan? Tips on building one!

December26

At some point in 2004 I started building and maintaining a rough version of a 1 year / 5 year plan. That doc served an excuse to dream about what I wanted to do and how I wanted to live. The doc has evolved each year, and it has been a huge help in making sure I stay focused and not wandering off the path (or at least trying not too). Right now I keep 3 docs: a 1 year plan that outlines my goals for the current year, a 5 year plan that outlines the next 5 years and what I want to achieve, and a big doc that outlines how i want to live my life as well as a list of past plans, challenges, and adventures. Each year I get a little better at it.

A 5 year plan shouldn’t be as rigid as train tracks where you are stuck going down them no matter what changes. It should be more like a dirt trail going through the woods. You might be two years down that trail and realize it is time to go another direction and reorient yourself.

I highly recommend that everyone build out a simple doc that outlines your goals for the current year, and for the next 5 years. I think you will find it very useful. Need some help getting started in your plan? Here are some recommended articles and books to help you start!

LifeHacker has a really good post on creating a 5 year plan. The book Your Best Year Yet is a bit cheesy but useful. I’ve worked through it with my wife at different points and the process was great for both of us. It will def make you think :). If you want to shortcut try this blog post as they use a similar process. Check out this post by Jeffrey Baumgartner on building a creative 5 year plan. And, the art of simple has a solid post where they share their process as well.

Living life takes a little planning, else you wake up 10 years later and realize life steamrolled you and you are stuck in your own personal groundhog day.

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Vienna Austria & Alps Roadtrip

December26

I love Vienna, it is a beautiful city and feels like a Germanic Paris. I highly recommend a visit :).

What is one of the best things about Vienna Austria? The below is called an ubersterzer newmen or something auf deutsch :). It is a giant ball of real whip cream along with a double espresso. A man in a fancy white waiter jacket will even pour it for you which makes it all the more ridiculous :). If you are in town I highly recommend Cafe Museum (it is our favorite cafe).

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Christmas markets!!! They are like a farmer’s market but with only Christmas stuff.

Lindsey’s mom came into town mid December and we did a big road trip along the lower Alpine road. This took us from Vienna to Salzburg to Innsbruck to a ton of German mountain towns. It was a fantastic trip and a ton of fun! Here are some pictures!

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1 Year Anniversary!

December21

Lindsey and I are celebrating our 1 year wedding anniversary today! It has been a good year for us, definitely some challenges in the processes, and we have learned a lot! We like to joke that we have spent this year only 18 inches apart due to our close proximity while traveling and living in very small apartments.

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This pic cracks me up everytime I look at it :).

This is bwb’s personal blog, so he can share his thoughts with the world, however scary or silly they might be. Plus family and friends can track what I am up to, and where I am in the world.

I am pretty simple. I love Mangos. I love the ocean (although mostly at sunset, as I’m a ginger). I love to travel, eat exotic food, do long bike rides, read, and use my imagination. At some point, I decided it was better to be a pirate captain than an admiral. I am a globalist and see the entire world as my responsibility and playground. And I am married to an amazing woman who makes life even more fun :)! And we are now the proud parents of Calico Jack :).


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