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