Plans vs. Goals + Life
Do you have a 5 or 10 year plan? I don't. Never did. Actually, it was quite the opposite because I could never envision anything past a couple of years. In fact, I'm the kind of person that freaks out over signing a 1 year cell phone contract or a 1 year lease. Did I have every intention of staying in one place for a year? Of course. But the idea that something limits me causes me to think about my entire life in something like one silly cell phone contract purchasing decision.
What's even worse is that I consider myself to be a fantastic interviewer. My major in college was Speech Communication and we studied all areas of communicating including verbal, nonverbal, small group, one on one, and more. I know the tricks, I know how to create a conversation, I know what someone wants to hear just by the cues that they're giving. But when someone inevitably comes up with, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" my mind short circuits.
Job Hopper?
I'm 6 years out of college. I've worked in 3 industries (Music Industry, International Education, Social Media Marketing) for about 2-3 years each. I wouldn't say that I've "mastered" any of them, but I did quite well in each and have found value in all of them enough to do what I am currently doing (being a Community Manager). I am not a job hopper by any means, and I have every intention of staying long amounts of time in one place to see projects through, but planning out 5 years at once, or 10 years at once? How can anyone possibly do that?
As John Lennon once sang about, "Life's what happens when you're busy making other plans," and I could not agree more. My first job out of college was for THE most prominent worldwide talent agency in NYC and I can distinctly remember coming home to my closet of an apartment in Hell's Kitchen my first week to tell my roommate how I could see myself at this company for the rest of my life. One year in, my interests, abilities, and salary needs were not being met and I had thoughts of other things. Life.
Same thing happened when I left NYC to move to Korea and teach English. I was GOOD at it. I loved it and the people. I extended my one year contract month after month, opened myself up to new opportunities and ended up staying 2.5 years. I could have lived the rest of my life in that country as I am convinced it is a place that just gets "it." But through changing variables, and personal situations, it came to an end. Again, Life.
For anyone who has actually had a 5 year plan, have you been able to follow through with it? Did you stay the course even though life may have thrown curveballs at you?
What About Shorter Time Periods?
Part of me suggests 2-3 year plans. Goals are much easier to be reached when you can put them closely out in front of you. Expectations can be managed. At the end of two years re-evaluations can take place. The time commitment is much less daunting than 5 or 10 years. Or giving yourself deadlines instead of 5 year plans - "I'd like to have a house by 35. I'd like to have visited 15 countries by 30. I want to own my own small business by 40." So that the end goal doesn't necessarily dictate the path you take.
In order for opportunity to strike you have to be in the right place at the right time, and be open and flexible to it. Does a 5 year plan allow for that? Afterall, a fair amount of success includes a small (or large) amount of luck.
What's even worse is that I consider myself to be a fantastic interviewer. My major in college was Speech Communication and we studied all areas of communicating including verbal, nonverbal, small group, one on one, and more. I know the tricks, I know how to create a conversation, I know what someone wants to hear just by the cues that they're giving. But when someone inevitably comes up with, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" my mind short circuits.
Job Hopper?
I'm 6 years out of college. I've worked in 3 industries (Music Industry, International Education, Social Media Marketing) for about 2-3 years each. I wouldn't say that I've "mastered" any of them, but I did quite well in each and have found value in all of them enough to do what I am currently doing (being a Community Manager). I am not a job hopper by any means, and I have every intention of staying long amounts of time in one place to see projects through, but planning out 5 years at once, or 10 years at once? How can anyone possibly do that?
As John Lennon once sang about, "Life's what happens when you're busy making other plans," and I could not agree more. My first job out of college was for THE most prominent worldwide talent agency in NYC and I can distinctly remember coming home to my closet of an apartment in Hell's Kitchen my first week to tell my roommate how I could see myself at this company for the rest of my life. One year in, my interests, abilities, and salary needs were not being met and I had thoughts of other things. Life.
Same thing happened when I left NYC to move to Korea and teach English. I was GOOD at it. I loved it and the people. I extended my one year contract month after month, opened myself up to new opportunities and ended up staying 2.5 years. I could have lived the rest of my life in that country as I am convinced it is a place that just gets "it." But through changing variables, and personal situations, it came to an end. Again, Life.
For anyone who has actually had a 5 year plan, have you been able to follow through with it? Did you stay the course even though life may have thrown curveballs at you?
What About Shorter Time Periods?
Part of me suggests 2-3 year plans. Goals are much easier to be reached when you can put them closely out in front of you. Expectations can be managed. At the end of two years re-evaluations can take place. The time commitment is much less daunting than 5 or 10 years. Or giving yourself deadlines instead of 5 year plans - "I'd like to have a house by 35. I'd like to have visited 15 countries by 30. I want to own my own small business by 40." So that the end goal doesn't necessarily dictate the path you take.
In order for opportunity to strike you have to be in the right place at the right time, and be open and flexible to it. Does a 5 year plan allow for that? Afterall, a fair amount of success includes a small (or large) amount of luck.