Where do you want to be in 5 years?

Especially after everything we have all been through over the last three years, planning for the long term is a little scary. We have all had to focus on adapting to the new norm of living in the post-pandemic world. As time goes by, I am at a crucial point where I need to make moves that will set me up for success over the next five years.
 
In this blog post, I will share the five questions to help guide you as you develop your five-year plan. Check out some of my "Her Plan" posts to help you accomplish your goals.
 
#1: What has happened in your life over the past five years?
Reflecting on where you have been is an excellent start to your planning process. It helps you celebrate your accomplishments and the lessons you learned along the way. With everything we have all experienced over the last three years, it is very easy to forget how far we have come.
 
Questions to reflect on

• What did you do that made you proud? 
• What lessons did you learn from the things that didn't go as planned?
• What did you wish you had done in the past five years that you didn't do?

 
#2: What would make you proud in five years?
Recently in a class I took, they made us write a letter to our future selves listing all the things we are proud of ourselves for doing. It was a very intense and emotional exercise to write this letter and revisit it in the future, confirm things that happened, and see areas where things changed.
 
Questions to reflect on

• In five years from now, who do you want to be?
• In five years from now, what would you have accomplished? 
• In five years from now, who are the people in your life?

 
#3: What goals do you want to accomplish?
Now that you have had the time to dream and write them down, it is a good time to create your plan. With the knowledge that things will change in our lives, It is crucial to be prepared to adapt your plan over time. In my planning process, I use the following categories: Personal, Family, Work/Career, Finances, Business, Learning/Training, Giving back, and Bold Goals. For a balanced life, you must set goals in all the areas you want to grow in.
 
Questions to reflect on

• What are the goals you would like to achieve in five years?
• How would you know that you have accomplished the goals? 
• How would you celebrate your accomplishments?

 
#4: What are you afraid of?
Acknowledging the fears we have is an essential step while we plan. Our fears give us very valuable information. Some of your fears help highlight areas where you might lack skills or resources. You can focus on developing the gaps you identify over the next years. For the areas where you don't know what to do with your fears, accept that and commit to taking action towards your goals.
 
Questions to reflect on

• What areas of your plan do you feel afraid of? 
• What are your fears telling you?
• How can you close some of the gaps identified?

 
#5: What do you need to be successful over the next five years?
Creating a plan is a great start to having the life you desire. To solidify your plan, think about what you need to be successful. Think about the resources you need, such as finances, time, access to training, or a support network. You have time to gather the resources that you need.
 
Questions to reflect on

• What skills do you need to be successful in the next five years?
• How much would you need to invest in your goals? 
• How will you make sure you secure the resources you need?

 
Final Thoughts: MC's Story
About 15 years ago, I started creating my "Orientation Plan," which covered the vision and goal I wanted to accomplish over five years. It has evolved over the years as I have learned to build a more agile plan given everything that happened in my life and environment. I am at a point in my life where I have accomplished many of the big things I had on my plan and need to develop an updated version. Thinking about my future is very exciting.