The death of the five-year career goal

I read an interesting article last week that focused much more on what you should be doing on a daily basis as opposed to focusing only on long term planning.  At first I really struggled with the idea, but the more I thought about it the author may have been onto something.  Let me explain.

First of all, focus on the things that you can control.  If you put together a great list of things you want to accomplish in five years but fail to execute the little steps along the way, I can guarantee you will be disappointed when that five-year anniversary rolls around.  The graphic I picked out for today was very intentional.  Goal setting should also include immediate and achievable ideas.  Otherwise you are just floating along and hoping to survive.

Secondly, be aware of your surroundings.  If you are not on a team that can otherwise support your long term goals, then perhaps something needs to change.  Conventional wisdom will tell you that staying at one employer for five years is a great thing, but I would argue otherwise if you are being held back in your greater career aspirations.  Don't hear what I am not saying - do not take this chance to chase new opportunities every six months to prove me wrong.  But rather just pay special attention to what is happening around you to see if it aligns with both your short term objectives and long term goals.

Thirdly, take some risks.  Far too often candidates and companies alike choose the safer route when making big decisions.  It could be related to staffing, strategic planning, infrastructure, and much more.  For candidates it is usually a decision to "stay put and make do" instead of making a career move that could be more rewarding.  For companies it is usually doing nothing that is the safest move, but provide very little upside.  Risk does come with some downside as things can go wrong, but the greater success must be kept in mind.  A risk right now might pay off to enhance your five-year goals and make them a reality.

Lastly, don't entirely forsake the five-year goal for the five-week or five-month goal.  Although I have made several points alluding to the "death of the five-year career goal", it was mostly to spark dialogue and debate.  With the holidays and inevitable New Years' resolutions around the corner, we all know what is going to happen.  We will put on 5-10 pounds from holiday eating, vow to work out more on January 1, stick with it for a few weeks or even a month, and then drop back into our regular routine.  If you really want to keep your weight down, make a plan now, execute it DURING the holidays, and simply continue the routine after the New Year.  Same can be said for goal setting.  Sit down and really determine where you want to be in five years.  And then don't waste another minute wondering how to execute those goals.  Make it happen now.  Even if you encounter some bumps in the road or fail on a short term goal, keep pressing forward every single day with new ideas.  Then in five years we can celebrate together for being in a better place.

What are your five-year goals?  Have you ever written them down?