by Robert
In my view, there are two types of people: those with a five-year plan and those without. While this observation might seem simplistic since it covers all possibilities, I aim to discuss the benefits of envisioning our place in the world five years from now and seeking it out. Research indicates that individuals who write down their goals are more likely to reach them, and there are several reasons for this.
However, I want to quickly move away from the term “five-year plan” and instead talk about five-to-ten-year goals. Limiting myself to five years restricts my ability to dream big. Some of the significant achievements I wish to reach simply require more time. Moreover, a plan implies that I can predict how to achieve my goals. This might work well for specific projects, but I find it challenging in the project of “life.” We cannot foresee how the world around us will evolve. In today’s fast-paced world, we might need to rethink our direction overnight. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For instance, imagine being unexpectedly approached by a headhunter for a better job. This happens even in academia! Stefanie entertained a job opportunity in Australia for a while, which came about because a headhunting firm reached out to her. Suddenly, you may be on a different path into the future, and your previous plans dissolve. However, if you set goals instead of installing a fixed plan, you’re more adaptable. This leads to a first advantage:
Making More Conscious Decisions Using the headhunter’s job offer example, let’s say it involves moving from academia to a consultancy specializing in research and science. If you have significant ambitions conducting basic research within your field, you are likely to decline the job. However, if you aim to expand your overall impact on research, this could be an attractive opportunity. Likewise, you can better decide whether training is worthwhile, whether to start a particular project, or attend a certain conference, by knowing if it contributes to your long-term goals.
Improving Priority Setting A few weeks ago, we discussed what to do when everything seems equally important. Clearly, having long-term broadly formulated goals makes it easier to weigh options when faced with limited time, money, or personal energy. Understanding where you want to go can be genuinely helpful. Do I teach two courses this semester and then not teach at all next semester? You can imagine scenarios where the answer varies. Moreover, it becomes easier to distinguish between what is important and what is urgent. As the Eisenhower Matrix teaches, tasks that are both urgent and important should be addressed first. However, Eisenhower also stated: “Most things which are urgent are not important, and most things which are important are not urgent.” What matters are the tasks that contribute to your long-term goals!
Recognizing the Purpose and Drawing Energy from It The concept is simple: Knowing where you want to go and what you can do today to get there makes it significantly easier to muster the energy to overcome laziness and go the extra mile if necessary. Procrastination becomes much harder when you, for example, pin your five-to-ten-year goals on a wall poster and are constantly reminded of your ambition to contribute research that makes an impact on your research community. An essential point, often discussed with our clients and a staple in our courses, is that when a team has a clear vision of what they aim to achieve, it’s easier for everyone to move in the same direction at high speed. The idea of five-to-ten-year goals can and should be translated from the individual to the team level.
Building Resilience Against Challenges and Setbacks Here’s an example from GLIA-Leadership: One of our goals was (and remains) to publish articles with our viewpoints not just in blog posts but also in journals with broad reach. Then, unexpectedly, the UK study on the introduction of a four-day work week landed in our lap. We wrote an article discussing whether this could be a concept for academia and, if so, what conditions would need to be established. After receiving rejections from the careers sections of major magazines, we pondered our next steps. One of us refused to give up, and we reached out to “Inside Higher Education” magazine. Our article was accepted. Without our clearly defined goal, we might not have made this additional effort.
Goal Setting with the Help of Mickey Mouse To craft such 5-to-10-year goals, consider the Disney Method. These expansive goals need to be a blend of dreaming, realism, and critique. First, let the Dreamer in you take the wheel, envisioning the grandest outcomes without restraint. Nobel Prize? Revolutionizing your research field? Becoming Stanford University’s President? Winning an Olympic medal in your hobby sport? Whatever you dream of, write it down before you engage the Realist to ground these dreams within the realm of feasibility, reflecting on the capabilities and milestones needed. Maybe, instead of becoming University President, you aspire to become a Head of Department somewhere first. Finally, the Critic ensures the plan’s durability, spotlighting challenges and strategizing on overcoming them.
This multi-faceted approach ensures that your objectives are not only bold and inspiring but also actionable and resilient against unforeseen hurdles. By charting a course through dreaming, realistic reflection, and critical assessment, you set yourself on a path to fulfilling your most ambitious goals over the next five to ten years.
While setting and pursuing our five-to-ten-year goals, it’s crucial to navigate the common pitfalls and mindful considerations that ensure your aspirations remain aligned with your evolving life.
Only having written goals and reviewing them regularly is not going to manifest them into existence. You have to take action–sometimes a lot of it. But having those goals in the front of your mind will ensure that your action is largely aligned with your goals.
There are a couple of more aspects that require our attention to avoid missteps and fully harness the advantages of thoughtful goal setting.
Embracing a Holistic Viewpoint First and foremost, when charting the course for your future, it’s important to adopt a holistic perspective that encompasses all facets of your existence: your professional endeavors, family life, leisure activities, and the elements that fuel your energy versus those that deplete it. This comprehensive approach ensures that your goals do not exist in isolation but are interwoven with the fabric of your entire being. By considering how each goal impacts different areas of your life, you create a harmonious balance that fosters both achievement and well-being. For instance, striving for a promotion should not come at the expense of family time or personal health. It’s about finding equilibrium that sustains your overall life satisfaction.
Acknowledging Dependencies and Conflicts An essential step in the goal-setting process is to identify and reconcile any dependencies or conflicts between your aspirations. Some goals might inherently contradict each other, such as the desire to work part-time while aiming to double your salary. Recognizing these contradictions early allows you to re-evaluate and adjust your goals to ensure they are mutually supportive and realistically attainable. This analysis helps in prioritizing your ambitions and setting a clear path forward that minimizes conflict and maximizes synergy among your objectives.
The Importance of Regular Reassessment Life is an ever-evolving journey, and your goals should be adaptable to its changes. It’s advisable to reassess your objectives at least annually. This regular audit allows you to celebrate the goals you achieved and replace them with new aspirations or elevate them to higher ambitions. Similarly, some goals may no longer resonate with your current situation or aspirations, necessitating their revision or removal. As Brendon Burchard shared: “Sometimes the quickest way to complete a project is to quit.” This reevaluation process ensures that your goals remain relevant and reflective of your personal growth and changing priorities.Keeping Your Goals in Sight Lastly, the true power of having goals lies in your continuous awareness of them. Without regularly reminding yourself of what you’re striving for, the benefits of goal setting can easily be lost in the shuffle of daily life. Maintaining a visible or accessible representation of your goals can serve as a motivator and guide. Whether it’s through a vision board, a digital reminder, or periodic reflection sessions, keeping your goals front and center empowers you to make decisions that align with your long-term aspirations, maximizing the potential benefits of your efforts.
– Robert