personal 5 year plan essay

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What is a 5 year plan?

The benefits of creating a 5 year plan, how to create a 5 year plan in 6 easy steps, 5 year plan examples.

You may have heard of SMART goal setting (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound goals), but have you ever heard of HARD goal setting?

Society has been pushing SMART goals since the early ’80s, but a 2020 study found that people who set SMART goals are much less likely to love their jobs , while people who set HARD goals are 53% more likely to love their jobs. 

But, what are HARD goals? HARD goals are defined as: 

• Heartfelt 
• Animated 
• Required 
• Difficult 

They are goals for which you have an emotional connection, strong visualization, great urgency, and difficulty. 

While there are laudable aspects of SMART goals, the study shows serious problems regarding the ‘achievable’ and realistic’ aspects of SMART goal-setting. 

Methodologies that emphasize creating difficult goals are far more likely to be successful and generate higher employee engagement.

In this article, we’ll show you how to use HARD goals to make a 5 year plan, as well as show you two 5 year plan examples.

A 5 year plan is a personal and/or professional list of goals that you want to achieve in the next 5 years. 

Oftentimes, 5 year plans include smaller, concrete goals, to help you achieve the larger goals on your list. 

For example, if a long-term goal is to buy a bigger house, then a smaller goal might include setting aside a certain amount of money each month to go toward a deposit on a home loan. 

Or, if one of your long-term goals is to be a certified nurse, then a smaller goal might include finding the best nursing program in your area or applying for a student loan.

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One of the best things about a 5 year plan is that it can significantly motivate you to create the life you want to live. Notice we said “create the life “ not just “achieve the goal.” A 5 year plan that works for you will be more effective if you think of your life holistically — how do you want to feel? What values will you be living? — as you create it. 

Whatever the specific goals you have in mind — whether it’s starting a business, becoming certified or developing expertise, competing in an event, having a child, or taking a big trip — a 5 year plan can help you move from dreaming into doing, wish into a reality. 

Here are some other benefits of creating a 5 year plan:

• It creates a starting point for a career, start-up idea, or personal goal . If you have a goal without a plan, it may not ever happen. But, if you know you want to be a real estate broker by 2026, you’re in a better position to start the process and take actionable steps to achieve that.
• It helps you stay focused and aligned with your ambitions, rather than your dreams constantly hanging out in the back seat. 
• It’s a consistent reminder of what you’re aiming toward, and what you need to do to get there. 

The trick is: keep your plan as visible as possible, make sure it’s what you deeply desire, and make sure your goals are specific, measurable, time-bound, and HARD. 

What should be included in a 5 year plan? 

Grab a pen and a piece of paper. Visualize your life 5 years from now, and write down everything you see without thinking or judging . If any fears, doubts, or negative emotions come up, that’s normal. The key is to ignore them and not attribute any meaning to them.

Use the following categories to help you write your complete brainstorm. 

How do you want your nutritional health , mental fitness , physical health , and mental health to look in 5 years?

Are you interested in being vegan? Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to start a yoga practice ? Would you like to regularly meet with a therapist? 

Relationships

Imagine your future professional relationships, friendships, and familial relationships. What do you want them to look like?

Do you want to join a networking group? Are you interested in starting a book club? Do you want to adopt a child? Do you want to take more trips with your partner?

Visualize your financial goals in these buckets: 

• Bills 
• Everyday expenses (i.e. groceries) 
• Flexible spending (i.e. entertainment) 
• Emergency savings 
• Goal savings 
• Investments 

What do you see?

Will you be contributing higher amounts to your 401(k)? Are you planning on saving for higher education? What do you want your emergency savings to look like? Do you want to save for a big trip?

Career/business

What are your career and business aspirations?

Do you picture yourself leading a huge team or an entire corporation? Do you want to be a digital nomad? Are you planning on starting a blog? 

The truth is, the world of business and how people buy and use goods and services is constantly changing — and fast. Don’t get hung up on roles and titles. Especially if you’re early in your career, you will discover career aspirations and opportunities that don’t even exist today. That being said, spend time thinking about what types of activities interest you, what type of environment you enjoy, what type of impact you want to make day-to-day.

If you’re feeling stuck about your career goals, consider:

• Taking career assessments
• Making a list of various career paths
• Finding the overlap between things you like and what companies are hiring for
• Working with mentors
• Building your network
• Creating your own job or business that lines up with your interests
• Listing your passions, values, skills, and interests, then finding or creating jobs that match some parts of the list

If you’re still unsure about your dream job, don’t worry. Go after jobs you’re interested in, learn from them, and eventually, you’ll come across pursuits you’re excited about. Many people also worry if they don’t have a passion. The reality is that pursuing interests and immersing yourself in the work is a good way to discover and develop passion . It’s also okay if you’re multi-passionate and interested in several jobs. 

Personal/spiritual/religious development

How do you want to grow personally and/or spiritually?

Are you interested in starting a home church? Do you want to work with a life coach or career coach? Do you want to meditate more? Would you like to start a gratitude or prayer practice? Do you want to build resilience ? 

Environment/organization/space/home

How do you picture your future environment?

Are you living in a tropical bungalow in Bali? Are you in a newly decorated and renovated home? Do you have a custom pool in your backyard? Are you living with your family to save money? Are you embracing minimalism?

Recreation/fun

What kinds of hobbies will you have in the future?

Will you be snowboarding every winter and surfing every summer? Are you interested in joining a soccer league? Do you want to take up cooking or art classes? 

Service/contribution

What kind of meaningful contribution would you like to be a part of?

Are you interested in volunteering for a vegetable co-op? Will you be tutoring kids on the weekends? Being a mentor ? Do you want to buy monthly groceries for one of your friends in need until they get back on their feet?

• Focus your plan
• Consider potential goals
• Determine your 'why?'
• Identify annual goals and create monthly goals
• Research how to reach your goals
• Adjust and revisit as needed

Here’s how to use your notes to create your plan:

1. Focus your plan

Take a look at your notes and decide which specific areas to focus on. 

You might decide that you’d rather focus on a few areas, like your health and career, or you might decide that you want to focus on all areas. 

Once you decide, grab a piece of paper for every area you plan to focus on and write the area of growth at the top of each. 

For example, if you decide just to focus on health and money, you’ll write ‘health’ at the top of your first paper and ‘money’ at the top of your second paper. 

2. Consider potential goals

Next, divide each paper into two columns. The left column will be for ‘goals,’ and the right column will be for ‘action steps’ or ‘skills.’ 

Then, decide which goals you want to achieve for each category. Remember that ‘specific’, ‘measurable’, and ‘time-bound’ are positive aspects of SMART goals. That said, the ‘achievable’ and ‘realistic’ aspects of SMART goals can deter you from going after more audacious goals. 

Challenge yourself to leave your comfort zone with HARD goals. 

This doesn’t mean setting goals with no chance of success. But, setting goals with, let’s say, a 50/50 chance of success is difficult and ambitious enough to give you a real sense of accomplishment when you succeed.

For example, on your ‘health’ paper, let’s say you decide to write the following in the ‘goals’ column: 

• Be more active
• Increase nutrients 

Then, you might write the following in the ‘action steps’ or ‘skills’ column: 

• Eat raw and organic fruits and vegetables three times a day 
• Walk for two hours a day
• Take a daily multivitamin and add superfoods to morning smoothies 

Next, decide between long-term and short term goals:

Review your list of goals. Decide which are better suited for short-term goals and which are better suited for long-term goals. 

For example, you might decide that being a teacher in Peru is a long-term goal while researching places to live in Peru is a short-term goal. You might start outlining your short- and long-term goals with a 30-60-90 day plan . 

3. Determine your ‘why?’

What’s your big ‘why?’ Why do you want to be a Teaching English Foreign Language (TEFL) teacher in Peru? 

Write your reason down and hang it in a place where you’ll see it daily. 

For example, “I want to be a TEFL teacher in Peru, so I can learn Spanish, help students develop their English skills, and fulfill my dream of exploring South America.”

4. Identify annual goals and create monthly goals

First, establish annual goals that will help you reach your 5 year goals. 

For example, if one of your 5 year goals is to adopt a child, then your first annual goal will probably consist of setting interviews with adoption agencies.

Next, break down your annual goals into monthly goals. 

For example, if your annual goal is becoming a TEFL teacher in Peru, your monthly breakdown could look like this:

• Month 1: Research reputable TEFL programs and set online appointments with TEFL advisors to decide which program you like best
• Months 2-3: Take your TEFL course, study for exams, and write essays
• Month 4: Take your final TEFL exam and wait for your certificate 
• Months 5: Edit your resume and look for a short TEFL internship
• Month 6: Intern with a TEFL academy and ask for feedback from your mentors
• Month 7: Create a lesson plan portfolio and start looking for jobs
• Month 8: Set up job interviews 
• Month 9-10: Land a job from one of your interviews and buy your plane tickets
• Month 11: Move to Peru, find a furnished apartment, and get to know your neighborhood
• Month 12: Start work at your new job as a TEFL teacher 

5. Research how to reach your goals

Next, research the best ways to reach your goals. 

If you plan on moving to Peru, are there some YouTube channels you can check out with tips on how to move? If you plan on creating a start-up, can you meet with some start-up experts that can mentor you? If you plan on learning how to bake macarons, is there a French macaron cookbook you can buy?

6. Adjust and revisit as needed

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. While the 5 year plan is designed to help you stay focused and persist despite bumps and detours, sometimes the unexpected is you.

As you start working on your goals, you may realize that your interests and passions don't quite align. This is where self-directed learning can help.

Plan for periodic review, reflection, and adjustment as part of life. If your long-range plan still feels right, zoom in to your monthly goals. Decide if your monthly goals are working or if you need to adjust them.

For example, you might find that trying to conduct online interviews with a Peruvian academy is impossible. So you could decide to fly out early to meet directors in person instead. 

You may also decide that creating weekly or even daily goals is essential to hitting your monthly goals.

Revisit and revise your plan as often as needed (at least once a year). You might be surprised at how fast you reach some goals while other goals might take a bit longer than expected.

Here's an example of a 5 year plan for a student interested in being a Certified Public Accountant (CPA):

Here’s a personal 5 year plan example for someone interested in becoming fluent in Spanish:

Creating a 5 year plan is one of the best ways to see your dreams come to life. 

At BetterUp, we love seeing individuals reach their fullest potential and achieve their dreams. Request a demo today to find out more.

Maggie Wooll, MBA

Maggie Wooll is a researcher, author, and speaker focused on the evolving future of work. Formerly the lead researcher at the Deloitte Center for the Edge, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Maggie is passionate about creating better work and greater opportunities for all.

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Creating your Five Year Plan

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Career planning is an essential part of your career development. By coming up with a career plan, you can start to orchestrate what you need to meet both your short- and long-term career goals. Not sure what to major in? Maybe you should plan to take a class in the subject, or participate in a research project related to that major. Through taking a large plan and breaking it apart into smaller, more manageable chunks, you will start to see the benefits of incorporating planning into your career development.

You may be struggling with what you are planning to do this weekend, or even this evening, but don’t put off the process of planning. Planning will help you identify some of the steps you may need to take to be successful. And it is never too soon to start to develop a goal and a strategy to help give you a sense of direction.

Your Five-Year Resume

Based on this career planning exercise , I want to help you find a way to develop your career goals and purposefully moving towards them. The idea is fairly simple, but it will require work and collaboration with others over six steps for you to see the most benefit from the exercise. Note that one of your collaborators on your career journey at MIT is CAPD—so don’t be shy to schedule an appointment with us as you work towards your career goals.

Step 1: Your current resume

This should hopefully be the easiest step of them all, but start with your current (or most recently updated resume). If it’s been awhile since you have updated your resume, no worries, you can certainly check out our resume resources or schedule an appointment with us to get tailored advice. At a minimum, your resume for this exercise should provide a current snapshot of where you are in terms of your education, experience, and skills.

Do not worry if you do not have a lot on your resume, yet. This resume is simply your starting point!

Step 2: Your five-year resume

Now, imagine you are five years into the future. What has changed? What have you learned? How have you developed? What are you most proud of? This is an opportunity to craft a version of you that you aspire to be—so allow your personal ambitions to help drive you as you write this resume. As you build this new resume, review each of the different sections of your resume and ask yourself:

Header/Contact Information

• Where do you live now?
• Where can people find more about you (e.g. LinkedIn, e-portfolio)?
• How has your professional identity changed?
• What schools have you attended? Graduated from?
• What degree have you obtained?
• What subjects have you majored or minored in?
• What courses have you taken?
• Who have you studied with?
• What certifications or professional designations have you earned?
• What industries and employers have you worked for?
• What titles have you had?
• What positions (jobs, internships, research, etc.) have you had?
• What experiences have you had and what were the outcomes?
• What accomplishments and results have you achieved?
• What have you learned from these experiences?

Activities/Leadership

• What activities have you engaged in?
• What role did you play in these activities?
• What were the results of your involvement?
• What specific accomplishments or successes have you had?
• What skills do you have now?
• What languages are you now fluent in?
• What tools/software/technology are you able to use now?
• What is your proficiency level?

Awards/Recognition

• What honors and awards have you earned?
• What publications have you published in?
• What patents have you received?
• What are you interested in now?
• What are your hobbies?
• Who are your personal and professional connections?

You should not create this document in a vacuum, however. Look around you. Inspiration may come from a variety of sources and in multiple forms. As you are conceptualizing your future self, consider the following resources:

• Job Boards – By reviewing job descriptions on platforms like Handshake , you may find some ideas about what you will need to develop to qualify for different occupations. Take a look at the qualifications to learn about attributes you may want to have by the time you graduate. Some positions may require advanced degrees, and you can factor that into your five year resume.
• Online Profiles – With social media platforms like LinkedIn and MIT platforms like Advisors Hub , you can learn more about what alumni and other professionals have in their education, experiences, skills. You may also see how they have progressed in their career over the years since graduating so you can determine what opportunities might be achievable for you.
• News & Research – Since technology is moving so quickly now, I recommend you also see what are current developments in sector or industry you are considering. Even looking back just a few years, you will see a variety of successes (and failures) that may offer you guidance as you plot your course forward.
• People – Even though you could just look up their profiles on LinkedIn, connecting with people (including fellow students, faculty, alumni, and employers) using an informational interview might provide additional inspiration. Talking with people might give you not only a sense of where things have been, but also where things are going—so you can ride the future wave to an amazing career!

Step 3: Set goals

Now that you have both documents set, think of your current resume as a starting point and your five year resume as a destination point. What do you need to do over the next five years to make your five year resume your future reality?

You may feel overwhelmed by how much of a leap you are planning to take. But don’t sweat it! Afterall, you have some time ahead of you—just don’t lose the momentum! To make the most of those five years, it helps to set more proximal goals in addition to the more distal goals outlined in your five year resume.

Distal goals tend to be the culmination of the completion of several proximal goals. For example, you don’t wake up one day and “become an engineer”. You will need to take a couple of engineering classes, declare a major in engineering, and finish your engineering degree on your way to become one. By chunking your larger goals into smaller goals, you can act on them faster and feel the progress you are making towards your goals.

Determining how to break apart your distal goals into more manageable proximal goals is only the beginning. It will be helpful to turn each of your proximal goals into a SMART goal. Although there are different structures to the SMART acronym, for this exercise we will use:

• Specific – the specific area you would like to improve or develop
• Measurable – you can measure your progress to your goal
• Achievable – this goal is something you can achieve realistically
• Resourced – you can get the support you need to meet the goal
• Time-bound – there is a time you would like to meet this goal

For example: I will reach out to alumni using Advisors Hub to conduct six informational interviews to learn how to prepare my resume for internships in finance during the month of February.

Now that you have a series of goals, it’s now time to put this into a framework that you can use and keep track of your progress.

Step 4: Create an action plan

Now that you have goals, write them down into your own career action plan. This can take many forms from journals to spreadsheets, but it’s good for you to keep track of your progress.

I want you to have fun with putting your plan together, so use whatever format works best for you. It could be in a journal or online, on a spreadsheet or in a document. You can even use something like a wayfinding map to show how different parts might flow together.

This page contains a thumbnail for an embedded document.

If you are looking for something basic, you can use the following template to start to develop your personal five-year career plan.

• Identify your “Five Year Goal”
• Indicate, using SMART goals, what you will accomplish each year to meet your Five-Year Goal
• Include any resources or support you may need to meet your annual goals
• Add a due date that is achievable for the goal you outlined

In some cases, you may need to revisit/revise your proximal goals as you progress through to your five-year goal. Don’t worry if you need to make changes as you go, this is all part of this process.

Step 5: Seek guidance

Again, this process is not something that occurs successfully in a vacuum—so I recommend that you talk about your plans with others. Think about them like an accountabili-buddy: someone who can guide you, cheer you on, or just give you some advice from time to time. Some people might only be able to offer you one-off tips or advice, while others may want to take a more mentorship approach. Be open to receiving guidance from multiple people as it may help provide different perspectives on what you need to do. Ultimately, this is your plan, and you will have the final say on the steps you think are best to take to meet your goal.

Step 6: Reflect and revisit

I think about the interview question: “where do you see yourself in five years” and I often struggle to think about how successfully I could have guessed where I am right now, five years ago. Over the course of navigating your career revisit these documents and revise as needed. Unless you etched or chiseled this, chances are it is not set in stone and you can adjust your plan as you need.

Moving Forward

The rapid pace of change in the world of career development is very fast. It may be challenging to see your plans suddenly have to change or adjust based on factors you might not be able to control. Career planning will take a bit of resiliency and self-compassion. Don’t feel bad if you missed a deadline, or your goals aren’t met based on the initial time you outlined. I encourage you to be flexible, continue to seek support and guidance, and know that CAPD is here to help. Schedule an appointment with us so we can support you.

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How to Write a Five Year Plan

Last Updated: October 7, 2022 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM . Shannon O'Brien is the Founder and Principal Advisor of Whole U. (a career and life strategy consultancy based in Boston, MA). Through advising, workshops and e-learning Whole U. empowers people to pursue their life's work and live a balanced, purposeful life. Shannon has been ranked as the #1 Career Coach and #1 Life Coach in Boston, MA by Yelp reviewers. She has been featured on Boston.com, Boldfacers, and the UR Business Network. She received a Master's of Technology, Innovation, & Education from Harvard University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 787,590 times.

Sample Five-Year Plans

Choosing Categories

• Visualize yourself, as you see yourself, in five years. Where do you see yourself living? What do you see yourself doing?
• It's possible that you're already quite happy and satisfied in your life and you want your five year plan to continue on the path you're already on. If that's the case, think more about what you'll need to continue living the way you enjoy.

Tip: Be as honest as possible. Don't think about what you feel is expected of you — instead, think about what truly makes you happy.

• Starting a novel
• Watching less television
• Quitting smoking
• Starting a band
• Getting more exercise

• Saving more money
• Getting a graduate degree
• Asking for a promotion
• Starting a 401k
• Finding another job

• Sky-diving, at least once
• Going on a blind date
• Hiking the Cumberland Gap
• Traveling abroad
• Going to a music festival

• Having a child
• Saving money for your child's education
• Starting your child in school
• Adding on to your home
• Moving to a larger home
• Going on a family vacation

Drawing Up the List

• In the margin of each list, label every item on the list either A, B, or C. Label an A goal as a goal that is extremely important to you and that you want or need the most. Label a C goal as something that would be nice to have, but isn't something that you really want or need. If a goal is in between the two categories, label it a B goal. In order to find out what your priorities are, be as honest as possible.

Tip: Alternatively, you could also organize your list in order of how long it will take you to accomplish them. If you've got "learn to speak Italian" on your list as well as "get organized," you can take drastic steps toward one in the next week, while the other may take a lot longer.

• If you identified, "Get a graduate degree" on your list as an important item, make a separate list for each goal that you identify as being very important, such as this. Even if it seems simple, something like, "Get organized," it's still important to treat that with as much attention as possible.

• You might need to do a little research to find out for sure what needs to happen to turn your goals into a reality.

Tip: For some goals, it might help to start working backward. Imagine yourself as you'd like to imagine yourself in five years, and then imagine what needed to happen for you to get there. If you imagine yourself with a graduate degree and a good job, living on a mountain somewhere, what needed to happen in the weeks leading up to that image of your yourself? What needed to have happened the previous year?

Tackling the List

• Try not to get discouraged. Remember, you're thinking long term. Keep breaking down those big goals until they become a small series of things you can do. Set smart goals and make plans to accomplish them.

Tip: Take a minute to celebrate each time you finish something. You're getting that much closer to accomplishing a life goal, so treat yourself to something special. Dinner, drinks, a spa day. Take some time for yourself.

• Periodically amend your list of goals to take into account these new observations and goals that come up. Revise your five year plan to account for the new information. This isn't a failure, it's a sign you're learning more and getting closer to those goals.

Expert Q&A

• A technique to see through to your goals is rewriting them every day in the present tense, to hammer them into your subconscious brain. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• If new methods pop up to you, review your main goal and your 'A methods' to see if it will work into your plan. If necessary, rewrite your main goal and methods to see if anything has changed. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM. Life & Career Coach. Expert Interview. 10 December 2019.
• ↑ https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/structure/strategic-planning/create-objectives/main
• ↑ https://www.ucop.edu/local-human-resources/_files/performance-appraisal/How%20to%20write%20SMART%20Goals%20v2.pdf
• ↑ https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/practice/resources/phqitoolbox/objectives.html
• ↑ https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/creating-your-plan/setting-goals/how-will-you-pursue-your-goals

About This Article

To write a five year plan, come up with some goals that are as specific as possible, which will make them easier to track. For example, instead of saying "I want to be making more money," you could say "I want my salary to increase by 15 percent." Once you've made a list of goals, write out a plan for achieving each one. Also, break your goals up into a series of short-term goals so that you feel like you're accomplishing things along the way. For help choosing goals and working toward achieving them, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Learn First, Plan Later: Drafting a Useful Five-Year Plan

Planning can help you attain your goals, but you may have some work to do first..

Posted January 23, 2024 | Reviewed by Hara Estroff Marano

• What Is a Career
• Find a career counsellor near me
• The future becomes more unpredictable with time. Therefore, five years is too far ahead to plan most things.
• However, setting goals improves performance; plans help people achieve their goals.
• Most career plans suffer from a variety of obstacles. Experience and research can help improve those plans.

Ten years ago, when I was a newborn lawyer, I inveighed against personal five-year plans. The crux of my argument was that life is like the weather: largely predictable in the short term but increasingly unpredictable in the long term. Indeed, five years before writing an essay on the topic, I wasn't even thinking about law school. Since I couldn’t predict my decision to go to law school or anything else that happened in the preceding five years, I concluded there was no point in anyone trying to make predictions that far out.

Five years later, I happened upon the first article and thought it would be fun to follow up and see whether my thoughts had changed. They had, somewhat. I now thought novices shouldn’t make five-year plans. Instead, they should learn as much as they could before making definite career plans. Without experience, they would expect to produce plans laden with easily filled holes. Only once they had some experience in their chosen field should they consider planning. Again, this opinion was informed by a sample size of one.

When I finished, I created a calendar notification to remind me to write what you’re reading now. After all, who doesn’t love a good trilogy? Ironically, (1) I made a five-year plan without realizing it, and (2) it turns out neither article I wrote about my experience properly addressed the issue. Let’s see if I can do better this time.

The idea of five-year plans has been with us since at least the 1800s. Early invocations of the term seem limited to government planning, and the phrase reached its first peak of popularity soon after the introduction of Stalin’s first Five Year Plan in 1928. Its second, much higher peak was in 1958. Credit for this peak and the idea’s current popularity is often given to Peter Drucker, whose book The Practice of Management was published in 1954. In 1973, occurrences of “your five year plan” started to overtake occurrences of “your Five Year Plan,” perhaps signaling an integration of the phrase into everyday speech. Today, the question “where do you see yourself in five years” is common to the point of cliché. But is a personal five-year plan useful?

It is well established that setting goals positively impacts performance . But there are caveats: Specific, hard-to-accomplish goals lead to better performance than easy or vague goals . Striving to master a task or skill, and doing it because the goal or task is something you’re interested in, also tends to garner better results than working for external rewards.

A plan’s purpose is to make achieving a goal easier . It can also help one determine whether a goal is worth pursuing at all. A dream job as the Richmond Flying Squirrels mascot, for example, might be a bad idea for someone who dislikes wearing costumes. Plans can help one determine why, when, and how to act on a goal. However, odds are good that most personal career plans do not.

One issue is that we tend to borrow ideas from others. As a result, a typical five-year plan tends to be a short list of jobs, and tends to sound like every other five-year plan. For example, one will often hear a business or law student say they plan to work for a big firm for “the experience," then move to a smaller one for “the lifestyle.” But, in this case, is step one necessary? What if the hiring managers at the small firm don’t care about big-firm experience? Sure, some do. But a few phone calls or emails to HR in advance might save students a few years.

Failure to research can also impact someone mid-career. Let’s say you earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and get a job in a large financial firm. You later learn an advanced degree is necessary to move up in the company. Do you choose a Master of Science or Master of Business Administration?

Many people choose the MBA because of its prestige. However, in this situation, that leads to retaking classes you took as an undergraduate because MBA programs are geared toward people without a business degree. Choosing an MS instead will likely allow you to skip a year or two of classes. Either way, you end up with an advanced business degree, and the hiring managers might find either option acceptable. Again, a few conversations in advance of making a decision can help with goal setting.

Another issue is experience. Better information leads to a better ability to plan, and someone with a few years of experience under their belt will not only be able to create more practical plans than a novice but they’re also more likely than a novice to have access to tools and connections to help achieve whatever goals they set for themselves. These factors may help explain why the average age of a successful entrepreneur is 45 .

Building a plan that’s useful to you may take some time and introspection. Fortunately, research suggests that people who engage in a “sampling period” of gaining generalized experience before specializing tend to do better in the long term than their colleagues who specialize immediately. This is partly because generalists learn additional skills that can be integrated into their work and partly because they tried a few things before settling on a path of their own choosing.

Of course, a plan need not be published in a leather-bound 100-page notebook with charts and footnotes. A scrap of paper that says, “get job, work 20 years, collect pension” can be a perfectly fine and complete plan. But if you have a goal with a lot of moving parts, you may want to consider planning—not five years out, though. Take one step at a time, starting with "why." After all, the future may have plans for you.

Dwayne Allen Thomas, MAPP, J.D., is a lawyer, writer, and graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Master of Applied Positive Psychology program.

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How to Make a 5 Year Plan That’s Perfectly Tailored to You

Where do you want to be in five years?

Do you have personal goals you want to achieve?

Are there financial benchmarks you want to get to?

RELATED: What Should I Do Today? 10 Fun, Productive, and Effective Ideas For Tackling the Day

This common question comes up again and again in job interviews for a reason: Knowing how you want to live and grow, and then making an action plan, helps you feel purposeful and fulfilled in your life. 

When you know where you want to go, and then you take concrete steps to get there, you know you’re making the most of your short time on Earth. A five-year plan guides your decision-making, keeping you on track toward your most important dreams and goals, whether you want to crush it in your career or create a new lifestyle for yourself. 

While plans can change, creating a roadmap that makes sense for your life, right now, can encourage you to become who you really want to be. Are you ready to stay focused and map out the next five years to accomplish your smart goals?

Here are a few examples of what you need to know to create the ideal five-year plan for you.

What is a 5 year plan?

Plain and simple, five year plans outline what you want your life to look like in a five-year time frame. This includes everything – what you do for money, what you do in your free time, and While major life changes can of course redirect the course of your plan, having a breakdown of achievable potential goals for the next few years can keep you inspired and on-track for accomplishing what’s truly important to you.

A five year plan may feel structured, but it’s not ridgid. As you set benchmarks for your specific goals, you might need to tweak your future plans as the years pass. (And you might change your five year plan depending on shifts in your long term goals.) Checking in yearly and course-correcting or editing your plan will further help you create a life that you’re really excited about. 

Benefits of creating a 5 year plan

Whether you want to be successful in your career or more fulfilled on an emotional level, having a long-term goal plan can help you get there. Breaking down what you want to accomplish into daily goals, monthly goals and annual goals over the next five years helps you focus on what really matters. Here are four important benefits of mapping out your daily and monthly goals over a five year timeframe:

Having a five year plan ensures that what you’re doing aligns with your values

When you create a five year plan, you get the chance to really think about the direction your life is headed and if that’s where you really want to go. If you write down your short term goals, this forces you to really examine your day-to-day life. 

Living out of sync with your values can be draining, unfulfilling and frustrating. (Especially if you’re currently in a relationship or a career you’re not satisfied with.) Having a five year plan allows you to stay on a path that aligns with who you really are and what you truly care about. This makes life feel more rewarding. 

Having a five year plan helps you identify and clarify your goals

Setting goals is important for actually accomplishing your dreams. When you develop a five year plan, you can name your goals, which is a key step for tackling them. If you only have a vague picture in your mind of what you want out of life, chances are that you won’t be able to take concrete steps to follow through. Making the time to really clarify your goals helps them become more real and allows you to clearly recognize what your priorities are. 

Having a five year plan helps you thrive

The difference between being successful and always wondering what could have been is having a plan. When you set out to create a five year goal, you have to examine what you really want out of life. You look deeply at your dreams and break them down into smaller, do-able action items. 

There’s also a manifestation component here. While merely thinking about your dreams won’t make them reality, having a plan to follow will influence your decision making and even teach you how to focus . When your goals are at the forefront of your mind, your thoughts and behavior will follow. 

Having a five year plan reminds you of what you’re working toward

During the daily grind of life it’s easy to feel unmotivated. Sometimes, you’re just trying to get through the day. But having a roadmap for your life can light a fire in you, and be a great first step. When you feel energized about the direction of your life, your days seem like they have more meaning. Even if you lose sight here and there, your plan will keep the spark in you alive. 

What life categories can be a part of a 5 year plan?

Five year plans are considered short-term goals, helping you figure out the next stage of your life. Some people create a multi-faceted plan to include many categories. Others devise a plan for just one part of their life that they want to focus on. 

However you choose to do it is up to you. Here are three of the major categories for five year plans and some examples to get your brainstorm started:

Career and money: financial goals

Five year plans are commonly centered around career goals. For this category, your priority is understanding where you want to be professionally for the next stage of your career and then determining what steps you need to take to get there. 

Perhaps you’re looking to start your own business in five years. You might go back to school, take on an internship, work with a career coach or mentor or save money so you can launch your company. 

While work and money can be linked, your money goals may not have to do with your professional life. For example, you might be interested in paying off debt in five years so you can buy a home. Or you might want to tuck away money for a college fund or your retirement. 

Since money is fairly concrete, these plans are more about willpower and sticking to them than anything else. 

Love and relationships

It can be tough to make concrete goals in your personal life—relationships usually involve two people, which can make planning them out tricky. But having a plan is generally helpful for knowing what path you want to take with your relationships. You can still create a picture of what you want out of your relationships and modify that as needed to reflect the people in your life.

For those focused on partnership and family, an example five year plan could be that you’d like to be married and have kids in the next five years. This could mean finding a partner or taking the next step with your current partner.

As you build a romantic partnership, it’s important to share your goals with your other half to ensure that you’re on the same page. If you’re not, then it could come down to choosing your person or your goals. 

Relationship plans aren’t limited to romantic love . Maybe you want to strengthen your friendships by coordinating a book club and committing to yearly group trips. Perhaps you want to build your bond with the older people in your family by collecting and documenting their stories. Whatever your goal may be, working with the people in your life to achieve them will help you make those dreams come to life. 

Personal development

This category for five year plans can include making big changes for your health, working on your inner life, going on a spiritual or religious journey or developing new hobbies.

Perhaps you’ve recently had a sobering doctor’s appointment and need to overhaul your wellness routine. You can, for example, set a five year plan based on lab result numbers, weight loss, healthy eating or whatever benchmark feels achievable yet necessary to you. 

Or maybe you want to add more fun into your life. Your five year plan could be to take up a new hobby and become proficient at it. Whether you want to learn how to paint, surf or grow your own tomatoes, you may need to do research, take classes, hone skills, purchase supplies and practice. 

So while a focus on doing things for fun may seem frivolous, a certain amount of these goals can keep you active, help you grow as a person and ultimately make your life happier and more fulfilling. 

How to make a 5 year plan 

To make your five year plan, you first need to identify your goal. Start with a visualization exercise and ask yourself: What is it that you really want to achieve, do or be, in the next five years? Where do you see yourself living? Who are you with? How do you feel? Write down your responses to these questions and see where the prompts take you.

Do some research about the goal you set and write down any key metrics. How long does it usually take people to accomplish this goal? How much money might you need? What example or role model can you look to? What skills should you have? 

Once you have identified what you want to work toward and listed a few key points from your research, set that research aside. Next you need to write down your unique skills—what qualities do you have that stand out? In two columns, compare this list to the goal you set and identify which of these skills will help you accomplish your goal. Then, think about what skills you might lack. These are the qualities you will need to learn by getting more experience, taking classes, working with a mentor and so on. 

Next, break down your overall goal to identify annual goals. These are smaller benchmarks you’d like to meet along the way toward achieving your five year plan. Once you have these, you can translate them into action steps. If your goal is to meet a romantic partner, then you might commit to joining a dating site, letting your friends know that you want to be set up and making the decision to go out once a week to try to meet someone. If you want to have a healthier lifestyle, you might clean out your pantry of unhealthy foods, queue up online exercise videos and set a time each day to move your body. 

As you create this plan, refine your daily, monthly goals or annual goals and edit as needed. While the overall goal should stay the same, the steps you get there can change and shift as you gain more experience, get more comfortable with your goal and start working toward it. 

Stick with your 5 year plan to make your dreams come true

The best five year plans are the ones you can reasonably follow to fruition. And the ideal goal for you is one you can actually achieve.

Setting goals is not as hard as you might think, so try to find that balance between dreaming big and creating attainable, measurable action steps to keep you on the path to success. 

Natasha Burton is a freelance writer and relationship expert who has written for Cosmopolitan, Maxim, Women’s Health, Livestrong and Brides, among other publications. She’s the author of What's My Type?: 100+ Quizzes to Help You Find Yourself―and Your Match!, 101 Quizzes for Couples, 101 Quizzes for BFFs and 101 Quizzes for Brides and Grooms, and the coauthor of The Little Black Book of Big Red Flags.

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August 29, 2023

Coach Foundation

Achieve your higher ed and career goals with a five-year plan

Whether you are starting college now or are further along in your higher education journey, long-term goal planning is critical to turning your dreams into actionable steps.

Not sure where to start or how to set goals? Consider creating a five-year plan! A five-year plan is a strategic outline that students create to map out their goals, aspirations, and actionable steps over a period of five years.

5-Year Plan Example

In the summer of 2023, the Coach Foundation welcomed Point Foundation scholars to Coach headquarters for their annual Dream Day as part of their Dream It Real initiative. At the event, attendees filled out a “Dream It Real Roadmap” to help them explore their dreams and how they can accomplish them in a month, a year, five years, and beyond.

As students enter this new school year, help make your dreams a reality with the Dream It Real Roadmap.

5-Year Plan Template

• Start your journey to dreaming it real by jotting down your dreams and what you would like to accomplish in the next month, year, five years, and lifetime. Be as specific as possible and remember: no dream is impossible.
• We believe that to dream it real, we need to create the frameworks that will allow us to put our dreams into action. Consider how you will develop your skillsets, how you can remove barriers for yourself or others, and how you can create a network of support around you to help you towards your goals.
• Mentors can be a valuable resource when navigating personal and professional goals, and they can also help expand your networks. With your mentor, review your goals and the pathways and tools you have mapped out and see how they can support you in achieving those goals. Learn more about Point’s mentorship program for LGBTQ students here .
• When working towards your goals, stay true to yourself and have the courage to be real!
• In the next _____ months/years, I will work towards my goal(s) of _________________. I will use the skills that I have developed such as __________________ and ___________________ to make my dreams a reality. In times of doubt or adversity, I know I can lean on ________________ and myself to help me find the confidence and the power to keep pursuing all of the wonderful things that I have set my mind to. I, ___________________________, promise myself that I have all that I need to dream it real.

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101 Best 5-Year Goals Examples

5-Year Goals are considered intermediate to long-term goals, but they’re close enough that we can visualize them easily, get motivated to get started immediately, and maintain focused .

This is the sweet spot where you can aim big, but also actually realize your dreams in not too much time.

It takes about 5 years to do big things, like earning a PhD, rise in the ranks in your career, save up for a house downpayment, and so much more.

Below are some 5-year goals to get your mind turning, set out using SMART goals principles. I’ll explain the S.M.A.R.T goals acronym at the end of this article and provide a printable template for you to use, as well, so don’t miss that at the end.

5-Year Goals Examples

Career goals.

1. Job Advancement: Obtain a promotion to a management position within the current organization by seeking additional responsibilities and excelling in them.

2. Professional Development : Earn an advanced degree related to current occupation (such as an MBA for a finance professional) within the next five years.

3. Networking : Attend at least two industry-specific conferences or events annually to build a broad professional network.

4. Skills Acquisition: Learn two new job-specific skills every year to increase versatility and efficiency (For instance, a web developer might aim to master Angular and React frameworks).

5. Career Change: Transition to a fulfilling career in environmental science by undertaking a part-time course and gaining relevant certifications by the end of the 5-year period.

6. Career Milestone: Successfully lead a major project or initiative that sees completion and positive results within the organization by Year 5.

7. Workplace Influence: Earn a seat on an influential committee or board at the workplace within the five-year timeframe.

8. Public Speaking: Give at least two presentations at industry conferences every year, thereby improving public speaking and presentation skills.

9. Salary Increase: Aim to increase current salary by 20% through promotions or role revisions over the next five years.

10. Published Author: Write a book relevant to your profession or industry and get it published by the expiry of the 5-year period.

11. Start a Business: Launch a small consulting firm within the existing profession after bolstering your expertise and network for the next five years.

12. Tech-Savvy: Gain proficiency in three new software or tech tools relevant to your role each year, filling up the tech toolkit with 15 new skills by Year 5.

13. Industry Recognition: Win an industry-specific award or recognition by consistently performing above and beyond in your job role throughout the five years.

14. Intellectual Property: Contribute to company innovation by filing for at least one patent related to your work by the end of the five-year period.

15. Enterprise Leadership: Establish a leadership role in your organization by positively influencing change or improvement in enterprise-wide policies or procedures within the planned five years.

See Also: Long-Term Career Goals

Health and Fitness Goals

16. Regular Exercise: Implement a daily exercise routine and stick to it, aiming to work out at least five days a week.

17. Weight Management: Reach and maintain a healthy body weight after a careful evaluation with a healthcare professional.

18. Strength Training: Incorporate strength training into a weekly workout protocol twice or more.

19. Healthy Eating: Transition to a well-balanced diet, incorporating a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains daily.

20. Chronic Disease Management: Successfully manage any chronic diseases (like hypertension or diabetes) with healthy practices and routine check-ups with a medical professional.

21. Mental Health: Prioritize mental health by setting aside time each day for activities like meditation, journaling, or quiet reading.

22. Flexibility: Improve flexibility with regular stretching or yoga, aiming to be able to perform key flexibility tests successfully in five years.

23. Marathon Runner: Train for and successfully complete a full marathon.

24. Regular Check-Ups: Keep up-to-date with routine medical and dental checkups, ensuring all vaccinations are current and all recommended screenings are completed.

25. Adequate Sleep: Achieve a stable sleep schedule that ensures at least seven hours of rest each night.

26. Hydration: Drink a minimum of eight glasses of water per day, tracking this habit for consistency.

27. Quit Unhealthy Habits: Let go of any detrimental habits, like excessive caffeine, junk food, or prolonged screen time.

28. Cardio Fitness: Improve cardiovascular health significantly, as reflected in improved numbers in medical check-ups or ability to perform more strenuous exercise.

29. Outdoors Activity: Incorporate outdoor activities like hiking, biking, or swimming into your monthly routine, aiming to spend more time in nature for added health benefits.

30. Stress Management: Implement efficient stress management techniques (such as deep breathing, mindfulness, or a hobby) to maintain a better-balanced, healthier state of mind.

Also Consider: Setting Ten-Year Goals

Financial Goals

3 1. Debt Reduction: Create a strategic plan to pay off significant debts, like student loans or credit card balances, within five years.

32. Emergency Fund: Save six months’ worth of living expenses in an emergency fund.

33. Investment Portfolio: Build a diversified investment portfolio with stocks, bonds, and other assets after seeking sound financial advice.

34. Retirement Savings: Contribute consistently to a retirement account with the goal of maximizing the employer-matched funding percentage, if applicable.

35. Home Purchase: Save for a down payment for a house, targeting a budget-friendly home that suits your personal and possible family needs.

36. Insurance Coverage: Review and optimize insurance coverages (home, health, auto) to ensure you’re not overpaying but still adequately protected.

37. Credit Score: Work towards achieving a credit score above 750, taking steps to correct any inaccuracies and to pay all bills on time.

38. Budgeting: Stick to a strict monthly budget, tracking every expense to ensure you’re living within your means and saving sufficiently.

39. Charitable Donations: Dedicate a part of your annual income for charitable donations, contributing to causes you deeply care about.

40. Financial Literacy: Take courses or read books on financial management to enhance your understanding of taxes, investments, and retirement planning.

41. Child’s Education Fund: Start a college fund for your child, if applicable, contributing a set amount each month or annually.

42. Reduce Housing Costs: Refinance your mortgage (if you have one) to take advantage of low interest rates and reduce your monthly payments.

43. Professional Growth: Invest in professional development or advanced education to warrant increased earning potential.

44. Vacation Fund: Save a targeted amount for a dream vacation in five years, setting aside a specific sum every month.

45. Second Income: Explore and establish a passive income stream, like rental income or online business, to boost overall earnings.

Hobby Goals

46. Language Learning: Become fluent in a foreign language through consistent study and practice.

47. Musical Instrument: Learn to play a musical instrument proficiently, such as the piano or guitar.

48. Cooking Mastery: Master the art of cooking, aiming to conquer diverse cuisines and complex dishes.

49. Reading Prowess: Read 50 seminal works in literature over the next five years.

50. Green Thumb: Develop a vibrant garden, nurturing a variety of plants and vegetables over five years.

51. Photography: Improve photography skills to the point of organizing a small exhibition or publishing a photo book.

52. Painting: Complete an important project like creating a series of paintings for local exhibitions or auctions.

53. Writing: Write and self-publish a book or a series of short stories.

54. Dancing Proficiency: Become proficient in a specific style of dance by taking regular classes or lessons.

55. Fitness Enthusiast: Master a challenging sport or physical activity like rock climbing or martial arts.

56. Wine Tasting: Gain substantial knowledge about wine varieties, graduating to conducting informative wine tasting sessions.

57. Crafting Skills: Learn and master a specific craft, like pottery or knitting, producing a substantial number of pieces.

58. Astronomy: Learn about space and celestial bodies and aim to identify all constellations in the night sky.

59. Expert Gamer: Master a particular video game, aiming for high scores in national or global leaderboards.

60. Traveling: Visit all continents within the next five years, experiencing different cultures and expanding your global perspective.

See Also: Goals for Life Examples

Student and Educational Goals

61. Degree Completion: Accomplish graduation in your chosen field within the given timeframe.

62. GPA Achievement: Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher throughout your academic journey.

63. Scholarship Attainment: Secure a scholarship or grant, reducing financial stress related to educational costs.

64. Internship: Garner relevant professional experience by landing and succeeding in at least two internships during your course of study (see also: internship goals examples ).

65. Research Paper: Participate in a major research project and get a research paper published in a reputable journal.

66. Study Abroad: Plan and execute a semester abroad, experiencing and learning from a new cultural environment.

67. Volunteer Service: Engagement in regular volunteer activities, contributing to societal and personal growth.

68. Networking: Actively build a professional network by attending career fairs and using platforms like LinkedIn.

69. Language Proficiency: Become proficient in a foreign language, expanding your global connectivity.

70. Time Management: Develop excellent time management skills to balance academic, personal and social life efficiently.

71. Relevant Skills: Master relevant software or tools related to your chosen profession. (For instance, coding languages for computer science students).

72. Public Speaking: Improve your public speaking skills by participating in oration activities or joining a campus debate club.

73. Leadership Role: Secure a leadership role in a campus organization or club, honing transferable skills like team management and problem-solving.

74. Post-Graduation Plan: Have a post-graduation plan in place by Year 4, be it employment, further studies or entrepreneurship.

75. Comprehensive Resume Portfolio: Develop a comprehensive portfolio showcasing your academic projects, internships, skills, and achievements, ready to present to potential employers or postgraduate admission panels.

See Also: Long-Term Goals for Students

Personal Goals

76. Communication Skills : Sharpen communication skills for ease in social and professional settings, focusing particularly on active listening and clear articulation.

77. Healthy Relationships: Cultivate and preserve quality relationships with friends and family, ensuring frequent contact and valuable interactions.

78. Life Balance: Achieve a solid work-life balance by generating set boundaries and pledging attention to each life area.

79. Personal Development: Invest in personal growth through regular reading, podcasts, or webinars on self-improvement.

80. Mental Wellness: Prioritize mental wellness, incorporating mindfulness and regular emotional check-ins into your daily routine.

81. Sustainable Lifestyle: Shift to a more sustainable lifestyle, reducing waste, recycling, and using eco-friendly products.

82. Cultural Awareness: Improve cultural literacy by studying and appreciating various global cultures, to better understand global diversity.

83. Conflict Resolution: Learn effective conflict resolution strategies for dealing with personal and professional disputes.

84. Anger Management: Develop an effective anger management strategy that helps maintain emotional equilibrium in high-stress situations.

85. Journaling: Start maintaining a personal journal to record thoughts, ideas, and experiences, fostering self-expression and introspection.

86. Personal Style: Develop personal style, ensuring it is an authentic reflection of your personality and preference.

87. Cooking Skill: Become proficient in cooking, mastering a diverse menu of dishes.

88. Digital Detox: Regularly schedule time to disconnect from digital devices, reinforcing balanced mental health and improved personal relationships.

89. Emotional Intelligence: Enhance your emotional intelligence by recognizing, understanding, and managing your emotions effectively.

90. Self-love: Nurture self-love, practicing self-care, and regularly setting aside “me” time.

See Also: A List of Long-Term Personal Goals

Family Goals

91. Quality Time: Commit to spending quality time together as a family at least once a week, regardless of what activities take place.

92. Family Traditions: Establish and embrace meaningful family traditions that can become an anticipated part of each year’s celebrations.

93. Shared Meals: Aim to have meals together as a family on most days, cultivating open communication and strengthening bonds.

94. Financial Stability: Generate a sound family financial plan, securing stability and potential for long-term goals like retirement or children’s education.

95. Annual Vacations: Plan and execute an annual family vacation, letting the destination or activities cater to everyone’s preferences.

96. Home Projects: Undertake home-based projects together, such as home improvement or gardening, encouraging cooperation and a shared sense of accomplishment.

97. Health Habits: Foster healthy habits within the family, such as eating balanced meals, regular exercise, and adequate sleep.

98. Emergency Plan: Formulate a comprehensive family emergency plan, ensuring all family members know what to do in case of natural disasters or accidents.

99. Regular Communication: Uphold regular communication within the family, maintaining an open platform for discussions and problem-solving. (You might want to see my detailed article on communication goals for similar examples .)

100. Conflict Resolution: Develop a constructive approach for resolving conflicts within the family, promoting harmony and understanding.

101. Family Reunions: Organize a family reunion at least once in the five-year period, building bonds with extended family members.

How to set SMART 5-Year Goals

Once you have selected a few goals from the above list that resonate with you, it’s time to build them out using the SMART goals framework .

S.M.A.R.T is an acronym that explains five key elements you want in a well-crafted goal:

• Specific: Research shows being specific when writing down your goals increases your likelihood of achieving your goals (Milne, Orbell & Sheeran, 2002).
• Measurable: You need to be able to measure goal progress and know when you’ve achieved success. This could be a goal weight if you want to lose weight, a goal GPA at school, etc.
• Achievable: Generally, I recommend you balance your goal out so it’s not too easy, not too hard – you think it’s achievable with effort. But with 5-year goals, I encourage my students to think a little bigger than they otherwise would. We tend to underestimate what we can get done within five years.
• Relevant: Your goals should be relevant to the bigger picture. When it comes to 5-year goals, make it relevant to your phase of life. If you’re in your early 20s, it might have to do with travel or education. If you’re in your 30s and 40s, it might be more about family or building up a nest egg for retirement.
• Time-Based: This one’s easy. Set 5 years as the end date when the goal needs to have been achieved! But, you could also put in place short-term goals as well, which will act as milestones on the way to your 5-year plan .

Use the following template to turn your goal into a SMART goal, which will help you to build out your goal setting:

Get the Google Docs Template Here

Bill Gates once said, “most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in five years.”

Well, he said ten years. But the same goes for the 5-year plan: we can get a lot done in 5 years. We can achieve things that are well over our horizon. So, dream big and believe that if you work hard every day, you can get anything done within 5 years!

Davis, W. D., Mero, N., & Goodman, J. M. (2007). The interactive effects of goal orientation and accountability on task performance.  Human Performance ,  20 (1), 1-21. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/08959280709336926

Daw, N. D. (2015). Of goals and habits. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112 (45), 13749-13750. doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1518488112

Doran, G. T. (1981). There’s a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives. Journal of Management Studies , 70-75.

Ehrlich, C., & Milston, S. (2021). Happiness through goal setting: A practical guide to reflect on and change the reasons why you pursue your most important goals in life . London: Routledge.

Latham G.P., Locke E.A. (2018) Goal Setting Theory. In The SAGE Encyclopedia of Industrial and Organizational Psychology . London: SAGE.

Milne, S., Orbell, S., and Sheeran, P. (2002). Combining Motivational and Volitional Interventions to Promote Exercise Participation: Protection Motivation Theory and Implementation Intentions,  British Journal of Health Psychology,   7 (2): 163–184. Doi:  https://doi.org/10.1348/135910702169420

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons

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Five Year Plan, Essay Example

Pages: 3

Words: 772

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First Semester

• Skills seminar
• Information literacy
• Computer technology
• Anatomy, physiology
• Medical terminology

Second Semester

• Laboratory technique
• Medical reimbursement
• Office administratio
• College math
• Medical emergency

Third Semester

• Career development
• Law and ethics
• Laboratory techniques
• Medical billing
• Clinical office proc.
• English composition

Fourth Semester

• Semester psychosocial
• Microbiology
• Word processing
• Art and science elective
• Medical assisting

In order to successfully job hunt and network it is important to utilize the education that has aided in the personal preparation. I will achieve my desired position in the healthcare field from the knowledge gained from the four semesters outlined above. First semester will cover freshman skills seminar which will briefly outlines the expectations of what we will learn over the course of our education. Information literacy will help in the identification of information and the ability to locate, evaluation, and efficiently utilize what we have learned. The fundamentals of computer technology are important for achieving my job as well. Computers are utilized in every field and having an adequate knowledge of how to use them is important. Anatomy and physiology is learning the functioning of self. This is the self being of action and reaction. The last course of the first semester is medical terminology. This is where I will learn the proper terminologies and meanings of terms used in the medical field.

The second semester I will learn about laboratory techniques. This is important in understanding biological methods. Medical reimbursement will cover the funding and details in securing payment for services. Medical office administration addresses the details in running a medical office. This included the medical terminologies and specifics necessary to successfully run an office. College math will also help with achieving any desired job I pursue; it will also help with life in general. Understanding math is important in business, as the bottom line in any field is typically determined by numbers. Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their effects on the human body. This is the basic understanding of the modes of actions of drugs. Lastly, I will use my knowledge in medical emergency for allied health professionals. This will aid me in addressing any medical emergency that may arise in my professional field.

The third semester will help me achieve my desired career in several areas. The career development seminar covers personal development for my chosen field. It shows the details and benefits of many different avenues. Laws and ethics for healthcare professionals is a vital class for my future. There are many ethical issues that will arise and knowing how to address them is important. The laws are also important to knowing the guidelines of my medical career. Laboratory techniques will help me know the correct way to utilize data and avoid potentially dangerous outcomes. Medical billing will cover the coding and proper procedures for ensuring payment. Clinical office procedures will aid me in understanding the necessities of running an office. I will learn the right and wrong way for implementing office procedures. Lastly, English composition, this is important for any career and life in general. Being able properly articulate in a manner that comes across both professional and educated is something that will be vital in my career search.

The fourth semester will aid in my future job search in many different areas as well. The psychosocial aspects of healthcare address certain areas of illness and disability along with chronic illnesses and rehabilitation. Microbiology for allied health professionals provided an understanding for the principles of immunology and microbiology. This is important for being able to handle infectious disease and the systematic approach for handling it. Word processing is important in business as well. This is used for producing and storing written text and most businesses used some type of Microsoft product for handling business. The art and science elective is good for general knowledge in a liberal arts field. Lastly the medical assistant externship will allow me to gain a hands on experience in my given career field.

I will take several steps to successfully find the job I am looking for. First I will utilize the resources available at the university to find potential openings in my chosen career field. Having an inside recommendation from a school or professor could have a lot of weight in getting an interview. I would also make a list of potential positions from job search engines such as career builder and the local paper. I will then create a cover letter summarizing my experience and education based on the requirements of the job. Once I have my resume and cover letter complete, I will take it to the potential employers. Following up after they have had time to review it will hopefully land me several interviews. I then will have the option to chose which one best suits my future career endeavors.

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10-Year Life Plan Essay

Educational plan, lifestyle plan, works cited.

Planning ten years of my life seems like a kind of challenge now. We can’t predict what will happen to us after several months. However, I believe that great success is impossible without personal motivation and clearly defined goals. Thus, my life plan essay should start with a clear objective.

In ten years, I want to own an event company that can be the best in its field. I have always been fascinated with this idea. The following 10-year life plan essay will consist of three parts that can help me structure my future and achieve all my goals.

I would like to organize great performances at different events every day. Can you imagine a holiday that never ends? And this will be my work. I will make people happier. Now I need to plan all the steps to help me achieve my dream.

The first step of the way of my goal’s achievement is education. My education will be done at the University of Nevada, where I am planning to study hospitality management as a major and event management as a minor. I am sure of the importance of hard study for my future work. I need to get at least a 3.5 GPA. The multiple locations can help me gain a diversified background and extend my knowledge.

Therefore, I want to do some internship while studying. Perhaps, I will visit different countries to explore the modern tendencies of business start and its future development. Swope says: “I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: “Try to please everybody” (Swope).

Therefore, I am planning to get experience in different fields because I am sure of their future importance for my business. The examples of some international companies can help me understand how to make my business prosper. To extend my experience, I will start my practice during the study.

I think that education is very important. The lack of knowledge can lead to the business’s incapacity and collapse. Today, the diploma plays a significant role. It gives an appropriate status and respect. A man with a diploma looks more confident and, of course, qualified.

Accreditation provides much more opportunities in life. Therefore, I am planning to study hard and get as much knowledge as possible. I am sure that the university I chose can help me achieve my goals. My education will give me the base for my future business.

It is the most important part of the life plan, which should clarify the goal and approaches to its achievement. Nowadays, the leaders of all companies know the value of settings achievable and understandable goals. Such issues are called smart goals, which need to get better results. These smart ideas help me share my vision of the business with the possible assistants (“Life Planning”).

My attention is turned to the use of certain tools that may help my project. For instance, I need to identify and list all the barriers that may be between me and my goal. I shouldn’t be scared of possible problems because it is an integral part of my future success. Being realistic, I realize all the difficulties I should overcome.

In the beginning, I have to clarify who will be involved in my business. This can be a family company, or I can cooperate with a wide circle of partners. What results do I want to achieve? I want to own a successful company that will be famous around the country.

Choosing the place location, I prefer my native city because it will be easier to find clients and partners. Thinking about these questions, I can clearly understand all the important keys to my goal’s achievement. I will get so many opportunities, so I shouldn’t be lazy in its use (Ashton 8). This is why I think it is the most important period of my life.

My lifestyle should accomplish my educational and professional background and skills. I am planning to do a huge social work and to promote equality among people. I want to help everyone that I can. But I have to learn more from the closest one.

My business will be closely related to people from different communities. Therefore, matching my wants, I should be ready to keep my mind open to different cultural issues and views. I plan to visit many countries to learn about cultural features. This will help in my work with clients.

According to Bukofsky, even my religious and spiritual conditions are very important for my business (34). Family relations also play a huge role in the business success achievement. Life planning is a process that may lead a person to take a more active role and to think about the future. Thinking about my future, I imagine a family that will support me and give me more motivation.

I totally agree with Carlson that “self-actualization is the key to self-help” (9). Although no one can control all life’s events, it is better to try being over random chance and fate.

There is a difference between the person who goes to one’s goal and the man who can easily be influenced by random events. I will structure my life according to the daily plan. This will allow me to follow the main idea, which will lead to success. The life plan is a perfect method to figure out what is really important in life.

I have so many ideas and interests in different fields. I am fascinated by people who can concentrate on the most important idea and follow the plan. However, I should follow my own life plan for the future result. I agree with the statement of Barnett that people should discipline themselves. Following the main idea of life, it is possible to get better results and to make it fast (Barnett).

I have always been a goal-setter. Thereby, my Ten Year Plan is focused on achieving my high ideals and realistic goals. From time to time, it seems that goals are something that we strive to achieve but fail due to personal reasons or social barriers.

However, I am completely sure that a good life plan and motivation can lead to success in spite of all problems that may occur. My Ten Year Life Plan helps me to specify my goals and to see the key moments and the most important steps which can lead me to success.

Ashton, Robert. The Life Plan: 700 Simple Ways to Change Your Life for the Better . 1st ed. UK: Prentice Hall, 2006. Print.

Barnett, John S. Discipline Yourself for Godliness . Tulsa, OK: Mullerhouse Publishing, 2007. Web.

Bykofsky, Sheree, and Richard Carlson. Me: Five Years from Now: The Life-Planning Book You Write Yourself! 1st ed. New York: Hyperion, 1999. Print.

“Life Planning”. myGoals, n.d. Web.

Swope, Herbert. “Failure Quotes.” Wisdom Quotes . Wisdom Quotes. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2023, October 30). 10-Year Life Plan Essay. https://ivypanda.com/essays/ten-year-life-plan/

"10-Year Life Plan Essay." IvyPanda , 30 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/ten-year-life-plan/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '10-Year Life Plan Essay'. 30 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "10-Year Life Plan Essay." October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/ten-year-life-plan/.

1. IvyPanda . "10-Year Life Plan Essay." October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/ten-year-life-plan/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "10-Year Life Plan Essay." October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/ten-year-life-plan/.

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