Let’s Cancel The ‘What’s Your 5 Year Career Goal’ Question

When it comes to your future career plans, it’s time to cancel the ‘what’s your five-year career goal’ question. Five year plans can feel stressful and vague. Two-year goals are far more effective. Goal setting within a  shorter time frame makes achieving your goals more attainable. This is especially true if your shorter-term goals set you up for longer-term goals beyond the allotted two years. 

To maximize your chances of success with a two year plan, do the following:

1. Create well thought out SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic with Timelines) to guarantee quality-filled, relevant goals that set you up for success.
2. Develop a system for accountability. Is there a person or group of people you can report out to about your success or stumbles? Many people find success in working with a coach or an accountability group.
3. Give yourself permission to think in two-year increments. It is easier to mentally visualize accomplishing your goals two years into the future rather than five years.
4. Organize and systemize your daily practices around your two year goals.
5. Encourage yourself to fail fast. Check in with yourself every quarter to determine how on track you are to meeting your goals, and what, if anything, needs to change.
6. Set goals for your life holistically, not just at work. 

Let’s scrap the 5 year plan and hold ourselves accountable to a 2 year plan instead.