So where do you see yourself in 5 years?

  So where do you see yourself in 5 years?  This is a common interview question that just the other day I myself found regurgitating to a potential hire.  As the words fell out of my mouth almost effort-less like a rehearsed script, I caught myself wondering, "Now why is 5 years the magic number?"

  As someone who manages employees, I like to know what the career plans of my co-workers are so that I can help our time together be one of growth and vision. However, as I look at my personal life, I could have never have answered that question 5 years ago with absolute surety.  From my own experience, life has proven to be more unpredictable than predictable.  The 5 year plan can be a rigid trap if you aren't able to mange the ever-changing moments that we encounter each day.

  Life is happening right now for me and you. In it all, I'm learning that achieving is more about living with a vision in your heart while managing the moment with a present-minded attitude. When I do so, it has allowed me to be in tune with the personal and professional moments of life that eventually adds upon other moments that eventually equal achievement of vision.  In contrast, my regrets in life have more to do with mismanaging the moment, whereby I miss the person in pursuit of the goal. 


  Leonard A. Schlesinger, Charles F. Kiefer, and Paul B. Brown recently published in the Harvard Business Review blog network an article that considered the wonder of the 5 year-plan as it pertains to career planning.  In it they concluded that career planning is more about a "Direction based" vision fulfillment than a detailed plan. They suggest the following guides as a means of "Acting your way into the future you want (HBR, 2012)." I believe this growth-minded list of suggestions can have merit in all aspects of our personal and professional lives.

1. Determine your desire
2. Take a step toward it
3. Incorporate what you learn from taking that step
4. Take another step
5. Learn from that one
6. Repeat until you have a job, your own business, or have achieved your goal

Win Today!

Victor