my 5 year plan essay

How it works

Transform your enterprise with the scalable mindsets, skills, & behavior change that drive performance.

Explore how BetterUp connects to your core business systems.

We pair AI with the latest in human-centered coaching to drive powerful, lasting learning and behavior change.

Build leaders that accelerate team performance and engagement.

Unlock performance potential at scale with AI-powered curated growth journeys.

Build resilience, well-being and agility to drive performance across your entire enterprise.

Transform your business, starting with your sales leaders.

Unlock business impact from the top with executive coaching.

Foster a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Accelerate the performance and potential of your agencies and employees.

See how innovative organizations use BetterUp to build a thriving workforce.

Discover how BetterUp measurably impacts key business outcomes for organizations like yours.

A demo is the first step to transforming your business. Meet with us to develop a plan for attaining your goals.

• What is coaching?

Learn how 1:1 coaching works, who its for, and if it's right for you.

Accelerate your personal and professional growth with the expert guidance of a BetterUp Coach.

Types of Coaching

Navigate career transitions, accelerate your professional growth, and achieve your career goals with expert coaching.

Enhance your communication skills for better personal and professional relationships, with tailored coaching that focuses on your needs.

Find balance, resilience, and well-being in all areas of your life with holistic coaching designed to empower you.

Discover your perfect match : Take our 5-minute assessment and let us pair you with one of our top Coaches tailored just for you.

Research, expert insights, and resources to develop courageous leaders within your organization.

Best practices, research, and tools to fuel individual and business growth.

View on-demand BetterUp events and learn about upcoming live discussions.

The latest insights and ideas for building a high-performing workplace.

• BetterUp Briefing

The online magazine that helps you understand tomorrow's workforce trends, today.

Innovative research featured in peer-reviewed journals, press, and more.

Founded in 2022 to deepen the understanding of the intersection of well-being, purpose, and performance

We're on a mission to help everyone live with clarity, purpose, and passion.

Join us and create impactful change.

Read the buzz about BetterUp.

Meet the leadership that's passionate about empowering your workforce.

For Business

For Individuals

Going somewhere? Write the 5-year plan you need to achieve it

Jump to section

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.

Sign up to get exclusive access to content, tools, and resources.

Thank you for your interest in BetterUp.

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.

Transform your life

Make meaningful changes and become the best version of yourself. BetterUp's professional Coaches are here to support your personal growth journey.

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.

How to write a 10 year plan (with examples) and reach your goals

Why take a gap year 12 reasons and planning tips, the 3 year plan: build a roadmap to success, measuring the impact of coaching for frontline healthcare workers and educators, the 3 big well-being drops (and recoveries) of 2020, how to get your life together in 10 simple steps, looking back, leaping forward: betterup coaches offer advice for this new year, 20 books for personal growth in 2024, why you need a self-care plan (and 5 ways to get started), similar articles, top 15 professional goals and how to achieve them, create a networking plan in 7 easy steps, how to make an action plan to achieve your goals and follow it, what is a short-term goal 44 examples to jump-start your year, 15 tips for your end-of-year reviews, 15 leadership challenges you need to take this year, what is a career statement, and should you write one, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

3100 E 5th Street, Suite 350 Austin, TX 78702

• Platform Overview
• Integrations
• Powered by AI
• BetterUp Lead
• BetterUp Manage™
• BetterUp Care™
• Sales Performance
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Case Studies
• Why BetterUp?
• About Coaching
• Find your Coach
• Career Coaching
• Communication Coaching
• Life Coaching
• News and Press
• Leadership Team
• Become a BetterUp Coach
• BetterUp Labs
• Center for Purpose & Performance
• Leadership Training
• Business Coaching
• Contact Support
• Contact Sales
• Privacy Policy
• Acceptable Use Policy
• Trust & Security
• Cookie Preferences

Home — Essay Samples — Arts & Culture — Art History — My Five Year Plan: Mapping Out the Road to Success

My Five Year Plan: Mapping Out The Road to Success

• Categories: Art History

About this sample

Words: 473 |

Published: Mar 8, 2024

Words: 473 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

My five-year plan, short-term goals, mid-term goals, long-term goals.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof. Kifaru

Verified writer

• Expert in: Arts & Culture

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

3 pages / 1139 words

2 pages / 796 words

1 pages / 625 words

1 pages / 468 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Art History

The invention of the printing press in the Renaissance period was a pivotal moment in the history of communication and knowledge dissemination. Johannes Gutenberg's creation revolutionized the way information was shared, making [...]

The Foundation of Knowledge Model is a framework that helps individuals understand how knowledge is acquired and how it can be used to inform decision-making and problem-solving. This essay will explore the history and debates [...]

The Pact by Drs. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt is a powerful memoir that highlights the challenges faced by three young African American men growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood in New Jersey. The book [...]

Roy Lichtenstein, a prominent figure in the Pop Art movement, is known for his bold and colorful paintings that often incorporate elements of comic book art. One of his most famous works, "Oh Jeff. I Love You Too," is a prime [...]

An art style unlike any other. An art style that went on to influence others for generations to come. It was the pathway to century defining art movements, such as: surrealism, abstract expressionism and pop art. It also paved [...]

Studying abroad is an incredible opportunity for students to immerse themselves in a new culture, learn a new language, and gain a global perspective on their field of study. It is a life-changing experience that can open doors [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• This Or That Game New
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications
• Personal Development
• Personal Goals

Writing a 5-Year Plan: Best Tips & Examples to Get You Started

Last Updated: April 16, 2024 Fact Checked

Creating a 5-Year Plan

What is a 5-year plan, benefits of a 5-year plan, sample 5-year plans, expert q&a.

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. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. 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 787,988 times.

If you have ideas for things you want to accomplish in your life, a 5-year plan can help you get to where you want to go. A 5-year plan allows you to plot out specific, concrete steps that will help you create the life you envision—but how do you get started? We talked to life and career coach Shannon O'Brien for tips on how you can get your life on track with a 5-year plan.

Writing an Achievable 5-Year Plan

• Visualize yourself in 5 years. Note the changes that need to happen to get you there.
• Find your "why"—the reason you want to accomplish these goals.
• Learn what resources and knowledge you need to accomplish your goals.
• Create specific, measurable short-term goals to work toward your larger goals.

• Think about improvements you might like to see in areas like your health, relationships, career, family, community, religion or spirituality, or hobbies and recreation.
• For example, if you see yourself as a physically fit person running in a marathon, you might design a health-focused 5-year plan with the goal of getting in shape and starting a regular running training program.
• If you're working on a career-focused 5-year plan, you might create a fictional résumé for yourself in 5 years. This helps make the goals you set along the path to success more concrete. Just don't submit your fictional résumé for a job opening! [2] X Research source
• HARD goals are things that you can't imagine life without. If you didn't achieve these things, you would feel as though something was missing in your life. [4] X Research source

• For example, if you want to become more physically fit , your first answer might be so that you feel better about your body. But if you keep digging, you might find that what you're really concerned about is being around and being healthy for your family. Your family is your core value.
• For example, if you have a 5-year goal of running in a marathon, running a 5K wouldn't be a suitable goal for Year 1. There are many Couch-to-5K programs that can be completed in 30 days, so that goal wouldn't be challenging enough.
• For example, if your 5-year goal is to run a marathon, your short-term goals would likely involve running shorter distances, or running a shorter distance at or under a specific time.
• Choose goals that are based on your performance, not on the outcome. These are more specific and measurable. For example, rather than setting a goal of being fluent in a language, you might set a goal to learn 10 new words every day. [11] X Research source
• For example, if you have a goal related to physical fitness, you might need to buy a gym membership or hire a personal trainer.
• Some goals might require you to learn things. For example, if one of your goals is to teach English in Venezuela, you might need to learn Spanish first.
• You might hang a copy of your 5-year plan in your bathroom so you can reflect on it while you're getting ready in the morning, or near your desk so you'll see it while you're working.
• Don't be shy about your 5-year plan—share it with friends and colleagues who can cheer you on, help motivate you to achieve your goals, and hold you accountable.
• For example, what if your 5-year plan was to run a marathon, but you're running half-marathons with ease after 1 year of training? It's not going to take you 5 years to get ready for the marathon, so you might revise it to a 2- or 3-year goal.
• Sometimes you'll also want to revise your plan due to a change in circumstances beyond your control. For example, you'd likely scrap your 5-year plan to pay off your student loans if the federal government announced all student loans were being forgiven.
• The most important thing to remember about a 5-year plan is that it's never set in stone. A lot can happen in 5 years, so it could be that everything in your plan will change.
• The point of the plan is to show a way that you can achieve your goal, even if it ends up not being the way you ultimately get there.
• Any 5-year plan tends to center around your goals, but goals and plans are two very different things. Your goals are what you want to achieve while your plan is like a roadmap that tells you how you're going to get there. [16] X Research source
• Your plan's flexibility also helps motivate you because you aren't as worried about being derailed if you hit a snag. Because you have the big picture in mind, you know you can work through any challenges that come your way.
• If your plan includes a goal that other people are involved in, the plan also gives those people clarity on what they need to do to achieve the goal collectively.
• You don't have to wonder if the next steps you're taking are leading in the right direction because you've already plotted the whole thing out.
• A clear path also enables you to see how to quickly regroup and get headed toward reaching your goal again if you become sidetracked.
• The plan also allows you to see the whole path clearly so you can understand how each small step that you make is gradually getting you closer to achieving your goal.
• For example, if you have a 5-year plan to become partner of your firm, you might take on projects that set you apart from your colleagues or actively pursue promotions. This gives you more control than if you just waited for the higher-ups to notice you.
• When you're plotting out your 5-year plan, you'll naturally think about stumbling blocks that might arise. Then, you can figure out what you'll do to get around them if they do come up.
• With a 5-year plan, you'll feel like you're on top of things because you have all of the details mapped out. Taking care of the details like this allows you to see the big picture and celebrate all the small accomplishments that eventually lead to major success.

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://students.carleton.ca/log/five-year-plan/
• ↑ https://capd.mit.edu/resources/creating-your-five-year-plan/
• ↑ https://public.summaries.com/files/samples/hard-goals.pdf
• ↑ Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM. Life & Career Coach. Expert Interview. 24 September 2021.
• ↑ https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/personal-goals.html
• ↑ https://www.mindtools.com/a5ykiuq/personal-goal-setting
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-cross-examined-life/202401/learn-first-plan-later-drafting-a-useful-five-year-plan
• ↑ https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/my-10-year-plan.html
• ↑ https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2010-04488-003
• ↑ https://www.mindtools.com/blog/whats-the-point-of-business-plannin-benefits-of-a-5-year-business-plan/

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

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Frankie Mattei

Nov 9, 2017

Did this article help you?

Elizabeth Edwards

Apr 18, 2016

May 17, 2016

Michelle Scott

Jun 6, 2016

Jun 26, 2016

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

How to Develop a 5-Year Career Plan

• Mary McNevin, Ed. D.

Stop setting annual goals, and start thinking longer term.

Having a long-term plan for your career can help you reduce career-related stress, increase your perceived employability, and allow you to connect more deeply with your purpose. But how do you move beyond yearly career goals and create a five-year plan?

• Brainstorm. Start by thinking about how you want your career to develop and what you need to do to get there. This requires self-reflection. You’ll need to identify your primary goal, your passions, how your existing skills contribute to both those things, and your areas for improvement.
• Gather feedback. We’re not aways the best judges of our own capabilities and strengths. That’s why it can be important early in your planning process to gather feedback from your superiors, mentors, and peers. They may help you discover career opportunities you never considered for yourself, clue you into strengths you may be overlooking, and share insights regarding your areas for growth and development.
• Map it out. After doing some self-reflection and gathering feedback, it’s time to organize the information you’ve collected. Consider keeping track of your plan in PowerPoint. For example, slide 1 should outline the career goals you identified in your self-reflection. Slide 2 should list out the skills you already have and the ones you would need to achieve your ultimate career goals. Slide 3 should highlight the development activities you plan to pursue over the next five years to help you achieve your goals. And slide 4 should present all of the possible obstacles that might prevent you from achieving your goal and how to address those challenges.
• Iterate. Unlike year-long goal setting, the process of creating a five-year plan is never complete. One way to ensure you’re keeping your plan updated is to set a quarterly calendar reminder. This will help you address any new developments in your life or career and make changes where necessary.

“Where do you see yourself in five years?”

• MM Mary McNevin, Ed. D. is an executive coach, talent advisor, and former CLO and talent executive. She is a growth-oriented talent management executive with 20+ years of experience in learning, talent management, succession planning, and strategy development. Dr. McNevin earned her doctorate (EdD) from the University of Pennsylvania through an interdisciplinary program between the Graduate School of Education and the Wharton School of Business. Her dissertation focused on Executive Coaching in the C-suite. Dr. McNevin also holds an MBA from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and an MS in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.

Partner Center

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

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Undergraduate
• High School
• Architecture
• American History
• Asian History
• Antique Literature
• American Literature
• Asian Literature
• Classic English Literature
• World Literature
• Creative Writing
• Linguistics
• Criminal Justice
• Legal Issues
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Political Science
• World Affairs
• African-American Studies
• East European Studies
• Latin-American Studies
• Native-American Studies
• West European Studies
• Family and Consumer Science
• Social Issues
• Women and Gender Studies
• Social Work
• Natural Sciences
• Pharmacology
• Earth science
• Agriculture
• Agricultural Studies
• Computer Science
• IT Management
• Mathematics
• Investments
• Engineering and Technology
• Engineering
• Aeronautics
• Medicine and Health
• Alternative Medicine
• Communications and Media
• Advertising
• Communication Strategies
• Public Relations
• Educational Theories
• Teacher's Career
• Chicago/Turabian
• Company Analysis
• Education Theories
• Shakespeare
• Canadian Studies
• Food Safety
• Relation of Global Warming and Extreme Weather Condition
• Movie Review
• Admission Essay
• Annotated Bibliography
• Application Essay
• Article Critique
• Article Review
• Article Writing
• Book Review
• Business Plan
• Business Proposal
• Capstone Project
• Cover Letter
• Creative Essay
• Dissertation
• Dissertation - Abstract
• Dissertation - Conclusion
• Dissertation - Discussion
• Dissertation - Hypothesis
• Dissertation - Introduction
• Dissertation - Literature
• Dissertation - Methodology
• Dissertation - Results
• GCSE Coursework
• Grant Proposal
• Marketing Plan
• Multiple Choice Quiz
• Personal Statement
• Power Point Presentation
• Power Point Presentation With Speaker Notes
• Questionnaire
• Reaction Paper

Research Paper

• Research Proposal
• SWOT analysis

Thesis Paper

• Online Quiz
• Literature Review
• Movie Analysis
• Statistics problem
• Math Problem
• All papers examples
• How It Works
• Money Back Policy
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• We Are Hiring

Five Year Plan, Essay Example

Pages: 3

Words: 772

Hire a Writer for Custom Essay

Use 10% Off Discount: "custom10" in 1 Click 👇

You are free to use it as an inspiration or a source for your own work.

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.

Stuck with your Essay?

Get in touch with one of our experts for instant help!

Medicare Reform, Research Paper Example

Hepatitis B Virus, Thesis Paper Example

Time is precious

don’t waste it!

Plagiarism-free guarantee

Privacy guarantee

Secure checkout

Money back guarantee

Related Essay Samples & Examples

Voting as a civic responsibility, essay example.

Pages: 1

Words: 287

Utilitarianism and Its Applications, Essay Example

Words: 356

The Age-Related Changes of the Older Person, Essay Example

Pages: 2

Words: 448

The Problems ESOL Teachers Face, Essay Example

Pages: 8

Words: 2293

Should English Be the Primary Language? Essay Example

Pages: 4

Words: 999

The Term “Social Construction of Reality”, Essay Example

Words: 371

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Five year career plans – do teachers need one?

Jamie Clelland, geography subject lead and joint acting head of humanities, Wollaston School , Northamptonshire

From my NQT year I set myself two goals; firstly that within five years I wanted to be a head of department and secondly I wanted to teach in two schools. I am in my fifth year of teaching now and have achieved both.

Experience is important in any responsibility in a school, though waiting for it to happen sometimes isn't enough. Most schools offer plenty of opportunities in the form of small responsibilities or teaching and learning responsibilities (TLRs). My advice is to take them. Finding a mini promotion gives new challenges and allows you to take ownership of something and make it your own.

I was able to get a responsibility in my second year to do with extra curricular activities and the Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme, and also volunteer on various other projects to do with the virtual learning environment (VLE) and a house role. Rather than make big jumps between positions these smaller steps allow you build up to larger responsibilities, and also show a clear progression in your career.

So what happens next? Well I've been planning for the end result from day one. I want to be a headteacher and I know the route I want to take, but do I have another five year plan? It definitely becomes more complicated from the position I now have, mainly thinking about how long do you have to teach before you can move into senior leadership? This is an unknown area for me, but I feel like the cycle starts again. I am taking opportunities and gaining experience in a new school so that over the next five years I can apply for jobs that I feel I am capable of (and probably some that might be just beyond me – most schools love ambition).

Whatever stage you're at in your teaching career, and wherever you want to go, I believe you can follow the same path. Be enthusiastic, have the students' success at the centre of your teaching, and enjoy it. Ultimately that is what makes a great teacher at any position on the ladder.

Gary King, assistant principal and ICT teacher, Tavistock College

I am currently working through the third year of my five year career plan. During this period I have progressed from middle leadership into senior leadership; I wanted to be in a position where I could make a difference at a whole college level. I believe that it's extremely important to balance loyalty with aspiration and not be perceived as over ambitious or ambitious for the wrong reasons. Colleagues can react to this is in a negative way.

I think it's crucial for teachers to devise a career development plan such as this. It helps you to map out your proposed intentions. However, like any good lesson plan, don't be scared to deviate from it when other opportunities arise.

I have instigated continuous professional development opportunities for myself but I have also had the support from the principal of my school, who believes in nurturing future leaders. I consider this support and belief is essential in one's career development. I have undertaken numerous internal and external CPD opportunities closely linked to my aspirations. Without these development opportunities, I would suggest that my career progression could have been restricted.

As I move towards the end of my five-year plan I now need time to embed, consolidate and measure the impact of my work, particularly in terms of outcomes for young people. I feel that not only is this important evidence for my own progression but also to build sustainable systems for others when I make that move, as good leaders grow more leaders.

Ultimately I have an aspiration to become a headteacher within the next 10 years. As I move towards this goal, I'm fully aware of the challenges that lie ahead and the experience I need to gain to enable me to reach it. The challenge of headship will enable me to improve the life chances of young people.

Amy Benziane, teaching and learning co-ordinator for English, Woodside High School , north London

With the end of uni looming, a desire to 'do something useful' came over me. A friend told me about Teach First and, before I knew it, even before the start of my third year, I had agreed to do something I had no real clue about for two years of my life. At this point the five year plan was, at best, misty. Even now I don't have a battle room with a heavily inked yearly planner attached to the wall, but I do have an idea of where I want to get to in the next five years.

Along with many others, my first year of teaching had one clear aim: survival. Although unsure what I had gotten myself into, it was meeting so many amazing students that kept me going. And it was realising I had an unnatural passion for strategic planning made me want to stay around long enough to get into middle leadership and really do something useful.

Year one quickly turned into year two; the 'get involved' year. With limited knowledge of the workings of a school beyond my department, I set out to find out more by working with a variety of colleagues on many different projects. Realising that teaching and learning was my thing I spent much time encouraging the rest of my department to try out any wacky new ideas I had found out about or created.

At this point I didn't have specific guidance from my school but I found out about Teaching Leaders , a two year programme for middle leaders, which I felt would be a good way of making sure I didn't get lazy and was always upping my game. Having been accepted onto the programme, my third year was a settling-in year as I moved across the country, taking on responsibilities within my department.

And so I'm looking at the next two years and hope they will fall into place easily. The school I'm at now is a great place to develop my leadership skills and prepare me to run a department. As I said, I've not planned out when exactly this will happen but I'd like to think it will be in the near future. Perhaps before the end of this five year grand plan?

Aaron Markar, key stage 3 science curriculum development co-ordinator, Oak Academy , Bournemouth

I'm not really a plodder anyway, but during my NQT year, I had a senior-ish colleague who advised me, or rather warned me, that all teachers have a profile in the school that they work in and that it's their own responsibility to determine how they're perceived. This confirmed to me that if I expected to progress I'd better act accordingly. I'm not talking about brown-nosing, but offering to help out and go the extra mile.

At the time, there was a girl who was also completing her NQT year and we used to have a standing joke about who would have a parking space first. I think this healthy competition definitely benefited us both. I was also was very lucky in that I had a very supportive mentor who again made me feel that I was good at my job and that I should push myself.

In my second year I started an MSc in educational leadership and management at Southampton University and was given responsibility to improve literacy standards in my department. I did a few assemblies and anything else that I thought would build my CV. And that same colleague, who is an AST (advanced skills teacher) said he'd pop into my lessons and do a few informal observations to improve my teaching and learning. It did.

This year I've been given TLR status for being the KS3 science curriculum development co-ordinator. I had this year off from my MSc but will pick it up again this September. I will also be picking up an additional TLR in September and will also be co-ordinating the whole of KS3 in science, which really feels like a significant role for me in a pretty big school. I already feel that by the end of the next academic year, I will have developed massively from where I will be at the end of this year.

For me, it's not really a five year plan, but a continual thing where I want to develop and improve, consistently, building my CV and being more competent at what I do. I think it's important not to just coast and expect your employer to keep paying you more each year without you actually adding more value to your role.

I think for anyone else wanting to make a five year plan or any plan to progress in teaching, the most important thing is the people around you. Having motivated, supportive people around you who recognise the hard work you put in and make you think it's always worth going that extra mile and improving. And if you're not getting that where you are, maybe the first step of your plan should be moving.

This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional . Looking for your next role? Take a look at Guardian jobs for schools for thousands of the latest teaching, leadership and support jobs.

• Career advice
• Teacher's blog

Comments (…)

Most viewed.

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.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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/.

• Amazon Company's Activity Analysis
• Corruption in Education: Opposition and Refutation
• $100 Trillion Bond Market Renders Models Useless
• Yield Curves Analysis for South Korea
• Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Initiatives
• Airbus Company: Calculation of Cost of Capital
• Social Issues in "Too Young to Wed" by Cynthia Gorney
• The Cancellation of the Arizona v. Youngblood Trial
• Music Therapy as Experiential Activity
• Welfare Expenditure Reduction: Obama's Federal Worker "Tax"
• Thanksgiving Dinner: Colorful and Joyfully Event
• UCLA Students Longitudinal Study
• Personal Problem Solving
• Personal Development Plan: Effective Acculturation
• Effects of Self-Esteem and Gender on Goal Choice

Stalin Five Year Plan Essay Grade 11 History Memorandum (Questions and Answers)

An answer guide for Stalin Five Year Plan Essay History Grade 11 with memorandum on pdf:

The Five Year Plan was a set of economic goals that were developed in the Soviet Union under the leadership of Joseph Stalin. The plan was launched in 1928, and it aimed to transform the Soviet Union from an agricultural economy into an industrial powerhouse.

One of the main goals of the Five Year Plan was to increase the production of heavy industry, such as steel and machinery, in order to support the growth of other industries. The Soviet Union was still primarily an agricultural country at the time, so this was a significant shift in economic policy.

Another key goal of the Five Year Plan was to improve the infrastructure of the Soviet Union, including transportation and communication systems. This was important in order to support the growth of industry and to facilitate the movement of goods and people throughout the country.

The Five Year Plan was implemented through a series of measures, including the collectivization of agriculture, the nationalization of industry, and the use of central planning to direct economic activity. The government also encouraged the development of new technologies and the training of skilled workers to support the growth of industry.

The results of the Five Year Plan were mixed. On the one hand, the Soviet Union did experience significant industrial growth during this time, and the country’s infrastructure was greatly improved. However, the focus on heavy industry came at the expense of consumer goods and agriculture, and many people suffered as a result. The collectivization of agriculture led to a famine in which millions of people died, and the forced labor camps that were established to support the growth of industry were infamous for their harsh conditions and human rights abuses.

In conclusion, the Five Year Plan was a bold and ambitious economic program that aimed to transform the Soviet Union into an industrial powerhouse. While it did lead to significant industrial growth, it came at a great cost to many people, and its legacy continues to be debated to this day.

Table of Contents

Do you need Help with your History Grade 11 Essay for 2023?

Please submit the pdf with the questions below:

[super_form id=”134203″]

Common Essay Questions

Here are ten potential essay questions on the Stalin Five Year Plan for Grade 11:

• What were the goals of the Stalin Five Year Plan, and how were they intended to transform the Soviet economy and society?
• How did Stalin’s Five Year Plan differ from the New Economic Policy (NEP) that had been in place in the Soviet Union during the 1920s?
• What were some of the successes of the Stalin Five Year Plan, and how did they contribute to the growth of the Soviet economy?
• What were some of the challenges and failures of the Stalin Five Year Plan, and how did they impact the Soviet Union?
• What role did forced labor and purges play in the implementation of the Stalin Five Year Plan, and what were their consequences?
• What were the economic and social consequences of collectivization, which was a major aspect of the Stalin Five Year Plan?
• How did the Stalin Five Year Plan affect the lives of ordinary Soviet citizens, particularly workers and peasants?
• What was the role of propaganda in promoting the Stalin Five Year Plan, and how did it shape public perceptions of the plan?
• How did the Stalin Five Year Plan impact the global balance of power, and what were its implications for the emerging Cold War?
• What lessons can be learned from the Stalin Five Year Plan, and how do they relate to current debates about economic planning and socialism?

COMMUNISM IN RUSSIA 1900 T0 1940: STALIN’S INTERPRETATION OF MARXISM

Answer Guide for Stalin Five Year Plan Essay Grade 11

SYNOPSIS In writing this essay, candidates should be able to take a line of argument and critically discuss how Stalin, through the series of Five Year plans changed the economy of the Soviet Union and made it a superpower.

MAIN ASPECTS Candidates should include the following aspects in their response: Introduction: Candidates should contextualize the question and establish a clear line of argument

ELABORATION

• Lenin’s death
• Abandonment of NEP
• Aims of the 5Year plans
• Collectivisation of agriculture
• Elimination of the Kulaks
• Modernization of farming
• Grain requisition
• Rapid industralisation
• Development of heavy industries
• Improvement of transport and communication net works
• Exploitation of newly discovered mineral wealth
• Rapid urbanisation
• Electrification
• Force labour
• Police state and party purges
• Any other relevant response

Conclusion: Candidates should round up their argument with a relevant and contextualized conclusion

Download the complete memorandum:

View all History Grade 11 Study resources Here