The Question that Changed it All
In 1997, one of my bosses asked me the following question:
“What do you want to be doing in 5 years’ time?”
I was stumped. The only thing I knew for sure was I didn’t want to be working for him doing what I was doing at that time. But as for where I was heading in vocation, I simply didn’t know. And the realisation that I simply didn’t know scared me! And it scared me enough that I started to search in earnest for the answer…
Ironically those next 5 years of my life became about discerning and defining what the rest of my life would be about … and ten years later, I actually feel like I’m focussed on living it.
If you asked me that question today, I could tell you exactly what my vision and hopes are for my personal life, my professional life and my personal mission. Answering that question (though it took me 5 years) has helped me determine:
- the shape, scope and direction of my business
- what to say YES and NO to
- the way I arrange my time
- the type of spiritual community I’m collaborating with others to create
- the kind of husband and father I endeavour to be
- & more!
It might sound like I’m bragging. I’m not. (Well, alright – just a little).
It’s more that I’m grateful for him asking me that question. That question was a gift and I offer it to you today.
“What do you want to be doing in 5 years’ time?”
As you have found Pete, life changes so quickly and randomly that I found whenever I set “what will I be doing in 5 years type” goals they were either done in 2 or completely different to what I had intended.
These days I work towards “who do I want to be” type goals (being vs doing). I find these more fulfilling and less effected by the change in what it is possible to do.