Planning for the Future
When people seek guidance hoping to make some progress toward their life and career goals, the first question they are often asked is “what would you like to achieve?”
This question is met with all the same answers. People say that they want to start a business or write a book or lose a certain number of calories. These replies are nothing unusual, and they are certainly not bad goals. But simply having these items on your mental vision board will not get you any closer to actually achieving them. Because although these goals are good ones, they are very likely just fantasies.
“But” I hear you object, “These aren’t just fantasies—they’re real goals that I’ve had for a very long time.” This may well be true. But until these abstract visions of an uncertain future become specific, concrete objectives, your hopes and dreams will remain exactly that—hopes and dreams.
From Abstract to Concrete
To begin with, it is of course helpful to think about the larger career goals that you have. If you are hoping to be a writer, perhaps your aim is to write a book, to start a profitable blog, or to launch a successful freelance writing career. If you want to work in real estate, you might be hoping to become a realtor or to start a house flipping business.
At this point in the process, you might find it helpful to write down your thoughts and ideas. By writing them down, you can already begin to do the work of bringing abstract goals down to the realm of the concrete. And it is likely that you will have little trouble coming up with your big-picture goals, since these are the things that you have been dreaming about for months, years, or even decades.
Once you have written down your goals, you need to begin to do the challenging work of creating specific, actionable steps. The famous Chinese proverb rings true: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Think of this planning phase as the process of mapping out those steps that will carry you along the journey.
At first, it might seem overwhelming to condense such lofty goals into small, actionable steps. But remember that your goal is not to think of every single step along the way. Rather, you should try to find concrete actions to take and specific habits to develop that will, in the long run, bring you closer to achieving your career goals. If, for example, your hope is to become a successful writer, some of your initial actionable steps might involve writing a little bit every day. Set a specific amount of time or a particular word count that you will commit to reaching daily. Consider finding a trusted friend to keep you accountable as you set off on this journey.
Other actionable steps might involve conducting some good research about the career path you’re hoping to enter. Look for helpful books and articles on the subject. Speak with people in-person and online who have had experience going from beginner to expert in your chosen field. Looking for outside input will give you confidence and clarity as you navigate the tough waters of starting a successful career.
Planning for Pain
When helping people to make progress towards their life and career goals, bestselling author Mark Manson does not ask the typical questions like “What do you want out of life?” Rather, he asks them a much more provocative question: “What pain do you want in your life? What are you willing to struggle for?”
This question is a startling one, because it cuts right to the heart of the issue. Most of us already have some idea of what we want. We want strong relationships, fulfilling work, and financial freedom. Far more difficult than what is how: How can we get from where we currently are to where we want to be?
Manson’s question helps to orient us in the right direction by reminding us that in order to get the success we want, it will require blood, sweat, and tears. This is uncomfortable, and it is not something that most self-help gurus like to dwell on. But this discomfort is necessary. And if we can accept the challenge of enduring the pain and effort of pursuing these actionable steps, we will find ourselves well on our way towards building fulfilling and enduring careers.
