You may have encountered this question during a job interview:

"Where do you envision yourself in five years?"

If you were prepared, you likely responded with a brief outline of your professional plan for the next five years. However, if an interviewer inquires about your ten-year plan, it can catch you off guard.

Regardless of whether you are just embarking on your career or contemplating a significant life change, ten years can feel like a substantial amount of time—and indeed it is.

Nevertheless, having goals for the upcoming decade can assist you in formulating a one-year, three-year, or five-year plan to shape the future you desire.

The following manual will show you how to start picturing your long-term goals and then translate that vision into a useful ten-year plan, supported by motivating examples.

What is a 10-year plan?

A 10-year plan refers to a structured outline of tasks and milestones aimed at achieving your goals over the next decade. It involves setting both short-term and long-term objectives to create a realistic and exciting roadmap for your life.

For instance, if your ultimate aspiration is to become a doctor, "becoming a doctor" would be your long-term goal. However, your first step would be getting into medical school, which becomes a short-term goal.

As part of your 10-year plan, actions such as studying for the MCAT and applying to medical schools would be included to help you accomplish both your short-term and long-term goals.

Nevertheless, a 10-year plan is not limited to career objectives. It can encompass various aspects of life.

For example, if you aim to purchase a home within the next decade, homeownership becomes a goal within your plan. Saving, investing, and building credit are essential components of your plan that contribute to making that goal a reality.

Your 10-year plan can revolve around personal aspirations, such as getting married or writing a memoir, as well as professional goals, like starting a successful business or becoming a supervisor.

The key requirement is that it spans a 10-year timeframe and comprises smaller steps designed to aid you in achieving long-term objectives.

Establishing Personal and Professional Goals

You encompass more than just your career. Beyond your relationships, financial status, and living arrangements, all these aspects synergize to shape the person you aspire to become and the life you desire to lead. In your 10-year plan, you have the opportunity to encompass them all.

To begin formulating a practical plan, categorize your goals for the next decade according to their respective areas.

While you can create as many categories as you wish, here are the most common ones along with potential inclusions:

Personal and relational aspirations

Even if you're indulging in daydreams, you likely have ideas about how your personal life might evolve in ten years. It could involve starting a family or regularly engaging in community service.

Begin by brainstorming a list that aligns with your envisioned future life.

Professional ambitions

Consider what would bring you a sense of professional fulfillment. It could be as simple as securing a position at a particular company or as audacious as attaining a top-level executive role at your current workplace.

A decade holds vast potential for growth in your career, so dare to dream big. You might even consider taking the plunge and pursuing self-employment as a freelancer or entrepreneur.

Financial objectives:

Financial well-being significantly impacts your overall quality of life. In 2022, 66% of Americans acknowledged that money was a major source of stress.

Establishing and achieving financial goals can help alleviate this stress. If reaching a credit score in the 800s and building an emergency fund capable of sustaining you for a year are benchmarks that would satisfy you, include them in your list.

Learning targets

Some skills require time and effort to master, such as learning a new language or complex software. Hence, they should be included in your 10-year plan.

Irrespective of the number of degrees hanging on your office wall, your life will be enriched if you adopt lifelong learning as a personal goal. Even if it's solely for the sake of enjoyment, make sure to note it down.

Fitness aspirations

Your long-term fitness goals can be as modest or ambitious as you desire. However, ensure that the goals you set are realistic.

Provide yourself with something to strive for without setting yourself up for failure. Completing a marathon within the next ten years is attainable, but you need to identify a starting point and create a practical training regimen.

What factors contribute to the achievability of a goal?

Each component of SMART has its own significance, with the "A" representing "attainable" being particularly crucial. This aspect revolves around establishing goals that are realistically achievable, though not necessarily easy. The key is to set objectives that are within your sphere of influence.

For instance, winning the lottery cannot be considered an attainable goal. Merely expressing the desire to win and spending your finances on tickets will not transform it into a reality. Winning the jackpot will always be beyond your control.

Becoming a doctor, however, may be achievable even if it appears distant. The feasibility of this goal depends on various factors such as your college studies, time availability, and financial resources for graduate school. Nonetheless, there are practical steps you can take to make it a reality.

A study in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology suggests that setting specific and challenging goals leads to improved performance. If all your goals are easy to accomplish, you won't reach your highest potential.

Personal growth comes from pushing yourself and stepping outside your comfort zone. It's important to be realistic, challenge yourself, and embrace risks.

Sample goals for a 10-year plan are highly personal. They revolve around you, your loved ones, and your personal values, which makes it difficult to seek advice on what your goals should be.

However, here are some examples of 10-year goals to inspire you and provide an idea of what your plan could encompass:

1Achieve a promotion

While earning a promotion can happen in less than 10 years, aiming for a high-level position can be a lengthy process. Starting from the bottom, proving your capabilities, and gradually climbing the career ladder is necessary.

2Construct a tiny home

First, determine the location and design of your desired tiny home. As materials incur costs, start creating a budget and saving money. If you plan to build it yourself, consider acquiring construction skills and including them in your plan.

3Relocate to Europe

Moving abroad requires not only financial stability but also careful decision-making regarding your desired destination and reasons for the move. Depending on your purpose (work, study, or residency), obtaining a visa is likely necessary. Your 10-year plan should involve saving money, searching for job opportunities, and establishing a network in your chosen country.

4Join a rowing team

If you aspire to join a high-level rowing team, it may be necessary to dedicate time to improve your strength and conditioning. If you lack swimming proficiency, taking lessons and joining a gym with a pool can bring you closer to your goal over a few years.

5Lower blood sugar levels

Achieving this goal may require significant dietary changes. If exercise is not already a part of your daily routine, developing a habit of physical activity is important. A decade offers ample time to discover consistent routines that work for you.

6Repay student loans

Continually paying the minimum amount on your student loans will keep them around indefinitely. If your aim is to eliminate them within 10 years, you need a plan. Research options such as refinancing your loan or adjusting your payment plan, and create a realistic budget.

7Learn a new language

If you aspire to become fluent in another language, consider the possibility of spending six months or a year in a foreign country. While this plan is for the future, you can currently explore enrolling in language classes.

Once you have determined your objective, begin outlining a clear plan, year by year. Keep in mind that the plan is likely to change as you progress. If you encounter something that seems unattainable, find alternative solutions and be kind to yourself.

Here is an example of a 10-year plan for someone aiming to secure a job as a senior project manager:

Year 1: Initiate the application process for master's degrees and scholarships.

Year 2: Gain admission to a program and commence studies in September.

Year 3: Graduate and establish a network of professional connections.

Year 4: Secure an internship position working under a project manager.

Year 5: Obtain an entry-level role.

Year 6: Excel in the job and pursue additional courses to bridge any skill gaps.

Year 7: Earn a promotion to a project management position.

Year 8: Engage in networking events and go the extra mile in the workplace.

Year 9: Continue working diligently while expressing interest in higher responsibilities to senior team members.

Year 10: Attain a senior project manager position.

Creating a 10-year plan

You do not have to set goals for every aspect of your life all at once.

Goal-setting can occur over the span of a week, a month, or even several months. It is important to recognize that goals can (and will) change, particularly when considering a 10-year timeframe.

Your overarching goals—what you aspire to achieve over the next decade—are likely to be vague. Phrases like "learn a foreign language" and "have a happy family life" merely serve as starting points. From there, you can work backwards to develop an actionable plan.

Here's how to approach it:

• Define your long-term goals

If professional growth is your current primary focus, begin with your long-term career goals. If you possess an entrepreneurial mindset, perhaps becoming your own boss is part of your vision. At this stage, your long-term objectives can be as ambitious as you desire, as long as you can break them down into manageable steps.

• Commence research

Start with both internal and external research. If owning a business is your ultimate goal but you are uncertain about the specific venture, consider your skills and identify the type of small business that aligns with those skills. Seek out individuals whose career paths you admire and begin learning from their experiences.

• Begin strategizing

Initiate the process of charting your path by starting from your ultimate long-term objective and gradually working backward. If obtaining a business degree will improve your current job prospects while also preparing you for future entrepreneurship, develop a practical timeline. Determine the estimated duration of completing the degree and decide when you would like to commence.

In this scenario, your goal over the next 10 years is to establish a business. However, you need to establish yearly goals that will pave the way. For instance, your one-year plan could involve enrolling in a GMAT prep course and taking the test.

Your two-year plan might encompass submitting applications to schools. Completing your MBA could be part of your five-year plan, and so forth.

• Seek support from your community

Remember that other individuals can provide an invaluable resource as you strive to create a life plan for your future self. Seek assistance from trusted friends, family, and mentors who can offer support.

Connect with experts in wellness to attain your fitness goals, and enlist the guidance of a career coach to make professional advancements.

The crucial point to remember is that you are never alone in pursuing your objectives. Regardless of where you currently stand in life, there will always be people cheering you on. And in 10 years, you will have the opportunity to pay it forward, share your wisdom, and inspire others.

Position yourself for success

These examples of 10-year plans are merely illustrative. The vision you construct for your future will be unique to you, distinct from anyone else's. Nevertheless, through research, diligent effort, and the support of your community, you will learn and develop.

Whether you accomplish all your goals or not, striving towards them will give you a sense of fulfillment.