Chapter 16
Planning your future:
“Working Backwards”
April 2013
Two weeks. I have two weeks until my first year of college
will conclude. Since I seem to over analyze things, I also realize that I only
have three more years left at what I believe is the greatest university in the
nation. As I sat reflected on this past year, I was wondering if I missed out
on anything. I began to write down new things I have done while in college, and
the list continued to pile up. It was actually a hilarious experience because
some of the stuff I still can’t believe I did. “Dressed up as Tinkerbelle for
Halloween, tried out for the cheerleading team…etc.” If your attending college,
or will be attending in the future, I encourage you to do so. My plan is to
continue the list until I graduate. If you haven’t experienced many new things,
the list will encourage you to branch out. Remember, every day is a new day for
a new opportunity!
The number one goal, well I hope the number one goal of each
college student, is to land a job after graduation. The pressure of getting a
job has not hit me just yet, but I do realize that in about two and a half
years it will be a major priority for me. I am not worried about getting a job
when I graduate, but what I am worried about is “what” kind of job I will get.
Will I like my job? Will I love my job? These questions are so crucial because
who wants to have a miserable job?
I mentioned before that I have read many books on how people
become successful, and all of the books share one simple trait. The people in
them set their goals early. The goals they set for themselves were small, and
each put them closer to their overall goal. However, they each had a twist to
how they set their goals. (Just a side note- if you think that setting goals is
silly, and if you believe that everything will work its way out itself, you are
wrong.) The most interesting “goal-setting” tactic I have read is where one
sets his/her goal backwards. For example, in ten years where do you want to be?
Write it down, and when I mean write it down, I mean it! Get a piece of paper
write now and begin the process. One’s goal needs to be very specific, down to
what color you want you’re your house to be (nah, I’m just kidding, but have
fun with it). It is very difficult to think
of where you want to be in ten years because everyone’s goals change overtime.
However, take a minute to actually think about where you want to be. What do
you enjoy? Really what do you enjoy? Do you really want to go to medical school
just because it pays more? Do you find the outdoors enjoyable? What kind of
careers go with that? Too many times you see people working just because “it
makes good money.” It’s hard not to want to go after the money, but in reality,
money doesn’t buy happiness. If you enjoy what you do, you will find
happiness. I actually watched a video a
couple of months ago that really opened my eyes to this thought of, “what would
you do if money wasn’t an option.” I have attached the link to the end of the
chapter, and would recommend you watch it. It’s an eye opener. So take your
time with creating that “mountain top goal.” If you are having trouble thinking
of a goal, pray about it, consult with friends and relatives, and if all else
fails search the internet. My number one advice would be to make sure that the
goal isn’t primarily based on money, but based on a passion you have.
After you have manufactured the top of your ladder; it’s
time to work backwards. When I was creating my goals, it was difficult to think
that far in the future. Mainly because I had this voice in the back of my head
telling me that I could never do that, or that my “ladder” seemed too hard to
climb. I am not positive, but I am sure that most successful people have to
fight those negative thoughts they have about their own goals. Persevere
through the goal making process, and I guarantee that it will all pay off in
the end. In ten years, you will look
back at the list, and you will get to see what you accomplished, and of course
what you didn’t accomplish. This is all a part of the process of becoming a
successful. Your goal sheet may be long
and detailed in some sections, and short in others. The sections that seem a
little slim will give you places to add new goals that you will gain over time.
Even though I believe that things happen, and other doors are opened to change
one’s goals, this goal sheet will give you guidance. When or if another door
opens, you’ll be able to carry this determination you have gained to your new
goal.
Everyone dreams, it’s that simple. However, most dreams die
in one’s sleep. My challenge to you is to not be a “dreamer” but be a
“dream-doer.” I know it sounds a little cliché, but chase your dreams. Would
you rather look back in ten years, and wish you would’ve planned out a tentative
life plan, or do you just want to follow the norm? Don’t go for the job that
pays the big bucks or the job that seems easy; go for the job that fulfills the
dream. If you would’ve asked me 10 years ago what my dream was, I would’ve
probably responded with, “I want to play in the NBA, or I want to be a
dump-truck man.” I know that I will never play in the NBA, and I don’t plan on
working as a “dump-truck man, but I think that 8-year old Austin had some
wisdom. What if I became a basketball coach? What if my job wasn’t all about
suit and ties, but more about getting dirty? These are things to think about,
and to tell you the truth I have no idea where I will be in 10 years. However,
by planning these next ten years in great detail, I will have a better chance
of fulfilling my dream!
Please watch this video, it will inspire you!
My 10 Year Goals
Year 10 (Age 28)
o
“Buddy’s Car Wash”- my “self-service” car wash,
will be stretched from the East-West Coast. The company will be different than
any other “self-service” car wash because it will be managed and ran by high
school students who have the dream of becoming an entrepreneur. I will teach
the student(s) how to run and manage a small town business. I will manage each
car wash by hiring teams in each of the states that Buddy’s Car Wash is located
in.
o
Coaching a basketball team either for my child
or at a college or institution
o
Attend my 10 year high school reunion
Year 9 (Age 27)
o
Becoming the father to at least one child
(depending on the marriage situation)
o
Continue to expand the company (10-15 car
washes)
Year 8 (Age 26)
o
Graduate with a MBA
o
Begin searching for a coaching job
o
Build teams where the car washes are located
Year 7 (Age 25)
o
Full-Time “Buddy’s Car Wash”
o
Buy my first home
Year 6 (Age 24)
o
Begin a MBA Program- preferably with UNC
o
Plant the first “Buddy’s Car Wash”
Year 5 (Age 23)
o
Begin my first job- Disney
o
Open a retirement fund (gotta get that out of
the way!)
o
Rent my first apartment
o
Begin planning “Buddy’s Car Wash, create a
marketing plan, find locations that will be the best fit
o
Explore the different types of car washes (make
it awesome)
o
Purchase my first vehicle (preferably electric)
o
Attend my 5-year reunion
Year 4 (Age 22)
o
Run a marathon
o
Make the Dean’s list at least 3 times in my
college career
o
Apply to multiple jobs, have options
o
Graduate College
o
Take a trip to Atlantis after graduation
o
Read your journal
o
Publish this book
o
Give book talks
o
Drive across country
o
10,000 blog views
o
Keep building that resume
Year 3 (Age 21)
o
Continue to edit college book
o
Study Abroad
o
Internship with Disney
o
Find a publish company for the book
o
8,000 blog views
o
Keep building your resume
o
Work for Carolina Basketball Camp
Year 2 (Age 20)
o
Apply to business school
o
Be accepted into business school
o
Become a basketball manager
o
Continue to edit my college book
o
Begin to contact Disney about an internship for
the next year
o
Apply to a study abroad program
o
Keep building your resume
o
Work for Carolina Basketball Camp
Year 1 (Age 19)
o
Begin to edit your college book
o
Go on a mission trip
o
Work for Carolina Basketball Camp
o
Meet with a local “self-service” car wash man
o
Make a tentative 10-year goal sheet
o
Begin to build a resume
o
Practice interviews
**As you can tell my goals don’t mention getting married
because I believe that is something that can’t be planned. Love will find me
someday. **
My 10-year goal sheet will continue to change, but as of now
these are my goals. I will continue to prepare myself, so that I may reach
them. My goals might not make since to you, but they are not supposed to, as
yours wouldn’t make since to me. After you finish your
goals, hang them up, don’t forget about them, and read them at least once a
month.
