Attain: (v) to succeed in achieving something that one desires and has worked for.
About two decades ago, everyone in America was persistent on finding out what my 5-year goal plan was. What did I want to attain?
Matter of fact, it reached almost cult proportions. People felt it was essential to have a vision for one’s life that spanned the next 5 years.
Honestly, I was greatly amused by the concept.
Considering the fact that I was fully aware that what would happen to me in the next 5 months, 5 weeks, 5 days and even 5 minutes was somewhat beyond my control, I found it a bit foolish to presumptuously plan 60 months in advance.
Yet in that time period, I was considered odd–perhaps irresponsible to not mix the Kool-Aid.
There were three things that happened to those individuals who followed the “strait and narrow” of the 5-year goal plan:
- Life immediately objected to their format.
(Apparently they didn’t include life in the meeting to draft the proposal, and life was rather gleeful about dashing their dreams.)
- 5-year goal plans often contradict other 5-year goal plans, creating conflict and confusion.
Yes, what I want to accomplish in 5 years may rob you of a couple of years of satisfaction.
- Those who persisted in this philosophy also found they had to make a choice: do I evolve with life, or do I dig my heels in and insist on requiring my demands?
It was messy business, and I will tell you that fortunately, only a small handful of ardent followers still remain.
But if you run across one, and he or she asks you what your 5-year goal plan is, respond this way:
“I plan on taking the next 5 years to feverishly work on my 10-year goal plan.”
Thank you for enjoying Words from Dic(tionary) — J.R. Practix
Words from Dic(tionary) 