What do you want be when you grow up?
As a child, together with adults we would imagine becoming a lawyer, a doctor, or an astronaut.
It was our moment to fantasize about the future. It was the adults moment to wish things upon us in which they secretly wished for themselves.
Predicting the future for a child is like dreaming about winning the lottery. It is a fun but just like the lottery, the odds are stacked against the adults dreams for the child.
Life is good at throwing us curve balls. Life is unpredictable. Life is the the world's greatest mystery.
But every so often, you meet a person who has made it. Through dedication, perseverance, and hard work they made a childhood dream come true.
I admire these people because I am not one of them.
I don’t set long term career goals and I still don’t have a clue of what I want to be when I grow up.
When I think about long term career goals, I feel boxed in.
What happens if I decide to change my career goals? Does that mean I must create a new five year plan?
What if I set the wrong career goals? Does this mean I can't turn back?
What if the opportunities that I had my eye on five years ago, no longer exists? Will I have to start over?
In the corporate world, it is common to be asked to create a five year plan. But this just doesn't work for everyone.
It is like asking yourself, "What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?“
Most of us still don't know.
I think that the better question to ask yourself is, "Who Do I Want To Become In The Future?”
With this question, you can focus on the experiences you want to obtain, the emotions you want to feel, the things you want to learn and the value you want to create for our world. You can find the right role models and mentors that can help guide you to become the person you desire to become.
If you focus on WHO you want to become, you will be more open to the new opportunities that pop up each day because you will no longer feel boxed in by WHAT you should become.
The question "Who Do I Want To Become In The Future?” leads you to become more of you, the real you. Whereas the question "What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?“ directs you to change who you are to fit into a model of reality that already exists.
I don't know about you, but I want to become more of me, not less...