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Introduction
Hello everyone! Welcome to another weekly newsletter. So many people stumble when they hear a question:
“where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
As much as I don’t like it as a recruitment question (so overused!) but it brings to light a critical topic – setting the direction for our lives. If you’ve ever sat down to map out your next five years only to feel completely stuck or overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Many of us struggle to imagine who we’ll become and what we’ll do as life continues to shift around us. Yet, having even a rough idea of where you’re headed can make a world of difference. This week, we’re focusing on finding clarity—specifically, how to overcome the hurdles in defining your 5-year vision.
Because when you have a guiding star, even if it’s a little blurry at first, your daily decisions start to align in powerful ways.
Weekly Highlight: Overcoming Struggles in Defining Life Vision
Defining a 5-year vision can feel overwhelming—like you’re expected to produce a flawless roadmap out of thin air.
At least many people see it this way.
I want to show you how powerful this exercise is and why it doesn’t need to be as complex as many people think. In reality, clarity emerges through testing ideas, reflecting on what resonates, and courageously walking your own path. This week’s focus is all about practical ways to reduce the stress, explore multiple scenarios, and regularly refine your vision as you grow.
It is meant to be a living, breathing guide—not a fixed roadmap to box your life in.
Summary of the Main Points
1. Embrace Uncertainty
The future is fluid: your interests, life circumstances, and global opportunities will change. Clarity often emerges through exploration and reflection rather than a sudden flash of insight.
2. Identify Core Values, Dreams, and Priorities
Whether you value growth, creativity, stability, or community, these become your compass. By clarifying what genuinely matters, you shape a vision that resonates on a deeper level.
3. Consider Multiple Scenarios and Areas of Life
Don’t lock yourself into one perfect outcome. Visualize different paths—like your current career, working remotely while traveling, or becoming a specialist in a field. Each scenario can spark insights about what energizes (or bores) you.
That relates to all areas of life as well. Don’t let it become too narrow and focus only on work. In The PhoeniX Way™ I always suggest summarizing your desired state for Physical & Health, Finance & Career, Family & Friends, and Personal Development.
4. Seek Inspiration & Experiment
Read stories, watch interviews, or talk to mentors who have charted paths you admire. Small steps—like a weekend workshop or a side project—let you see what truly clicks before committing long-term.
5. Refine Over Time
A 5-year vision isn’t set in stone. It’s a living draft that evolves as you learn and grow. Revisit it from time to time to adjust goals and drop what no longer fits.
Actionable Tip:
- Take a step back and imagine your ideal day in all four of the areas I mentioned earlier.
- Summarize each of them in one sentence.
- Combine it into a compelling 1-2 sentence summary. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect; you can always come back and refine it if you feel it’s no longer applicable.
By thinking of your 5-year vision as an evolving guide rather than a rigid checklist, you allow room for discovery. This flexibility keeps you inspired as you navigate the twists and turns of life. But above all, don’t let it stop there – it should serve you as a guide, but the most critical point is then to identify the actions you can take even now to get closer to that picture that you defined.
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Inspiration & Personal Growth
“Be brave enough to live the life of your dreams according to your vision and purpose instead of the expectations and opinions of others.” – Roy T. Bennett
This quote reminds us that true fulfillment doesn’t come from trying to fit into someone else’s plan. And it’s so popular nowadays with us chasing goals that we feel we should be pursuing as opposed to the ones we want. Instead, it’s about tuning out the noise and being courageous enough to follow the picture of the future that genuinely resonates with us—no matter how unconventional it may appear to those around us. Each time you choose to honor your personal calling, you build a stronger connection to the life you’ve always wanted.
Resources & Recommendations
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Book: “Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life - Héctor García – I mentioned the Ikigai tool in last week’s newsletter. This book popularized this very unique concept of looking at happiness and purpose.
· Article: “Use Strategic Thinking to Create the Life You Want” – This HBR article shows you how to translate well-established business planning practices into daily life, which is one of the founding principles behind PhoeniX.
· Tool: Wheel of Life – By far my favorite tool to understand your level of satisfaction with various areas of your life, which is a great place to start while designing your life vision (PS – you got it in the first email together with the PhoeniX Toolkit).
Finance Corner
This week you would have seen a new video from the finance series coming out focusing on Finance Business Partnership. It’s one of the most critical areas in finance nowadays, but still, so many people working in finance stick to the stereotypical view.
If you’re curious about how to start building better business partnerships in your finance functions, check out the video below.
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Summary
Defining a 5-year vision is less about nailing down exact details and more about aligning with what genuinely matters to you. Yes, it can be daunting to stare at a blank page, but remember: clarity unfolds as you experiment, draw inspiration from others, and adapt to new insights. No matter where you are in life, a purposeful roadmap helps you navigate life’s uncertainties with greater confidence.
Until next time,
Maciej
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