Planning Your Future

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Dan A. Tiedemann
  • 501st Combat Support Wing
Leaving choices and decisions to the last minute can cost you. It can cost you opportunities, time, money, and more importantly your sanity. By planning ahead you’ll be able to take advantage of that time, whether it be to prepare properly for a change in your career, career progression, spending less time procrastinating, or taking back your sanity. Planning comes in many forms: short term, long term, day-to-day. Whatever the length, planning can help you reach your goals and your vision for the future.

What does planning ahead mean to you? Whether your first instinct is to think about your family, your career, money or time the principles behind it are similar and so are the benefits. With a New Year ahead, you’ll want to plan ahead for whatever life decisions are in front of you. While you may not always know what is in store, you can plan ahead for what you know and can control. When done right, planning can help you execute new projects, reach your self-improvement goals both personally and professional, and fulfill your vision while still having fun and enjoying life to the fullest. Alan Lakin a well-known author on personal time management said, “Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” By taking some time to plan today you’re bringing future opportunities into the present so you may act on them. 

Having served as a Career Assistance Advisor for the last year, many Airmen have visited seeking advice on future career options. The most common questions that arise are what options are open to me, and when can I make it happen? Many have started the planning process early while others did not plan ahead. There is no one cookie cutter answer or option for planning ahead; however, the one thing that is true for all, start planning early. The earlier your planning starts, the more opportunities are available to you. Regardless of your final decision planning ahead will allow you time to make a better decision for you and your family’s future both personally and professionally.