Over the next few days, I will be unfolding my plans for 2009. Some of them may sound lofty and unachievable. Daniel Burnham, architect and urban planner wrote, “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die, but long after we are gone be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistence.” My plans for the coming year are rooted in long term dreams and visions. It’s much easier to plan for tomorrow if I know where and when I want to go. Today, I want to give you an glimpse of where I see myself in ten years.
In ten years, I see myself financially independent and have the option to retire. I’ll be well traveled and possess a good understanding of different cultures and viewpoints. I want the ability to give away my money to groups and organizations who need it. I want to give liberally and freely.
I will have the right set of tools from formal and informal education to revive ailing companies like General Motors, Sears, and Motorola. My passions and tool set will allow me to plan and build sustainable communities in Chicago and across the world.
I’m an odd cat. I love living in an urban setting like the Near West Side of Chicago or Rogers Park. I also love the countryside and rural towns. Although I was raised in the suburbs, I’ve never felt comfortable in it. I envision myself living in a small home in Chicago or another urban center and a place in a rural part of the world. I plan to own a multi-unit home in Chicago where I live on the top floor with a roof top garden that I share with my neighbors. My rural home will be on a large swath of farmland that I will lease out to local farmers at a fair price. The land set aside for myself will be used to sustain my household. The barn adjacent to my home will house my collection of cars that I restore and create.
I see myself physically and mentally healthy in ten years. With my health, I want to continue travelling and challenge myself with tons of outdoor adventure. My mental endurane will sustain me during tough times I will face during my projects and my life.
To achieve my long-term goals, this year will be a time of intelligent hard work. I need to pick and choose what is most important to pursue and what I need to leave alone. Each baby step this year will be an accomplishment and movement towards my destination.
Where do you see yourself ten years from now? Who will be the with you? What will you be doing? What are you doing now to get there? These are all fun questions to answer but they have some serious consequences because we ultimately have control of our life. What we think and do is what our life becomes.
