Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Almost 5 years ago, I interviewed for a chance to start working as an outsource contractor for Microsoft Portugal. In this role, I would be responsible for a set of two non-mainstream products that combined, represented a very small share of the overall business. My opportunity, was based on a job full of uncertainty, that lacked the necessary resources and attention, and that ultimately was perceived as "unimportant" within the bigger picture. - I instantly fell in love with the challenge!

Following a successful round of interviews with the outsourcing company, I was finally face to face with the experienced Microsoft employee that was the hiring manager for that job. At one point during this interview, he asked me:

Where do you see yourself (professionally) in 5 years André?

I remember breaking my answer in two steps:

" First I will prove myself and become a permanent employee at Microsoft like you . I give myself 2 years to accomplish that, or I will find my way elsewhere.

If I manage to cross that bridge, in 5 years time I want to be working at the very core of this organisation . I want a to take on a global position and have my chance to influence directly the ways in which technology is transforming our world."

Just as I said these words, they became part of my mission statement. I didn't just need the job like every other candidate - I wanted it badly. I was already setting targets for myself - I was all in. Against all odds, the guy on the other side of the table believed me enough to give me the job.

Nearly two years after the day of that interview, I accomplished the first of those two milestones. I will never forget that sunny afternoon, when I heard through Skype the outcome of my recent interviews for a permanent position at Microsoft UK. In a fraction of a second I thought of the journey that brought me to that moment. In the face of all the obstacles I encountered along the way, I had been armed with valuable lessons learned from family, friends, love… and yes, a fair bit of studying. I was overwhelmed with emotion and on that moment, just as I ended the call, I walked outside as far as I could from everyone and tears of joy came to my eyes.

With a few months to spare before I reach the original 5 year mark, stage two has also been successfully accomplished!

I am on my way to Microsoft Headquarters in Seattle, USA!

While I take the (many) steps needed to transfer my entire life to the other side of the globe, I find myself again full of powerful emotions.

Are you thinking about your 5 year life plan?

The important lesson that I retain from 5 year life plans is that they are really hard to execute. So much time between start and finish, leaves room for all sorts of stories to unravel in our lives. As individuals we are not fixed in time, we are ever changing.

Cat Stevens had it right: "…you will still be here tomorrow but your dreams may not"

Looking back, there were 5 key things I embraced from the start:

Take a Risk

Tic tac. Time won't stop and finding your unique success path requires taking action. Be fearless, stay away from your comfort zone!

Be Persistent

Favour consistency over intensity and keep your eyes on the target. Don't give in to the temptation of changing that target to accommodate your insecurities when the going gets tuff.

Believe

Become your own source of infinite hope and unquestionable faith. Some levers can only be pulled from within. If you don't believe in yourself unconditionally, no one will.

Plan & Adapt

Draw a map with the key milestones that will take you to your destination. Break that big dream into smaller goals that you can accomplish and celebrate along the way. Have the courage to follow your intuition and dare to fail fast. Being wrong is an opportunity to learn how to make it right.

Don't settle!

Be willing and ready to throw everything out of the window (apart from your ultimate goal). Make your choice and embrace the consequences.

Life happens by chance but success on your terms is deliberate. Be brave, stay strong and dare to nudge life in the direction of your dreams.

"...act like the clever archers who, designing to hit the mark which yet appears too far distant, and knowing the limits to which the strength of their bow attains, take aim much higher than the mark, not to reach by their strength or arrow to so great a height, but to be able with the aid of so high an aim to hit the mark they wish to reach." - Niccolò Machiavelli