I just finished teaching my 9th graders about goal setting for college, and while I was talking to them, I couldn’t help but think about how badly I handled this when I was their age—and even well beyond.

Back then, I probably thought the same way some of them do: that life would just work out the way I hoped, without me having to actually plan for it. If I wanted to get into a great college, I assumed it would just happen. That’s not how it works.

I told my students: If you want to go to the school of your dreams, you have to start planning now for the transcript you want that school to see. I wish I’d taken that advice myself

When I was a freshman at Stetson, I was great at all the things that mattered less than my grades. I was a DJ during a dinner shift. I was the announcer for the baseball team. I joined a fraternity. I was sports editor of the campus newspaper—which at least fit into my goals somewhere. But what I excelled at most was making Ds and Fs. I had a hard time waking up in the morning, and an even harder time prioritizing.

The result? I earned a special letter from the school inviting me to take a year off to “reevaluate my priorities.” That’s how I ended up in the Air Force—because my options were determined for me, instead of by me.

When I left the Air Force, I enrolled at Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ), now Florida State College at Jacksonville. I lived at home that first semester, and my parents made it clear: I had to attend every class and spend dedicated time studying. The results were dramatic—straight As for the first two semesters. In my third semester, while serving as editor of the campus newspaper, I got all As and one B. That meant two President’s Lists, one Dean’s List, and a spot in Who’s Who in American Junior Colleges. Turns out, putting grades first actually works.

When I transferred to the University of North Florida, I was living on my own, and my goal-setting slipped again. I stayed on track enough to keep the tuition checks coming, earning As, Bs, and Cs—sometimes by the skin of my teeth. But I graduated in December 1992 and moved forward with my career.

Looking back, I think I spent most of my life just ending up in one place or another because I didn’t plan. I took life as it came, instead of steering it toward the outcome I wanted.

That didn’t really change until I became a teacher. Planning is baked into the job. We plan every lesson. We plan the curriculum to match the goals we have for the year. We even complete an IPDP (Individualized Professional Development Plan), which we affectionately call the “ippy dippy.”

I still don’t plan years ahead the way I probably should, but at least professionally, I plan with the end of the year in mind—and most years, I end up rated “highly effective.” That’s partly because I’m blessed to teach high-caliber students who care about their grades and test scores, but it’s also because I finally learned that not planning almost guarantees a less-than-ideal result.

Here’s the process I try to follow now:

1. Start with the Big Picture

I ask myself: What do I want my life (or this year) to look like when it’s over? This isn’t just about work—it includes relationships, health, faith, and hobbies.

2. Break It Down

A big goal without smaller steps is just a wish. Writing a book? That means daily word counts, deadlines for drafts, and planned revision weeks.

3. Set Deadlines (But Stay Flexible)

Deadlines keep me moving, but I adjust when life throws a curveball—because it will.

4. Build in Accountability

When I tell someone—my spouse, a friend, or even my students—what I’m aiming for, I’m far more likely to follow through.

5. Review and Adjust Regularly

Every month, I check in with my goals. Am I on track? Have my priorities shifted? This keeps me from drifting too far before I notice.

Bottom line: If you don’t decide where you want to end up, life will decide for you. And it may not choose the path you wanted. I learned that the hard way—but I’m still learning, and still planning.

Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt