Prepare for College and Career with The 5 Ps

Find Your Why, Plan Your Future

While in school or starting out in your career, planning for the future may seem like an abstract idea. The future – your future – is a vague destination with far more variables than absolutes. You have ideas, several broad goals or maybe a few specifics in mind, but a clear picture of your future life and career, and the path to it, may still be out of reach.

Despite your current lack of clarity, defining and mapping your future is absolutely possible and within your reach. The journey begins with finding your Why. Your Why is the motivation behind the goals you set and the steps you take to reach them. What do you want to accomplish with your life story, and what makes you want it? Finding your Why is not a quick exercise. It takes thoughtful consideration and a fair bit of homework. Determining your Why will help you understand your values and what captures your interest. 

The 5 Ps for Finding Your Why

Are you ready to find your Why? Use the 5 Ps to guide you through this eye-opening journey.

Passion

Passion is what excites you and gives you energy. Your passion is something your thoughts may drift to throughout the day, and you often find yourself brainstorming about it. It’s important to note that passions naturally change over a lifetime, but they are often linked by a common thread. This common thread will help you determine the root passion that drives you to the things you love. 

For example, you may be passionate about the sport you play. What is it that you love most about playing, or about the game itself? Is it the time you spend with other people? Or maybe you’re drawn to the physical science of making brains and muscles perform feats of athleticism? Could it be the strategy involved in recognizing each player’s talents and then organizing a group of players to work as a team and execute a plan?

Your passion may also be much more internal, as in creating art. What is it about the act of this passion that draws you to it day after day? Describe your feelings or the thoughts you have while anticipating this activity and then engaging in it. Can you distill the drive that makes you feel alive when you create?

Power

Power is actually about your superpower. What are your strengths that make you successful in daily life? Everyone has a unique set of skills that come from natural ability, practice, or education. Your particular combination of skills sets you apart from your peers. When you leverage your superpowers, you will achieve goals more effectively.

To determine your superpower, think about skills that come very naturally to you that may not be as easy for others. What specific strengths have you committed to learning and honing over time? Ask people close to you what they see as your biggest strengths. By going outside your own mind for this exercise, you may find out you have powers you never noticed.

Purpose

Your purpose will be discovered by aligning your passion and power. Purpose is the impact you want to have on the world, which comes from using your greatest strengths to live out your passions. You may find that you already tend to be passionate about things you are skilled at doing, but now you will look ahead to the long-term purpose for your future.

For example, the student who is passionate about art because of the detail, planning, and motivations that are poured into each piece, and is also very skilled at the analysis of every detail, may find his or her purpose in the pursuit of investigative truth. A career in forensics, art authentication, conservation science, or archaeology may be ahead.

Pitch

An elevator pitch is a marketing technique in which a business representative conveys the company and what it offers in a compelling narrative that could be delivered in the short time it takes an elevator to travel from one floor to the next. Similarly, in networking, your individual pitch is how you tell your story quickly and powerfully to the people with whom you’d like to connect. 

Your pitch may be delivered by speech or in writing, and you will need to have it ready to impart at a moment’s notice. When you have the opportunity to share your story in a longer version, such as a scheduled interview, use the pitch as a starting point and build from there. Your pitch should include elements of your passion, power, and purpose. You have a few seconds to share who you are, what you are pursuing, and why you are pursuing it in a way that makes the listener or reader want to learn more about you.

People

Your people are your mentors, advisers, and cheerleaders who believe in you and support your purpose. Surround yourself with a network of supportive individuals who want to see you achieve your goals. The people on your journey may change over time, but they are all valuable along the way. 

The people who help you find your Why will include family, teachers, counselors, co-workers, bosses, coaches, and leaders. You will also have people who may step in for just a short time, such as job shadow guides or family friends or colleagues who provide a glimpse of your future options. Nurture these relationships so that you have a constant supply of encouragement and guidance on your path.

Always show gratitude to those who have shared their time or support with you, and don’t forget to ask them how you can support them!

Map Your Plan for the Future with Confidence in Your Why

Once you explore the 5 Ps, you’ll be well on your way to clarity about your plan for the future. Understanding your Why will inform many important decisions you make over the next few years.

For more information and guidance on the 5 Ps, attend a Hollenback Consulting workshop. If you’re beginning to chart your educational plan to prepare for college, contact us to guide you through a successful strategy.