Scrap your iron-clad five-year plan Being able to work with focus and discipline is generally a good thing, unless you're focusing on things that won't help you or propel you forward. To help prevent this, Feuer recommends developing a short-term plan with a six- to nine-month outlook. This plan will help you get through the year. He also recommends creating a longer-term plan with a seventeen- to eighteen-month strategy. It will encompass the goals and benchmarks you need to achieve during this time period.