Click. The clock ticks over to midnight, the ball drops in Times Square, the music plays and the kisses are planted. Suddenly it’s a new year. Traditionally time to look back with thanks and gratitude, and forward with optimism and hope. Time to envision new horizons and set new goals for the year ahead.

But let’s forget about 2015 for now. That’s right – “Fuhgeddaboudit!” as they say in some of my favorite parts of New York City.

Let’s be really bold and look ahead five years out to 2020. Where do you want to be then? What do you want to be doing? Where is your home? What would your life look like if you allowed yourself to be truly and completely who you are intended to be?

In one of my favorite books Excuses Begone! author Wayne W. Dyer writes, “As Abraham Maslow once observed about self-actualizing people: They must be what they can be.”

Here’s a five-minute exercise to get you started.

Step One. Imagine you wake up one morning and everything is perfect. What do you see, smell, hear and feel? Where are you? Who is with you? What do you look like? What are you planning to do that day? Allow yourself to put aside where you’re from and where you are right now. Release anything others may say you ‘should do’ and replace it with intentional thinking about what you ‘must do’. Push it all to the side for five short minutes and let your imagination see that day in early 2020 when all is now perfect.

Step Two. While it’s fresh in your thoughts, go write it down. Use bullet points and write as fast as you can. Remember, there are no limits. Have fun describing your desired changes just the way you see them on the horizon. Give no thought to limitations on how you’ll get there. Avoid the practical details for now. Just describe what you intend to accomplish in the next five years.

Of course, dreaming about five years from now includes the huge assumption that you will be here then – healthy, energized and living a fully charged life every day. That means you have to take good care of yourself every day between now and then to have any chance of success. All important goals are built on a platform of good health that allows us to pursue everything else. So take good care of yourself starting right now.

Five-year horizons provide opportunity for major changes in life. New careers, advanced education, relocation to a new and exciting environment, better relationships, measurable savings, and dramatically healthier lifestyles. Maybe even a beach condo in Hawaii!

Where do you want to be in five years? What do you want for your family and friends in 2020?

Now is the time to sketch out the shapes on your own five year horizon. You can fill in the details in the coming months. Stay tuned in 2015 for dozens of ideas on how to do exactly that.

For a detailed Six-Step System for setting, pursuing and

accomplishing your goals, take a look at my book

“Do What You Can! Simple Steps – Extraordinary Results”.

I’ll get you a signed copy at a discounted price through the end of January –

just let me know at John@JohnHallSpeaker.com.

Happy dreaming!

John J. Hall, CPA

John J. Hall, CPA, is an author, speaker and results expert who presents around the world at conventions, corporate meetings and association events. Throughout his 35-year career as a business consultant, corporate executive and professional speaker, John has helped organizations and individuals achieve measurable results. He inspires audience members in corporations, not-for-profit organizations and professional associations to step up, take action and “do what you can.”