Courtney wrote in with this question, and I think the BB&W Crew can pitch in on the answer:

How do you answer the “what’s your five year plan” question? Especially if you’ve accomplished what you’ve wanted to accomplish academically and professionally, etc. What if you are ready to settle down and have a family and that is part of your 5 year plan, LOL! Does that make someone boring? I have a really hard time with this question. I’ve heard conflicting messages from be honest about what you want, to you should have more interests in your life other than marriage and family, to you shouldn’t talk about marriage at all. What’s the best way to broach this question?

Not sure if you all remember the interview I did with Eliss and Joseph, but here’s the nugget: after the initial attraction, Joseph read Eliss’ five-year plan and that cinched it–he was hooked. Eliss was kind enough to share the original email she sent:

“Five to ten years from now, I see myself finished with my Ph.D., married with a child, and hopefully getting ready to have my own research firm or healthcare clinic specializing in neurological diseases and oncology. The way America’s food is processed, it’s no wonder society is being faced with a plethora of diseases and cancers. I don’t know where I will reside, but I’ve thought of places such as southern California, Atlanta (of course), Charlotte, or somewhere up north. Then again, I don’t know if I would enjoy snow up to my knees. I’m very open to living outside of Atlanta. Long as I’m residing in a nice home, in a nice area, I’m content. I also wish to have traveled to at least four countries, and I would love to have the children acclimated to traveling. Running the Boston Marathon would be nice too (I need to start working hard for that).”

As you can see, I dream big, LOL! However, I’m not sure about the research firm now because I found out how much the insurance is, and unless I can come up with $1,000,000 anytime within those ten years (or find some wealthy sponsor who is very giving), that’s probably going to be a bust.”

One thing that I noticed about Eliss’ five/ten-year plan was that she mentioned that she wanted to get married and have a child, BUT, she also had some kick-arse personal and professional goals that alos took center stage. I think that’s a winner. Now if you’re 18 and you say you want to be married within a year and you’re not even in college, then you might want to rethink your goals. But if you’re in your mid-twenties and throughout your thirties I think it’s perfectly reasonable to allow marriage to be part of the conversation, no?