60 Years of Planning

China has released its 12^th five year plan. That's an impressive 60 yrs of comprehensive planning from a country that is best known for tumult during the last century.  It is very heartening to see Chinese leadership focusing on the environmental impact of their breakneck growth. Of course the article doesn't talk much about China's ability in the past to live up to its goals in previous plans, and since I haven't been following closely myself, I can't speak to how likely this one is to predict China's course over the next five years.  But, it does serve as a reminder to me to continue reflecting on how I can live my own life more strategically.  Maybe it's just the bureaucrat in me, but I like the idea of having overarching goals that guide decision making over the long term, rather than blindly stumbling around or dreaming big without any idea how to get there.