One of the main differences between short and long-term goals is the amount of time it takes to achieve them. Short-term goals are achievable anywhere from one day to one year, while long-term goals take around five to 10 years to accomplish. While short-term goals may help you work toward long-term goals, they can also be relatively independent of your long-term career success. For instance, you might establish a short-term goal of meeting with your supervisor to discuss an ongoing issue with a colleague.