"X by year Y" gives leaders a pass to finish their tenures and retire before anything hard or unpopular has to be done. When you see "X by year Y", ask: what is

"X by year Y" gives leaders a pass to finish their tenures and retire before anything hard or unpopular has to be done. When you see "X by year Y", ask: what is the transition plan for the intervening years, to ensure achievement of X on schedule?