Lecture on Reverse Goal Setting

Introduction

• Speaker's background:
  • Former medical doctor who left the profession due to dissatisfaction.
  • Found fulfillment through reverse goal setting.
  • Now a learning coach for 13 years, teaching reverse goal setting globally.

Problems with Conventional Goal Setting

• Often ineffective for complex goals due to lack of clarity in the path to achieve them.
• Leads to a cycle of setting, failing, and feeling demotivated.
• Focus on what to achieve, not how to achieve it.
• Uncertainty in the path leads to burnout and wasted energy.

Reverse Goal Setting

• Definition: Starts with the goal and works backward to create a clear path.
• Provides clarity and actionable steps to achieve goals.

Five Steps of Reverse Goal Setting

Step 1: Identify Long-term Goal

• Know the outcome you want but remain flexible.
• Avoid setting goals too far in the future due to uncertainty.
• Activity: Write down your 5-10 year vision and the 'why' behind it.

Step 2: Define Your Future Self

• Meta Goal: The ideal person for whom achieving the goal is easy.
• Focus on skills, habits, and attributes needed.
• Consider areas like time management, focus, and learning ability.
• Importance of focusing on process over outcome.

Step 3: Define Your Current Self

• Assess current skills and attributes relative to the meta goal.
• Self-awareness is crucial; identify gaps in skills and capabilities.
• If unsure about requirements or self-assessment, prioritize gaining that clarity.

Step 4: Conduct a Force Field Analysis

• Map out current self and future self along with barriers and drivers.
• Identify existing skills, resources, network, and how they can help overcome barriers.
• Regularly revisit and update this analysis.

Step 5: Build Your Plan

• Determine what, when, and how to work on priorities.
• Adjust plan based on real-life factors (e.g., unexpected obstacles).
• Example: Addressing root causes of issues (e.g., improving focus over mere task completion).

Important Considerations

• Focus on a few priorities at a time; changing habits takes time and diligence.
• Timeline should be realistic and conservative.
• Real-life example: Transition from medicine involved methodical, focused skill development.

Conclusion

• Transitioning lives through reverse goal setting is possible.
• Reverse goal setting is more effective for complex, important goals than conventional methods.
• Encouragement to try reverse goal setting for better results.

These notes summarize the key points and steps involved in reverse goal setting as outlined by the speaker.