Why Working Backward Helps You Push Forward

When I was 10 years old, there was nothing I wanted more in this world than to be a professional soccer goalie. I had the coolest ball, the coolest gloves, and the coolest goalie uniform out there. I was on one of the best teams in the country, I practiced every single day, and I had the desire and work ethic to really make this thing happen.

When I got to my 6th grade class, with new subjects, new classmates, and new teachers, I felt uneasy. I was asked to describe to the class what I wanted to be when I grew up, and although surrounded by newness, I was steadfast in my response.

I want to be a professional soccer goalie.

I didn’t look like your typical soccer player, let alone athlete. I had long scraggly hair, big blue glasses, and an even bigger belly. Because of this, I heard the snarls around the room.

Little Jimmy rolled his eyes. Little Sophie squirted milk out of her nose. It seemed like the entire room was laughing at me. Except for one person. The person who mattered most. Mrs. Rossi.

After quieting the class down, my teacher looked me in the eye and told me that it was a great goal, and that I shouldn’t let anybody tell me otherwise. She asked me to stay after class to talk more about it, which quickly made the rest of the students both surprised and envious.

Mrs. Rossi: “So, you want to be a professional soccer goalie, huh?”

Me: “I do! I want to be one of the best ever.”

Mrs. Rossi: “Do you want to just play pro, or be on the National Team?”

Me: “National Team!”

Mrs. Rossi: “Perfect, so here is what we are going to do. I want you to imagine yourself as the goalie for the US National Team. And then I want you to figure out what team you played on before that in order to get to this team. Maybe you played in Europe. Yes, Europe! You are the starting goalie for Manchester United. Where were you before that? I think you began your career here in the states as the goalie for the New York Red Bulls. Before that you played at a great college. ! And before Northwestern you played in High School, here in this school district, and you also played for a team and trained on the side. Before that you made the 7th grade team and you are the captain! And finally, before that, you practice every day you can, you love the sport more and more each day, and bam! You are back to this present moment, ready to start this exciting journey.”

Mrs. Rossi realized that I had a goal, but I did not have a plan to get there. In order to guide me to where I ultimately wanted to be, she had to describe in detail how I got there starting from the end.

This practice is called reverse goal setting.

If you don’t know where to begin, then the best place to start is the end.

Mrs. Rossi provided me with a simplified version, but it was effective nonetheless. I followed her plan to a T until the Manchester United part, but until then, I was on my way to accomplishing my dream.

Reverse goal setting is for athletes, it’s for astronauts. It’s for writers, it’s for leaders. It’s for students, it’s for teachers. It’s for anybody who has a general sense of where they want to be, but is not quite sure how to get there.

Whether it is an individual goal, or a goal for a team, this is one of the most practical, actionable, and clear ways to get there. The more detailed the plan, the better. Then go out and execute that plan accordingly.

So, the next time you have an aspiration but are not sure how to get there, think about reverse goal setting and these simple steps:

1. Write down your ultimate goal

2. What do you have to do, and by when, so that you are in a position to get to your objective?

3. What do you need to complete before that second-to-last goal?

4. Keep working backward

5. Work backward until you reach the first milestone after where you are currently

Remember, when the end seems so far away, start there, and it will feel closer and closer each day.

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