Most of us have grown up with a traditional approach to goal setting: start where you are and move toward where you want to be. We identify what we want to do now, what the next step is, and continue along that linear path. While this method works for some, many people find themselves stuck, overwhelmed, or unclear about the end goal. Backward goal setting, also known as reverse engineering your goals, turns this process on its head and in doing so, it can set you free. Here’s how.
Backward goal setting begins with clarity of vision. Instead of focusing on the first step, it encourages you to define the end point in vivid detail. By starting with the outcome, you allow yourself to shape each preceding step with greater precision, ensuring that every move aligns with your desired destination. This method not only creates more targeted action but also has the power to free you from the anxiety and doubt that come with forward goal setting.
The first step in backward goal setting is to imagine your ideal outcome.
If you were to achieve your goal, what would that look and feel like?
Create a clear and compelling picture of your future, whether it’s personal or professional.
When we begin with the end in mind, it does more than just provide a goal. It gives us clarity.
Traditional goal setting can often feel like navigating a maze without knowing what the exit looks like. You’re taking steps, but there’s constant uncertainty about whether those steps will lead to the right place. With backward goal setting, your destination is always clear, reducing stress and empowering you with a stronger sense of purpose.
We focus on the feeling of the desired outcome rather than the steps that you think might get you there.
You’re free from the nagging fear of “Am I doing the right thing?” because everything you do flows directly from your ultimate vision. Every action has a clear purpose. Everything feels aligned from the beginning, because you are asking yourself “Which choice will take me closer to that feeling?”
It’s easy to get bogged down by focusing solely on the next step. However, backward goal setting liberates us from the constraints of step-by-step planning and opens us to seeing all the possibilities that lead to the final goal. There are so many ways of achieving our desired outcome and with this method we keep our eyes open to opportunities. Opportunities that we may not have considered had we started with a fixed set of goal steps.
By working backward from your vision, you expand your thinking. Instead of asking, “What should I do next?” you ask, “What had to happen just before I reached this goal?” It’s magic, as we ask ourselves the question as thought we have already achieved our desired outcome. This question opens up creative thinking. Instead of focusing on a straight-line path, you allow for a range of options and possibilities. If one route doesn’t work, it becomes easier to pivot because you’re focused on the outcome, not a rigid series of steps.
This freedom allows you to navigate around obstacles rather than becoming blocked by them. You’re no longer confined to a rigid process but empowered to make the best decisions for your goal.
Many people struggle with goals because they seem too big, too far away, or too abstract. Backward goal setting breaks your goals down into manageable steps by reverse engineering them. As you ask what each prior step looks like, you naturally develop a series of small, actionable milestones.
We call this The Merlin Principle.
Let’s say your goal is to launch your own business in a year. Start by imagining that future moment: your business is successful, thriving, and operating smoothly. What must have happened just before that moment? Perhaps you had to secure a key client or hit a revenue target. Keep working backward. Before landing that client, you might have developed a network of contacts or perfected your service. Before that, maybe you needed to build a strong online presence, and before that, you had to identify your niche.
This reverse process creates a clear roadmap. It allows you to see each milestone as a concrete, achievable step, rather than an overwhelming mountain. Instead of being paralyzed by the enormity of your goal, you find freedom in taking clear, intentional steps that align with your vision.
Backward goal setting also has the potential to free you from distractions and unnecessary tasks.
When you focus on what needs to be done right now, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day noise of email, meetings or minor tasks, that don’t directly contribute to your big picture goal. But when you reverse engineer your goals, you quickly identify what is essential and what is irrelevant.
By consistently asking, “Will this help me achieve my end goal?” you refine your focus.
Non-essential tasks fall away, and your energy is directed only toward what matters most. This approach aligns your daily actions with your long-term vision, freeing you from busy work and allowing you to focus on what truly matters.
One of the greatest gifts of backward goal setting is its inherent flexibility. Since you’re not tied to a step by step process, you’re free to pivot when necessary. If an unexpected challenge arises or new information comes to light, you can adjust your approach without losing sight of your end goal.
This flexibility liberates you from feeling stuck or off track. Instead of seeing setbacks as failures, you can view them as opportunities to adjust your course. You retain your freedom to choose the best path forward at every stage.
Backward goal setting offers more than just an alternative approach to achieving your dreams, it provides a deep sense of freedom.
It frees you from the anxiety of not knowing if you’re on the right path, from the limitations of linear thinking, from the overwhelm of massive goals, and from the distractions of non-essential tasks.
By focusing on your ultimate destination and reverse engineering your way to it, you create a clear, flexible, and empowering path forward.
Have fun using this method.
Join Mindcraft this December to learn three month’s worth of self coaching tools.
You must be logged in to post a comment.