Inventing new dreams and passions can be fun, easy, and inspiring, at least until you sit down and start trying to decide how to really achieve these crazy goals. Suddenly, what seemed like such a clear, well-marked path takes on the appearance of a desert covered with undergrowth and thick brambles of dangerous invisible traps and endlessly branching and unmarked trails. It’s enough to make you want to crawl back into your old boring life and forget everything that happened. But let’s try something a little different first, and see if we can’t tame that overgrown jungle.
One of the best and most comprehensive ways to figure out how to do something new is called backward planning or top-down planning. Start by listing your finished goal at the top of the page, then work your way back through each logical step that should come before the previous one. To do this, after each step, write yourself: “What had to happen? immediately before this step to get to this step? “Be literal and very specific here: If your goal is to appear at a conference, start with the standing ovation you receive, then write” give an amazing speech “below that, and” get on and off the stage “before that. and “put the mic on” before that, and so on. That way, you’ll discover all those annoying little details that you might not think otherwise (is the setting accessible, if you have a disability? microphone system will they use? If it’s a lavalier microphone, how does that affect their choice of clothing?)
As you can see, the more precise and detailed your plan, the better the chances of success when you put it into practice. On the other hand, setting the “big steps” can be a good way to start, if that’s all you have, just make sure you’ve filled in the details and gaps before you begin. At some point, you may come to a step and realize, “I have no idea what had to happen to make this happen.” That’s when you know you will need to ask for help!
Here are two examples of backplanning, one bad and one good, based on the goal of buying a home. Suppose both planes were written from top to bottom.
Bad example
Objective: buy a house in the suburbs
Step 5: house closing (there may be many steps involved here, what are they?)
Step 4: Get an inspection (How can you set that up and who can you ask if you don’t know?)
Step 3: make a decision (based on what priorities and specifications?)
Step 2: View houses (Are they prioritized, is there a list of qualities, how did you get that list?)
Step 1: Research the neighborhoods (based on what qualities and how will you find time for that?)
Good example
Objective: buy a house in the suburbs
* Close at home
* Approve and make offer or disapprove and repeat with the house next door
* Review inspection and legal documents.
* Hire a real estate attorney to review legal property issues.
* Get quotes from real estate attorneys (see Charlie – he works at a firm)
* Hire an independent inspector
* Get quotes on inspections (see Bob and Jackie for references)
* Choose top 3 options based on priority list, needs / wants list and price and rank them in order of preference
* Research recent appraisals, compare with prices
* View properties in person
* Give them a priority list and wish / need list and schedule appointments to view properties
* Hire real estate buyer broker
* Verify loan approval for estimated purchase price brackets
* Research loan options / providers and choose the best option (ask Mary to recommend someone)
* Budget for initial payment and fees
* Estimate down payment, inspection, legal, brokerage and closing fees
* Estimate property prices in chosen neighborhoods.
* Research the neighborhoods according to the lists and choose the favorites.
* Create priority list for structures and environments.
* Create a needs / want list for the new home
As you can see, the second list is much more organized and detailed, and sets the process in a specific and responsive order. Of course, if you already know what house you want to buy, or if you’ve already chosen your favorite neighborhood, you would eliminate those steps, just as you would have to change a few steps and probably add a few more if you needed the property. for commercial purposes, etc. The trick is to make sure you anticipate each step and sub-step involved, and take it into account, so that there is a clear progression from start to finish.
An important feature of this planning method is that it assumes success from the start. Rather than stand on the starting line staring in absolute terror at the vast and unknown territory between you and your dream, retrospective planning makes success simply a final step in the process and focuses your attention on the practicalities of getting there. . . Once it becomes obvious that your previously confusing and distant dream is clearly achievable through a series of definite and reasonable steps, goals that once seemed out of reach are suddenly within reach.
The attentive reader will notice another important difference between the two lists. The second list contains references to friends and acquaintances who could help through their contacts, advice or services. Friends want to help friends. Having someone on your side who knows the terrain ahead can level the playing field where unhelpful (or even antagonistic) experts and complicated processes are involved. But also, realizing that you don’t have to know or do everything yourself to make your adventure a success can help you achieve the calm feeling of “I have this,” you need to make it happen!
