Backwards planning

Start at the end

… and consider everything backwards

(Backward planning – Backward design – Backward mapping)

 

Many of you will be aware that ‘backwards planning’ is an effective planning tool for achieving goals. It can also be used as a tool of disruption …

 

Backwards planning to disrupt a teenager’s negative mindset

Imagine that you’re with me in this real-life situation I faced recently.

Lacking direction.

Terry (not his real name), dropped out of school with failing grades. He saw no point in prolonging the misery. He got a little work delivering pizzas – barely enough to survive – and spent his days shuttered in his bedroom online gaming. Four years later he had few (if any) real friends, no girlfriend, no ambitions, no plans, and no prospects. Terry and his father had many angry ‘discussions’ about his lack of ambition. Terry’s father approached me about his situation.

I invited Terry out for an overnight fishing trip on the boat. The idea was to secure some quality time with him away from internet access and talk to him about maybe setting a goal to feel good about himself and change his life’s direction. It took a lot of probing, but I eventually found something he dreamed of for his future – owning his own home.

“What sort of home?” I asked him. “I’m talking about the ultimate first home you’d like to own. What does it look like?”

(I’m engaging Terry’s imagination to set a goal)

“I dunno, maybe a house … something I can work on and make into something like my parents did with their home,” Terry eventually volunteered.

“Okay, what would you need to buy such a house?”

(The first ‘backwards’ step)

“It would take a bit of money for a deposit – a lot of money. And I’d need a good paying reliable job to get finance.”

“What sort of job would help you best achieve your goal?”

(The second ‘backwards’ step)

“Something in the building industry would be good,” he fired back almost immediately. “I’d be able to get building materials and tradesmen at the right price – do a lot of the stuff myself.”

“What sort of building industry job would you consider doing?”

(Third backwards step)

“I’ve always wanted to work with timber. A carpenter maybe?”

“That would require an apprenticeship, wouldn’t it?”

(Fourth ‘backwards’ step)

“Yeah, I’d probably need to do some sort of skills or training course first. The government has been advertising that sort of stuff a lot lately.”

“Are you eligible for that sort of course?”

(Fifth ‘backwards’ step)

“Yes, I think so. Some of my old friends from school are doing apprenticeships. Some of their grades were even worse than mine, ha, ha.”

“Really? Have you thought about checking out what’s available?”

(I’ve started moving forward now that Terry has a ‘vision’ of the pathway to achieving his goal)

“I’ll get online and start making inquiries as soon as we get back,” he said thoughtfully. “You know, I could probably get a job with some of my old mates. I’ll contact them and find out.”

 

When you want to disrupt someone from their current pathway, help them to imagine the ultimate outcome of an ambition or goal, and then work backwards with them by imagining how they can achieve each stage so that escape/superior/alternative pathways are revealed. Creative thinking can be inspired in others, even without them realizing what you’re up to.

Argument and debate have their place, but sometimes the stakes are too high to argue.

‘It is never too late to change your lifepath and the lifepaths of those you truly care about. Creative thinking is merely a matter of choice – a lifestyle choice.’

– Michael Muxworthy

The most powerful lateral thinking teaching tool available anywhere …

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 – Michael Muxworthy

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