How I changed my life in 334 days with Reverse Goal Setting

Summary

In this motivational video, Dr. Justin Sung shares his journey from dissatisfaction to fulfillment in just 334 days, using a unique method of goal setting and planning. He details a five-step process, starting with envisioning the ideal person who has achieved the goal, assessing current skills, identifying barriers and resources, and creating an actionable plan. Sung emphasizes the importance of understanding the goal and oneself, setting realistic timelines, and learning how to improve. His method has been adopted by thousands, and he offers additional tips for success.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The speaker transformed their life in 334 days by using a method of goal setting and planning, which they now teach to students and professionals globally.
• 🎯 The method involves reverse goal setting, starting with envisioning the end goal and working backward to determine the skills and attributes needed to achieve it.
• 🚀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of creating a detailed profile of the 'ideal person' who could achieve the goal effortlessly, rating various attributes on a scale of 1 to 10.
• 🔍 A force field analysis is suggested to identify both the barriers preventing progress and the resources that can be leveraged to overcome these obstacles.
• 📝 The process includes a self-assessment to rate one's current skills and attributes, comparing them to the ideal profile and identifying gaps.
• 🛠️ The speaker advises creating an actionable plan to incrementally improve and develop the necessary skills and attributes, using SMART goals or similar frameworks.
• 📚 Additional emphasis is placed on spending more time learning about the goal itself and understanding its nature to accurately identify the required attributes.
• 🤔 The importance of self-reflection and understanding one's own methods, skills, and techniques is highlighted for creating an effective personal development plan.
• ⏳ A realistic timeline is crucial, and the speaker suggests estimating the time required to improve each attribute and considering the feasibility of doing so within the desired timeframe.
• 🔄 The need to potentially reconsider goals if the time required to develop necessary skills exceeds the timeframe available is acknowledged, advocating for a pragmatic approach to goal setting.
• 💡 The speaker offers resources such as their learning program at icanstudy.com for further guidance on improving learning efficiency and creating a comprehensive development plan.

Q & A

What significant change did the speaker experience in their life within 334 days?

The speaker went from being lost and unhappy to feeling fulfilled and excited about life by using a method of goal setting and planning that altered their daily routine and gave them confidence in their future.

What is the speaker's professional background, and how does it relate to their current work?

The speaker is a former medical doctor who now works as a full-time learning coach, researcher, lecturer, and the head of learning at I Can Study. Their background in medicine informs their expertise in learning efficiency.

Why did the speaker feel unhappy and unfulfilled while working as a doctor?

The speaker felt a lack of control over their life, as their schedule was dictated by hospital administrators. They also felt disconnected from the impact of their work due to the inefficient system of clinical practice.

What is the term used by the speaker for the goal-setting method they teach and practice?

The speaker refers to the method as 'reverse goal setting,' which is also known as 'backwards goal setting.'

What is the first step in the reverse goal-setting method as described by the speaker?

The first step is to define the goal, which should be a long-term or medium-term goal, ideally at least six to nine months away.

How does the speaker suggest creating a profile of the ideal person to achieve the goal?

The speaker suggests imagining a hypothetical person who has already achieved the goal and identifying the skills, attributes, assets, and knowledge that this person possesses.

What is the purpose of the force field analysis in the reverse goal-setting method?

The force field analysis helps to identify barriers that prevent the development of necessary skills and attributes, as well as the resources that can be used to overcome these barriers and achieve the goal.

What are the three additional steps the speaker recommends to improve the chances of reaching goals?

The three additional steps are spending more time learning about the goal itself, learning more about oneself, and setting a realistic timeline for skill improvement.

Why is it important to understand the actual goal when using reverse goal setting?

Understanding the goal is crucial because it helps to accurately identify the necessary attributes and skills, which in turn affects the effectiveness of the plan and the likelihood of achieving the goal.

What is the significance of the speaker's personal experience in the context of the reverse goal-setting method?

The speaker's personal experience serves as a testament to the effectiveness of the reverse goal-setting method, demonstrating how it can be applied to transform one's life and achieve significant personal and professional goals.

How does the speaker define 'employability capitals' in the context of goal setting?

Employability capitals refer to the factors that contribute to and influence a person's ability to succeed, especially in their career. These include skills, attributes, knowledge, and assets that are essential for achieving career-related goals.

What is the role of SMART goals in the speaker's approach to goal setting?

SMART goals provide a framework for making goals more actionable, measurable, concrete, and thus more likely to be achieved. They can be used in conjunction with the reverse goal-setting method to create short-term goals that bring one closer to the long-term goal.

What advice does the speaker give regarding the improvement of skills and attributes?

The speaker advises focusing on improving two or three items at a time to avoid overload and ensure progress. They also note that improvement typically slows down as one approaches mastery, emphasizing the importance of patience and consistent effort.

What is the potential consequence of setting unrealistic short-term goals in the reverse goal-setting method?

Setting unrealistic short-term goals can lead to failure in achieving the goal and may also prevent the development of necessary skills for future success, effectively 'screwing oneself twice' by not meeting the immediate goal and neglecting long-term skill development.

How does the speaker suggest dealing with the realization that the time needed to achieve the desired attribute profile is longer than the time available to reach the goal?

The speaker suggests that if the time needed to achieve the desired attribute profile exceeds the time available, one may need to reconsider the goal, acknowledging that there may be an element of luck involved in trying to reach it.