Reverse Engineering
Strategy is an important part of life. We should be thinking long term visions are important. I was talking to my manager today and we spoke about how we want our goals to be going. Are we doing the things that are needed now to move towards our goal in the future. The way he explained me somethings is that when you have defined your vision and a goal, you naturally can find that somethings you are good with and somethings that don't come naturally to you where you need to work on. For example, you are not born with driving skills, so you need to learn driving separately. So, today's blog is going to be about encouraging you that we need to have a vision. A strategic vision and we want to reverse engineer that. I remember when I was studying, I had a goal that I want to be an expert in algorithms.
Now, because of this type of goal, I decided to have a process where I would solve at least 2 problems each day to improve my algorithm skills. Moreover, what I would do is do one type of problem for at least 10-20 days and I found that, usually I would be able to discover pattern in these types of problems. The main idea is that you should have an outcome or the end vision in your mind when doing something. The point here is to keep the end in mind when you begin.
Quotes:
This is one of the habits of Stephen Covey in the 7 habits of highly effective people that you should always begin with the end in mind. To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you're going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction. If you think about this with a very simple example, think of a building construction. If you don't know at the end of the work, how will the building look like, it's difficult to take the right steps to build it. So that's what Stephen Covey over here is mentioning that you should have a clear vision of the end product on how it will look like at the end. We all know this that we should begin with the end in mind. However, are we super sure on what exactly do we need to do to achieve that? Some might or some might not.
One thing you can try is, whenever you are doing something write down a complete outcome of what you want the end product to look like to build the muscle memory. For example, you want to cook Paneer Makhanwala, imagine how the end product would look like. Do you want some onions on the side, do you want some parathas along with it. Do you want to have a drink to go with the food. What's exactly the end result going to look like. Do you want the bhaji to taste sweet or do you want a spicier vegetable. The clearer the vision, the easier it will be to achieve that outcome. So, before you read the next line go ahead and write down your vision vividly. It can be as small as making Paneer Makhanwala or as big as constructing a building. Take a look at how the building will look at the end of construction. Anyways that's what we want at the end of it all, the vision and the steps to get to the vision will be easier.
Other natural ways of going about it is to create a picture of how exactly you wish to complete. You might have seen a lot of body builders who keep posters of some actor so that they are motivated to work towards that. In a sophisticated way it's called vision boards. I remember during my 10th Standard, I had vision boards of how many marks I want to get in the board exam. Similarly, even during my 12th Standard, I had something. That's the power of vision boards. That's another practical way to make sure that the end in mind does not slip away.
Another practical way is to keep sticky notes and stick them at a place where you can see it every day. Take a sticky note about something and write down your weight goal. Take a sticky note and write down your business goal. Take a sticky note and write down your relationship goal. All of these are goals that you can keep right out there where you can see it. I remember I had a friend who had sticky notes all over her bathroom. She said that's the place where I manifest the most. It's such an interesting way to put it. But there are people who might have a reason of keeping sticky notes in the bathroom.
Are there any practical other ways to keep your vision boards. Maybe there are, maybe there are not. Let's check. One other way is that you can journal about your visions to keep reminding yourself. You can have progress trackers, affirmations, etc. So here are some other ways that you can go after.
1. Journaling Your Vision: Write down your goals every morning or night in a journal. The act of repeatedly putting them into words reinforces clarity and keeps you aligned with your vision. You can also track your progress and reflect on your vision.
2. Phone and Laptop wallpapers: Set your vision statement or an inspiring image as your phone or laptop wallpaper. Since we check our devices multiple times a day, this serves as a constant subconscious reminder.
3. Daily Affirmations:
Verbalize your goals every day. Saying them out loud (e.g., "I am becoming a better coder every day" or "I am on my way to fitness success") helps reinforce the vision. Athletes and successful entrepreneurs often use affirmations for focus.
4. Visualisation Exercises:
Take five minutes daily to vividly imagine yourself achieving your goal. Feel the emotions, see the details, and engage all your senses. This technique is widely used by elite performers.
5. Reverse Engineering: Write your goal as if you’ve already achieved it and work backward. Define the key milestones that led to that success, helping you structure a roadmap.
6. Mind Mapping: Create a mind map of your goals and the steps needed to achieve them. Visually breaking down a big goal into smaller tasks can make the journey clearer and more actionable.
Final Thoughts: Take the First Step
At the end of the day, having a vision is only half the battle—the real magic happens when you take consistent action toward it. Whether it’s using sticky notes, journaling, vision boards, or affirmations, the key is to find what works best for you and stick with it.
So, take a moment now. Write down one vision you truly care about. Then, choose one simple step you can take today to move toward it. Remember, success doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built one step at a time, guided by a clear and compelling vision.
What’s one vision you’re working toward? Drop a comment and share your thoughts! 🚀
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