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Reverse Engineer your way to Success

In technical terms, reverse engineering can be defined in the following manner:

The process of discovering the technological principles of a device, object or system through analysis of its structure, function and operation. It often involves taking something apart and analyzing its workings in detail (source: Wikipedia).

To begin forward momentum, I apply my own interpretation of reverse engineering to my goals; whereby, I analyze and ‘take apart’ precisely what it is I hope to accomplish (start a small biz, lose weight, travel, etc).

More specifically, I attempt to build a framework for success by breaking down, in reverse order (from the very beginning thoughts to goal completion), the steps and tasks that will be required to effectively achieve my ambition.

The four keys to reverse engineering for success are:

1. Determine the most basic level of the goal.
2. Ensure that you are committed.
3. Identify as many steps as possible that are required to reach the goal.
4. Take action!

I have found that if I start off by visioning a successfully completed goal and imaginingwhat was required to get me there it can help me identify what I need to do.

In order to get started, you begin from the most basic stripped down version of whatever your goal is – – work from home, move to Central America, become a copywriter, apirate…and break it down to the basic components that are required for you to succeed.

Reverse Engineering A Sample Goal

So how do you put reverse engineering into practice?

Whether you want to move to a different country, run a marathon or make a million dollars the premise is always the same. You start with your specific goal first and work out the steps out in reverse.

For example, here’s what I would do if I wanted to start working from home as a consultant. The example does not include every single step, but should give you an idea of how I would get started towards this goal.

1. Determine the most basic level of the goal.

Work from home as a consultant and earn enough to support basic needs during the first year.

2. Ensure that you are committed.

Do you really hate your job? Will you be better off on you own? Did you answer yes? O.K. then let’s move on.

3. Envision that you have successfully completed your goal.

Ask yourself some simple questions: What did it take to complete that task at hand? What challenges were faced? What type of investment (time & money) was required? From the answers to these questions, you are going to list out all of the steps that you think will be required in order for you to pursue your quest to work from home. The following is what I came up with:

Your goal: Quit current job and start consulting from home.

A. Walk out the front door and don’t look back.

B. Give notice.

C. Decide on date for when to quit?

D. Contingency plan for employment if clients are not forthcoming in six months…

E. What hours will you work?

F. How much to charge? Hourly or flat rate?

G. Draft some keystone content for the blog.

H. Start to put out feelers in your network.

I. Purchase domain and setup website and blog.

J. Is it possible to take a leave of absence from current job? Or, can you begin slowly by starting in your off time at night?

K. What is the cost of health and liability insurance?

L. Where are clients going to come from?

M. What are monthly expenses? Do you have enough savings for six months to a year?

N. Investigate the cost of home office equipment and ongoing peripheral supplies.

O. Begin to tell a few select people about what you hope to do (this makes it real).

P. Do you really have the talent and drive to work from home and make it as a consultant?

Q. (If married) Does your spouse support this goal?

R. How long have you been thinking about this? Is it a whim or the real thing?

S. Be rational and don’t quit right away.

End Reverse Engineering List – You’re Currently: Sitting in cube at work thinking about how to achieve the goal of working from home.

4. Take Action!

Note that while you plan the steps above in the order A-to-S, you execute them in the order S-to-A.

Why it works?

To be sure, ‘reverse engineering’ is a lot like any other planning exercise. Although, I think it has worked for me because instead of just listing out the steps that you think you need at random, you must actually visualize yourself as having completed the goal. Not only does this help by making the objective seem more tangible, but it can also help to put you in the all-important proper mindset to start taking action.

As I am always looking to refine my system and learn, how do you find success and what is the method that you use, when pursuing a goal?

http://lateralaction.com/articles/how-to-achieve-your-goals-through-reverse-engineering/