Goal setting is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. We're often told to dream big, visualize our ideal future, and set ambitious goals to reach new heights. However, there's a lesser-known approach that can be just as effective, if not more so: setting anti-goals.
What are Anti-Goals?
Anti-goals are the things you want to avoid - the opposite of traditional goals. While a typical goal outlines what you want to achieve, an anti-goal clarifies what you don't want to happen[1][2].
For example, if your goal is to run a successful business, your anti-goals might be:
Avoid burning out from overwork
Avoid losing sight of work-life balance
Avoid making decisions that compromise your values
By defining what failure looks like, you can create a map of pitfalls to avoid on your path to success.
Why Anti-Goals Work
Our brains are wired to avoid loss. Research shows that we're more motivated by the fear of losing something than the prospect of gaining something of equal value[1]. We also tend to remember negative experiences more vividly than positive ones.
When we frame our goals in terms of what to avoid, it taps into this powerful loss aversion instinct. The desire to avoid a negative outcome can be a stronger motivator than the desire to achieve a positive one[3].
Anti-goals also provide clarity. It's easy to get caught up chasing shiny objectives without considering the potential downsides. By defining your anti-goals, you get a more complete picture. What does success look like, and what are you willing to sacrifice to get there? Anti-goals help you set boundaries and make intentional trade-offs[4].
How to Set Anti-Goals
The process for setting anti-goals is straightforward[4]:
Choose your arena. What area of your life or work do you want to focus on?
Set traditional goals. What do you want to achieve in this arena?
Invert the problem. Ask yourself:
What's the worst possible outcome?
What would it look like to win the battle but lose the war?
What daily actions would you regret?
Establish your anti-goals. Based on your answers above, what specific outcomes do you want to avoid?
Let's walk through an example. Say your arena is personal finance and your traditional goal is to save $10,000 this year.
Inverting the problem, you might realize:
The worst possible outcome would be to save $10,000 but rack up high-interest debt in the process.
Winning the battle but losing the war would be saving $10,000 by completely cutting out all discretionary spending and living a joyless, austere life.
You'd regret becoming a miserly penny-pincher who never treats themself or others.
From this, your anti-goals could be:
Avoid taking on any new debt
Avoid cutting out all discretionary spending
Avoid being stingy with loved ones
With these guideposts in place, you can make a savings plan that balances your $10,000 goal with the lifestyle you want to maintain. The anti-goals act as guardrails to keep you on track.
Putting it into Practice
The real power of anti-goals comes from making them a regular part of your planning and decision-making process. Here are some tips for putting this framework into action:
Do an "anti-goals review" before starting a new project or making a big decision. What potential negative outcomes do you want to avoid?
Set anti-goals to go along with your traditional goals. For every goal you set, ask yourself what battle you might win but war you could lose in the process[4].
Keep your anti-goals front and center. Write them down and review them regularly, just as you would with traditional goals.
Use anti-goals as a filter for opportunities and requests. If something doesn't align with your anti-goals, it's a sign to think twice before saying yes[2].
Celebrate avoiding your anti-goals, not just reaching your goals. Give yourself credit for the bullets dodged, not just the targets hit.
The Bottom Line
Traditional goal setting is powerful, but it's incomplete without considering what you want to avoid along the way. Anti-goals provide that missing piece. By getting clear on what failure looks like, you can create a more robust roadmap for success.
So dream big and set bold goals. But don't forget to also clarify the potholes you want to steer clear of. With a balanced approach of goals and anti-goals, you'll be well on your way to winning both the battle and the war.
Sources [1] How To Flip The Script With Anti-Goals And Achieve Things Faster https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2023/07/06/how-to-flip-the-script-with-anti-goals-and-achieve-things-faster/?sh=58d6ec982d58 [2] Anti-goals: The highly effective strategy framework that nobody uses. https://investorhub.com/resource-centre/anti-goals-the-highly-effective-strategy-framework-that-nobody-uses [3] Rethinking Your Goals: How Anti-Goals Can Set You Up ... - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rethinking-your-goals-how-anti-goals-can-set-you-up-today-olowookere [4] The Power of Anti-Goals | The Curiosity Chronicle - Sahil Bloom https://www.sahilbloom.com/newsletter/the-power-of-anti-goals [5] How To Achieve Goals With Reverse Goal Setting https://www.authentic.com.au/blog/mindset/reverse-goal-setting/ [6] Why anti-goals are just as important as goals https://www.fastcompany.com/90994797/why-anti-goals-just-important-goals [7] How To Use Reverse Goal Setting To Move Forward in Your Career https://theconnorsgroup.com/2022/05/24/reverse-goal-setting/ [8] The Power of Anti-Goals - Harmony United Psychiatric Care https://hupcfl.com/the-power-of-anti-goals/ [9] 5 Unconventional Goal Setting Methods to Achieve What You Want https://todoist.com/inspiration/unconventional-goal-setting [10] Anti-Goals. - Mäd https://www.mad.co/en/insights/anti-goals [11] Backward Goal Setting - Toolshero https://www.toolshero.com/personal-development/backward-goal-setting/ [12] The Journaling Framework — TORREY DAWLEY https://www.torreydawley.com/articles/the-journaling-framework [13] Boost Marketing Performance with Backward Goal Setting - Swydo https://www.swydo.com/blog/boost-marketing-performance-with-backward-goal-setting/ [14] The Power of Anti-Goals - Beflo https://gobeflo.com/blogs/news/the-power-of-anti-goals [15] How do you journal on bad days? - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/Journaling/comments/rco8vj/how_do_you_journal_on_bad_days/?rdt=45297 [16] Journaling Negative Thoughts: 20 Prompts For Deeper Understanding https://dayoneapp.com/blog/journaling-negative-thoughts/ [17] Journaling Exercises to Counter Catastrophizing - The Love Story https://www.thelovestory.org/journaling-exercises-to-counter-catastrophizing/ [18] Journaling Series: Journaling Through Fear - Writing at Large https://writingatlarge.com/2023/07/22/journaling-series-journaling-through-fear/ [19] You Should Set 'Anti-goals' Too - Lifehacker https://lifehacker.com/work/set-anti-goals-to-get-more-done [20] Anti-Goals: A New Year's Strategy For Getting Unstuck And Fighting ... https://www.forbes.com/sites/brittanychambers/2019/01/04/anti-goals-a-new-years-strategy-for-getting-unstuck-and-fighting-distractions/?sh=6f6eb4864564