Future retrospection: Reach your goals by thinking backwards

“I still don’t have all the answers. I’m more interested in what I can do next than what I did last.” — Charlie Sheen

It’s fair to say that American actor Charlie Sheen is famous for reasons other than his intellect, but in this quote I think he captures the polarity with which we often think about achievement. Some prefer to look to the past for lessons while others seek only to look forward. In research soon to be published, it seems our ability to bring these two time horizons together might be the secret to fulfilling our potential.

Conventional wisdom has it that when we plan to achieve a goal we start from where we currently are.