The Curiosity Chronicle | The Power of Anti-Goals

The arena is the "project" you’re going to be working on.

A few broad categories to consider:

• Personal
• Work
• Health

Your arena should be a specific project under a larger category. It’s the place where you’re looking for achievement, progress, or growth.

These are your standard goals—the desired outcomes from the chosen arena. This should be easy, as it’s familiar.

A few examples of traditional goals:

• Run a 6-min mile
• Build a 100,000 sub newsletter
• Promotion to VP
• Create a top-25 podcast

Clear, big picture traditional goals are important.

To invert, ask and answer a few questions.

In the pursuit of these traditional goals:

What is the worst possible outcome?

What systems would lead to that?

What daily actions would I regret?

In short, ask yourself what you would view as winning the battle but losing the war.

Now work backwards to establish your anti-goals—the outcomes you DON’T want.

If traditional goals are the rudders that set your direction, think of anti-goals as the map that tells you where the rapids are.

A thoughtful, clear map keeps you on smooth waters.

Establish Traditional Goals:

• Run a 6-minute mile
• Under 8% bodyfat
• Deadlift 500 pounds

Establish Anti-Goals:

• Never think about workouts. Hire a trainer to write workout programs.
• Never think about diet. Buy pre-prepared healthy meals.
• Never let workouts consume my life. Schedule 90-minute blocks at the same time every AM as my workout window.
• 
  

• Choose Your Arena: Select the project you are going to be working on.
• Establish Traditional Goals: Set the specific desired outcomes.
• Invert the Problem: What would it look like to win the battle but lose the war?
• Establish Anti-Goals: Set the specific outcomes you DON’T want.

So as you take on your next project, give this framework a shot. Establish anti-goals to sit alongside your traditional goals.

Win the battle AND the war!