Reverse Engineer Your Past Success...to Make Future Success!
I bet you’ve taken at least one or two of the many workplace personal strengths tests out there. I myself have gotten some really good insights from ones like Kolbe and Fascinate about how I work best and about what I can do to set myself up for success.
But have you ever thought about designing your OWN test?
Instead of dealing with hypothetical situations and self-assessment (which we all know we might not answer 100% honestly) to complete the tests, how about dealing with concrete, real-world examples from your own life?
Really, what’s a better way to figure out what you can do to make success happen….than by looking to the past to see how you’ve already made it happen?
And today, we’re going to do just that - through a little process that I like to call
“reverse engineering your success.”
In simple terms, this is what that looks like:
#1. Identify your past achievements
#2. Figure out the methods of success that got you there
#3. Tally up your methods of success to find what you’ve used most often
#4. Use your top 3 methods of success to achieve future goals
Reverse engineering your past successes to identify how you made them happen will give you a BIG headstart next time you have something else you need to work toward by making it measurable. Then, you’ll know exactly what you need to do to move forward and set yourself (and your new goal) up for future success.
Let’s look at each step more closely to see what I mean.
Step #1: Identify your achievements
No need for modesty here! On a piece of paper, a spreadsheet, or a mindmap program (I use Xmind), make a list of your achievements, things you are proud of, or things you had to work hard for.
For example, underneath my “teen years,” I put down “became a good downhill skier.”
You can also put down less overt accomplishments. In one of my later eras, an accomplishment that I was very proud of and added to my list was that I manage to make my divorce very peaceful and amicable.
Then, once you have the list….
Step #2: Figure out the methods of success that got you there
Now, look at each of the achievements on that list above and consider how you made them happen.
I came up with a list of 11 methods of success that I myself use, but you’re welcome to add to these or subtract however works best for you.
Then, I would go through each achievement one by one and ask myself the questions from the 11 methods of success below. If I say “yes” to the question, then I add the method of success underneath the achievement. Be sure to ask yourself all 11 questions…you can (and should) ultimately have more than one method of success underneath each achievement.
And remember, there’s no right or wrong way to do this - it’s about honestly looking at your past achievements and reverse engineering what made them successful!
On that note, here is my list of # methods to make success happen:
1) Through innovation
Did you make that achievement happen by tackling it in a new, innovative way that hadn’t been done before?
(If you can answer yes, add it to the list under the relevant achievement! If you answer no, just keep moving down the list.)
2) Through structure
Did you make that achievement happen by following an established structure or sequence (like step-by-step guides, project plans, worksheets, etc.) that successful people had used before you?
3) Through simplification and organization
Did you make that achievement happen by simplifying, organizing, and breaking things down into pieces, steps, or phases?
4) Through joy and fun
Did you make that achievement happen by following what you found joyful and fun, or by making the process joyful and fun?
5) Through engaged immersion
Did you make that achievement happen through engaged, boot camp-like immersion where you spent most of your time focused primarily on that one goal for a period of time?
6) Through practice and dedication
Did you make that achievement happen by developing long-term habits that you put some time into every day?
7) Through self-study
Did you make that achievement happen by studying and learning on your own?
8) Through guided study
Did you make that achievement happen because you worked with a teacher, coach, or mentor?
9) Through collaboration
Did you make that achievement happen by collaborating with others (such as in a mastermind, a group like AA, or training with a team)?
10) Through internal desire
Did you make that achievement happen by following a strong, internal motivation, desire, and curiosity to do so?
11) Through external pushes
Did you make that achievement happen because of an external push or drive (such as college or job training)?
Step #3: Tally up your methods of success to find what you’ve used most often
This is the easy part. Now, look at your list of achievements and their relevant methods of success to find which ones show up more often.
All you have to do is count. Find the 3 that appear most often and write them down. And that’s it! You now know the top 3 methods that YOU use to make success happen.
So that could be….through immersion, collaboration, and joy and fun.
Or it could be….through curiosity, simplification, and guided learning.
Or it could be….a whole new combination with things you’ve added yourself! This is about what works best for you, so make sure you change and adjust however you see fit.
Step #4: Use your top methods of success to achieve future goals
Next time you have another goal or something new in front of you that leaves you at a loss for how to begin, take a look at your top 3 methods of success.
Not only will this give you a reminder of how you, personally, should approach the project, but you already know they work so you’ll have the confidence to be successful again. And again. And again.
Now, it’s your turn. Put together that list of achievements….and let’s reverse engineer your success!
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