This is the season of goals. From vision boards to annual planning sessions, we pour time and energy into chasing what we want. But what if the secret to fulfilling life isn’t just about running toward your dreams—but also avoiding what could derail them?
Enter anti-goals, a refreshingly different approach to planning that’s particularly valuable for young professionals juggling ambitious careers, financial independence, and personal fulfillment.
What Are Anti-Goals?
At their core, anti-goals flip traditional goal-setting on its head. Instead of focusing solely on what you want to achieve, they ask you to define what you don’t want.
The concept stems from Inversion, a mental model that solves complex problems by working backward. Rather than asking, “How do I succeed?” you ask, “How do I ensure I don’t fail—or worse, burn out in the process?”
For example:
- Goal: Build a $2 million investment portfolio by 40.
- Anti-Goal: Avoid sleepless nights obsessing over market fluctuations.
Awareness of what to avoid provides a clear sense of direction for building a more sustainable roadmap to success.
Why Do Anti-Goals Matter?
While anti-goals can be a powerful tool, they also have limitations. It's important to remember that they are not a one-size-fits-all solution and may not work for everyone. Sometimes, they can lead to a negative mindset or a fear-based approach to decision-making. It's crucial to balance setting anti-goals and maintaining a positive, proactive attitude towards your goals.
Here’s why they’re worth your attention:
- Mitigates Overcommitment: With Anti-goals, you are aware of the behaviours that lead to burnout, like saying yes to every opportunity or working late every night. This recognition empowers self-agency around your commitments.
- Encourages Balance: They ensure that your journey for success doesn’t end prematurely or come at the cost of relationships, health, or sanity.
- Improves Decision-Making: Anti-goals act as a filter for your choices. If something aligns with your anti-goals, it’s probably a smart move.
Think of anti-goals as the brakes in your life’s vehicle. While goals represent the accelerator that moves you forward, anti-goals ensure you don’t speed off a cliff.
Applying Anti-Goals: A Practical Framework
Here’s a simple step-by-step framework to apply anti-goals in your personal and professional life:
1. Pick a Focus Area
Choose a domain where you want to progress—your career, finances, or relationships.
2. Set Your Goal
Define what success looks like in this area. For instance: “I want to increase my income by 50% over the next three years.”
3. Invert the Problem
Ask yourself: What would failure look like? What behaviours or circumstances would make this journey stressful or unsustainable?
4. Define Your Anti-Goals
Write down specific outcomes or actions to avoid. For the example above, your anti-goals might be:
- Avoid working 80-hour weeks without time for family or personal interests.
- Steer clear of taking on toxic clients, even if they pay well.
5. Integrate Anti-Goals into Your Plan
As you pursue your objectives for 2025 and beyond, check your decisions against your anti-goals. If a choice risks violating one of them, then it’s a red flag to reconsider.
Anti-Goals in Action: Financial Planning Edition
Let’s bring this to life with a practical example for high-earning professionals:
Goal: Retire with $3 million in savings while enjoying a balanced lifestyle.
Anti-Goals:
- Avoid letting lifestyle creep eat into your income. Solution: Automate savings and track expenses.
- Don’t make significant investment decisions without consulting a financial planner.
- Say no to unnecessary luxury purchases that don’t add value to your life.
By pairing your goals with anti-goals, you stay focused on what truly matters while sidestepping the traps that derail financial progress.
Why This Matters for You
As a young professional, your potential is immense—but so are the risks of burnout, poor financial choices, and a life out of alignment with your values. With Anti-goals, you are reminded that ambition isn’t just about going all out; it’s also about avoiding wipeouts from which you cannot recover.
So, ask yourself: What outcomes do you want to avoid at all costs? Define your anti-goals, and you might find the clarity necessary to create a thriving, well-rounded life.
What’s one anti-goal you could implement today? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear how this framework resonates with you!
