7 min read 2nd Jan 2025
As the clock struck midnight last week and champagne glasses clinked, millions of us vowed to make the upcoming year the one where we finally achieve our goals. But how often does this cycle end in frustration instead of fulfillment? For many, New Year’s resolutions feel like an outdated tradition rather than a meaningful way forward. If you’ve ever found yourself setting the same goals year after year, you’re not alone.
What if the issue isn’t with you but the way we approach goals? Let’s take a step back and explore why traditional goal-setting might not always work, and how an inverse model could completely change your year.
The Trouble with Traditional New Year Goals
They Focus Too Much on the Endgame
Goals often fixate on the outcome: “Lose 5 kilos,” “Get promoted,” or “Be more confident.” While these are valid aspirations, they can overshadow the process. The pressure to achieve can feel overwhelming, and setbacks might seem like failures instead of learning moments.
They Don’t Account for Real Life
Life is unpredictable. Work demands, family emergencies, or unexpected challenges can throw even the best plans off course. Traditional goals often lack the flexibility to adapt when life happens.
They Create Tunnel Vision
Focusing too much on one goal can make you overlook other important areas. You might hit your target but at the cost of your health, relationships, or personal growth.
How Can We Do This Differently?
Let’s look at Carl Jacobi, a German mathematician who tackled tough problems by following the idea: “man muss immer umkehren”, or roughly translated, “invert, always invert.”
Jacobi found that flipping a problem around often made the solution clearer. Instead of trying to solve a problem directly, he’d figure out what he didn’t want to happen, and avoid it. This concept works beyond maths and can change how we think about goals.
Shane Parrish, best-selling author of Clear Thinking, expands on this idea: “Much of success comes from simply avoiding common paths to failure.” He points out that inversion is a way to break out of tunnel vision by asking different questions. Instead of focusing on how to achieve a goal, ask, “What would guarantee failure?” or “What’s preventing me from achieving this?” This shift can reveal blind spots and unlock solutions you might otherwise overlook, and in a busy, demanding world, Shane also notes avoiding stupidity is easier than seeking brilliance.
Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s long-time business partner, is another advocate of inversion. Known for his no-nonsense wisdom, Munger often talks about focusing on what to avoid rather than just aiming for success.
“What do you want to avoid?” he asks. “It’s simple: sloth and unreliability. If you’re unreliable, it doesn’t matter what your strengths are, you’ll fail. It is remarkable how much long-term advantage people like us have gotten by trying to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent.”
The Inverse Model: A Fresh Take on Goals
The inverse model flips traditional goal-setting on its head by asking: What do I want to avoid this year? Instead of focusing on an ideal outcome, you pinpoint what drains your energy or pulls you off track. By cutting these things out, you naturally create space for a more fulfilling life.
Here’s how to use it:
1. Spot What You Don’t Want
Think back to last year. What left you feeling stressed, stuck, or unmotivated? Maybe it was burnout, unhealthy habits, or too much screen time. Write these down, they’re your “don’ts.”
2. Set Boundaries
If burnout was your issue, practice saying “no” to things that stretch you too thin. If poor health habits dragged you down, focus on one small positive action each day. Boundaries protect you from slipping back into old patterns.
3. Focus on Daily Choices
Instead of saying, “I want to be more confident” think, “I want to avoid being ignored.” This shift keeps your attention on small, doable habits, like speaking up in meetings or stop saying sorry, that naturally lead to better results.
A Simpler Way to Approach the Year
Pick a Word or Theme
Forget rigid goals. Choose a word or phrase that sums up what you want more of this year, like “balance,” “growth,” or “confidence.” Let it guide your decisions and keep you focused.
Start Small
Rather than planning for the whole year, ask yourself, “What’s one thing I can do this week that feels meaningful?” Small, steady steps can lead to big changes over time.
Check In Often
Life changes, so your plans should too. Take time every month or quarter to review what’s working and adjust where needed. This keeps you flexible and on track.
Why It Matters
Setting goals isn’t a bad thing, but it’s worth asking if the traditional way works for you. By using the inverse model or a more flexible approach, you might feel less stressed and more in control. Growth doesn’t have to mean chasing perfection, it can be as simple as avoiding what drags you down and leaning into what lifts you up.
So before you write another resolution, ask yourself: What do I truly need, and what am I ready to leave behind? The answers could set you up for your best year yet.
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