November 13, 2025 • 7 mins
This episode teaches leaders how to reverse engineer their long-term goals by working backward from the finish line to today’s first action step — turning overwhelming dreams into practical, achievable roadmaps.
Host: Paul Falavolito
Connect with me on your favorite platform: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Substack, BlueSky, Threads, LinkTree
View my website for free leadership resources and exclusive merchandise: www.paulfalavolito.com
Books by Paul Falavolito
Host: Paul Falavolito
Connect with me on your favorite platform: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Substack, BlueSky, Threads, LinkTree
View my website for free leadership resources and exclusive merchandise: www.paulfalavolito.com
Books by Paul Falavolito
- The 7 Minute Leadership Handbook: bit.ly/48J8zFG
- The Leadership Academy: https://bit.ly/4lnT1Pf
- The 7 Minute Leadership Survival Guide: https://bit.ly/4ij0g8y
- The Leader's Book of Secrets: http://bit.ly/4oeGzCI
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of
performance through strong human relations, team building, and goalajieving. This
is the seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host Paul Fellavledo.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Seven Minute Leadership Podcast.
It's episode five twenty two. Today we're talking about one
of the most powerful and practical leadership tools out there,
how to reverse engineer a long term goal. It's one
of those skills that separates dreamers from doers. Everyone can
(00:44):
dream big, but very few can break down that big
dream into small, actionable steps that actually get them there.
So let's talk about how to do it the simple way.
No buzzwords, no corporate nonsense, just a process that works.
(01:05):
When people tell me about their big goals, they often
say things like someday I want to be the chief,
or I want to start my own business, or I
want to run a marathon. And I always ask one
question back to them. I say, Okay, what's the last
thing that happens right before you reach that goal? And
(01:30):
that's the magic question, because if you can answer it,
you've just started the process of reverse engineering. So let's
walk through all of these steps together. Step one, start
at the finish line, you have to be able to
see it clearly in your mind. Don't just say I
want to be successful. That's too blurry. Say something specific,
(01:54):
like I want to be a CEO by twenty thirty,
or I want to launch a business that replaces my
income in five years, or I want to finish my
degree by the time my kid graduates high school. When
you can picture it clearly, your brain has something to
aim at. If you can't see it, you can't hit it.
(02:18):
Step two, ask what happens right before that. Let's say
your goal is to be a CEO. What would have
to be true right before that happens. Maybe you're already
a mid level manager with a proven track record. Maybe
you've built trust with executives. Maybe you've led a few
(02:39):
successful projects, so that becomes your new target the stage
right before the finish line. Step three, keep asking that
same question backwards. What would happen before that? Maybe before
being a manager, you have to be a supervisor. Before that,
(03:00):
you have to develop leadership skills. Before that, you have
to master your current role. And before that, maybe you
need to take a class, get certified, or volunteer for
extra responsibility. Every time you ask that question what happens
right before that you move one step closer to today,
(03:23):
and when you finally arrive at today, you'll see that
the very first action you can take right now to
get started. That's how you turn something big and overwhelming
into something that feels possible. Step four turn those stages
(03:43):
into a timeline. Now you know the order of things
because you ask all the questions backwards. So give each
step a rough timeframe. For example, year one, master your
current role and build credibility. Year two, start leading small projects.
Year three, earn a promotion. Year four, lead larger teams.
(04:09):
In year five, step into that director or CEO role.
When you reverse engineer, you're not guessing anymore, you're planning.
Step five build habits that match the roadmap. If your
goal is five years away, you need daily habits that
support it. Ask yourself, what can I do this week
(04:33):
that moves me one inch closer? Because that's how long
term goals are really achieved, not by massive bursts of effort,
but by consistent, small, steady moves that stack up over time.
And here's the truth, progress is progress no matter the pace.
(04:55):
Even slow steps still count if they're in the right
Step six check your heading every few months, look at
your roadmap and ask am I still on course? Because
life changes, priorities shift, and sometimes you have to adjust
the route. Think of it like being a pilot. You
(05:17):
might drift off course, but small corrections keep you headed
toward your destination. Reverse engineering gives you a compass, not
a cage. You can adjust without losing sight of where
you're headed. In step seven, celebrate checkpoints. Don't wait five
(05:39):
years to feel proud. Celebrate every milestone you hit, every promotion, certification, skill,
or small victory. That momentum is what keeps you moving.
So now let's bring it all together. If someone asks
you to explain reverse engineering a goal in one sentence,
(06:00):
here's how you say it. Start at your destination or goal,
ask what happens right before it, and keep working backward
until you find the first step that you can take today.
That's it, simple, clear, powerful. Most people never hit their
(06:20):
big goals because they're only looking forward and not backward.
They stare at the mountain and get overwhelmed. But when
you reverse engineer, you build a staircase up the mountain,
one step at a time. So here's your challenge for today.
(06:40):
Take one long term goal, personal or professional. Spend seven
intentional minutes mapping it backwards, draw it on paper, write
down each what happens before that step, or ask the
questions backwards until you land at today. Then circle that
(07:00):
first action step and do it. It doesn't matter how
small it is, just move because movement creates momentum and
momentum creates results. This has been the seven minute Leadership Podcast,
and I thank you for listening.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
For more, Paul Fell of Alito Podcasts, visit paulfellowalito dot
com
Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of
performance through strong human relations, team building, and goalajieving. This
is the seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host Paul Fellavledo.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Seven Minute Leadership Podcast.
It's episode five twenty two. Today we're talking about one
of the most powerful and practical leadership tools out there,
how to reverse engineer a long term goal. It's one
of those skills that separates dreamers from doers. Everyone can
(00:44):
dream big, but very few can break down that big
dream into small, actionable steps that actually get them there.
So let's talk about how to do it the simple way.
No buzzwords, no corporate nonsense, just a process that works.
(01:05):
When people tell me about their big goals, they often
say things like someday I want to be the chief,
or I want to start my own business, or I
want to run a marathon. And I always ask one
question back to them. I say, Okay, what's the last
thing that happens right before you reach that goal? And
(01:30):
that's the magic question, because if you can answer it,
you've just started the process of reverse engineering. So let's
walk through all of these steps together. Step one, start
at the finish line, you have to be able to
see it clearly in your mind. Don't just say I
want to be successful. That's too blurry. Say something specific,
(01:54):
like I want to be a CEO by twenty thirty,
or I want to launch a business that replaces my
income in five years, or I want to finish my
degree by the time my kid graduates high school. When
you can picture it clearly, your brain has something to
aim at. If you can't see it, you can't hit it.
(02:18):
Step two, ask what happens right before that. Let's say
your goal is to be a CEO. What would have
to be true right before that happens. Maybe you're already
a mid level manager with a proven track record. Maybe
you've built trust with executives. Maybe you've led a few
(02:39):
successful projects, so that becomes your new target the stage
right before the finish line. Step three, keep asking that
same question backwards. What would happen before that? Maybe before
being a manager, you have to be a supervisor. Before that,
(03:00):
you have to develop leadership skills. Before that, you have
to master your current role. And before that, maybe you
need to take a class, get certified, or volunteer for
extra responsibility. Every time you ask that question what happens
right before that you move one step closer to today,
(03:23):
and when you finally arrive at today, you'll see that
the very first action you can take right now to
get started. That's how you turn something big and overwhelming
into something that feels possible. Step four turn those stages
(03:43):
into a timeline. Now you know the order of things
because you ask all the questions backwards. So give each
step a rough timeframe. For example, year one, master your
current role and build credibility. Year two, start leading small projects.
Year three, earn a promotion. Year four, lead larger teams.
(04:09):
In year five, step into that director or CEO role.
When you reverse engineer, you're not guessing anymore, you're planning.
Step five build habits that match the roadmap. If your
goal is five years away, you need daily habits that
support it. Ask yourself, what can I do this week
(04:33):
that moves me one inch closer? Because that's how long
term goals are really achieved, not by massive bursts of effort,
but by consistent, small, steady moves that stack up over time.
And here's the truth, progress is progress no matter the pace.
(04:55):
Even slow steps still count if they're in the right
Step six check your heading every few months, look at
your roadmap and ask am I still on course? Because
life changes, priorities shift, and sometimes you have to adjust
the route. Think of it like being a pilot. You
(05:17):
might drift off course, but small corrections keep you headed
toward your destination. Reverse engineering gives you a compass, not
a cage. You can adjust without losing sight of where
you're headed. In step seven, celebrate checkpoints. Don't wait five
(05:39):
years to feel proud. Celebrate every milestone you hit, every promotion, certification, skill,
or small victory. That momentum is what keeps you moving.
So now let's bring it all together. If someone asks
you to explain reverse engineering a goal in one sentence,
(06:00):
here's how you say it. Start at your destination or goal,
ask what happens right before it, and keep working backward
until you find the first step that you can take today.
That's it, simple, clear, powerful. Most people never hit their
(06:20):
big goals because they're only looking forward and not backward.
They stare at the mountain and get overwhelmed. But when
you reverse engineer, you build a staircase up the mountain,
one step at a time. So here's your challenge for today.
(06:40):
Take one long term goal, personal or professional. Spend seven
intentional minutes mapping it backwards, draw it on paper, write
down each what happens before that step, or ask the
questions backwards until you land at today. Then circle that
(07:00):
first action step and do it. It doesn't matter how
small it is, just move because movement creates momentum and
momentum creates results. This has been the seven minute Leadership Podcast,
and I thank you for listening.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
For more, Paul Fell of Alito Podcasts, visit paulfellowalito dot
com
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