Focus on outcomes, not output

Typically, in the planning stage of an exciting new project, we immediately start to generate solutions.

We can’t help it. Our brains are hardwired to seek closure and solve problems.

And as hard as it may be, we should fight against our nature to take a step back and ask ourselves:

“What is the outcome we want to achieve?”

Imagine: You’ve just rented your first apartment.

Which of these suggest ONE set of consecutive actions versus a wide variety of different possible activities?

Output: a new couch.
Outcome: finally feeling at home in your new apartment.

Because although there may only be one way to drive a specific and singular output…

…there may be a dozen different possibilities to achieve an outcome.