years, and to develop absolute clarity about where they
wanted to be in their lives and work at that time. They then
come back to the present and make sure that everything
they are doing in the moment is consistent with where they
want to be in the future.
This is a powerful technique that you can use, too.
Project forward one, two, or three years, and imagine that
your life situation is ideal in every way. Create a clear mental
picture of what your work situation would be if it were per-
fect. From this vantage point of the future, look around you
and describe your ideal life and work situation. Then, ask
yourself if what you are doing right now is consistent with
the creation of your ideal future.
From that future vantage point, look back at yourself, to
where you are today, and see the steps that you will need to
take to get to where you want to go. This “back from the
future thinking” is a practice of many top executives.
Make Better Decisions in the Present
For example, a young woman decides that she wants to be
very successful in business in her adult life. With this clear
long-term perspective in mind, the individual works many
extra hours to get excellent grades in high school so that she
will qualify for a good college. In college, the individual takes
harder courses and studies much longer than her peers to
graduate as close as possible to the top of her class.
As a result of many years of hard work and study, and
putting off the immediate gratification of parties, sports,
22 TIME MANAGEMENT