The Planning Fallacy: Warning

Have you ever set a goal and then felt discouraged when it took longer to achieve than you expected?

I know I have! It's a common problem known as the Planning Fallacy, and it can trip us up on the road to success.

We humans have a tendency to underestimate how long it will take to achieve our goals, from simple tasks like getting out of the house on time to complex projects like building a bridge. When things take longer than we expect, we can become discouraged and risk giving up altogether.

That's why it's important not to put time constraints on our big goals. Sure, we can monitor and measure our progress along the way, but we don't know how many twists and turns we'll encounter or how many smaller actions it will take to reach our destination.

Embracing the "slow hiker mentality" can be helpful here. Instead of rushing toward our goals, we can focus on taking one step at a time and enjoying the journey. Just like a mountaineer who focuses on the next step, not the height of the summit, we can trust in the process and know that every small action brings us closer to our dreams.

And if you really want to estimate how long it will take to achieve your dreams, try doubling your time estimate. It may sound painful, but research has shown that this approach tends to be closer to the truth.

• Embrace a "slow hiker mentality"

• Renegotiate the timeline

• Make best-case and worst-case predictions

So don't let the unpredictable nature of time discourage you. Trust in the process, focus on the next step, and enjoy the ride. Remember, the journey toward your dreams is just as important as the destination itself. Keep climbing, friend! Challenge the importance of the timeline

• Embrace a "slow hiker mentality"

• Renegotiate the timeline

• Make best-case and worst-case predictions