Most people set goals by asking:
- How do I succeed?
- How do I become wealthy?
- How do I get in shape?
But here’s the thing: Success isn’t just about doing the right things. It’s about avoiding the wrong ones.
Instead of asking, “How can I succeed?” ask: 🚫 “How do I guarantee failure?”
By identifying what will hold you back, you shortcut your path to success.
Investor Charlie Munger put it best:
All I want to know is where I’m going to die, so I never go there.
You can apply this to everything.
- Want to be rich? Don’t waste money on things that don’t bring value.
- Want to be healthy? Stop eating like an unsupervised five-year-old.
- Want to be productive? Cut out distractions before adding more to your plate.
Avoid the obvious pitfalls, and success becomes almost inevitable.
3 Steps to Using Inversion in Your Own Life
1️⃣ Write Down Your Goal
Get specific. Instead of vague dreams like “be successful,” try:
🚀 “I want to build a six-figure business.”🏋️ “I want to lose 15 pounds in 4 months.”📚 “I want to read 30 books this year.”
2️⃣ Invert It: How Would I Fail?
Ask yourself:
👉 What daily habits would guarantee failure?👉 What dumb mistakes do I need to avoid?👉 If I were actively sabotaging myself, what would I do?
For example:
- Want to build a six-figure business? → Procrastinate, over-consume content instead of executing, ignore sales.
- Want to lose 15 pounds? → Eat junk, stay sedentary, make excuses.
- Want to read 30 books? → Keep scrolling on your phone, never schedule reading time.
3️⃣ Flip It: Turn Your Anti-Habits into an “I Don’t Do” List
This is where the magic happens. Instead of writing a to-do list, write a “don’t do” list.
- “I don’t scroll social media in bed.”
- “I don’t eat processed sugar.”
- “I don’t check my phone during deep work.”
Your identity shifts. It’s not just about action—it’s about who you are.
And people who see themselves differently behave differently.
The “Failure Log” Trick
Want to take this even further? Keep a failure log.
Every time you slip up, write:
- What happened?
- Why did it happen?
- How can I prevent this in the future?
Example: You binge-watched Netflix instead of working on your side hustle.
What happened? You were exhausted after work.Why? You didn’t set up an easy way to start working.Fix? Pre-plan tasks, set a 10-minute rule, and remove Netflix from your home screen.
Failures aren’t setbacks. They’re feedback.
The more you track and refine, the harder it becomes to keep making the same mistakes.
Final Thought: The Dwight Schrute Test
“Whenever I’m about to do something, I think, ‘Would an idiot do that?’ And if they would, I do not do that thing.”
It’s funny—but it works.
Most people overcomplicate success when it’s really about avoiding stupidity.
So today, instead of asking: “How can I succeed?”
Try asking: “How can I avoid failure?”
And then… don’t do those things.
Until next time,
Ben
