Have you ever set a goal so meaningful that it felt bigger than you? Not necessarily too big to achieve, but so vast and significant that the path from where you are to where you want to be is clouded by mental fog?

Most of us struggle not because we lack ambition, but because the size of the challenge often paralyzes our imagination when it comes to execution.

The Achievement Technique is designed to reduce the overwhelming nature of your great ambitions. This method shortens the mental path to your destination by clarifying your action plan, stripping away the abstract and leaving you with a simple, tangible plan.

Here is how to push yourself in the direction you desire, in four concrete steps.

Step 1: Define the goal (start with "HOW")

The first mistake people make is stating a goal as a wish ("I want to be rich"). Instead, we need to hack the brain to look for solutions immediately.

1. Pick one priority: Define one single goal that excites you the most right now.

2. Multiply it: Once defined, raise your expectations 2 or 3 times. Why? By aiming higher, the original goal becomes just a milestone, ensuring you feel like a winner at every smaller step of the journey.

3. The 10-minute rule: Spend exactly 10 minutes on this.

The "HOW" framework: Phrase your goal as a question starting with "How can I...?". When you ask a question, your brain switches from doubting ("Is this possible?") to problem-solving ("Here is a way").

Examples:

• Instead of "I want more money": "How can I earn $100,000 this year?"

• Instead of "I need to lose weight": "How can I lose 10kg in 12 months?"

• Instead of "I want a better relationship": "How can I improve my relationship with my partner?"

Step 2: Define the means (the vehicles)

Now that you have the question, you need the vehicles to get you there. Ask yourself: "Through what means can I achieve this?"

Take another 10 minutes. Write down every possible "vehicle" or category of action that contributes to the goal. If you get stuck, ask: "Thanks to what else could I achieve this?"

Examples of Means:

• Goal: Wealth → Means: saving, investing, a promotion, starting a side hustle.

• Goal: Relationship → Means: communication, changing habits, environment change.

• Goal: Health → Means: gym, diet, medical check-ups, coaching.

Action: From your long list, select the top 3 means that seem most promising and move to the next step.

Step 3: Define the methods (the specifics)

Now we break the "Means" down into actionable possibilities.

For each of the 3 Means you selected, list as many specific methods as possible. Ask: "How can I use [This Means] to reach my goal?"

Start your sentences with "I can..." or "I could...".

• Tip: If you have fewer than 5 ideas per Mean, push yourself. Ask: "What else could I do?" or "How much more can I give?"

Examples:

Mean: Saving

• "I can automatically transfer 10% of my salary."

• "I can quit smoking to save cash."

• "I can sell unused electronics."

• "I can cook at home instead of eating out."

Mean: Career

• "I could change industries."

• "I could ask for a raise."

• "I can talk to my boss about my contributions."

Emotional Leverage (The "Why"): If you feel stuck here, check your motivation. Ask yourself: Is this goal truly important to me? how would I feel if I didn't achieve it? Sometimes, the fear of standing still is the best fuel.

Step 4: Define the strategy (the action plan)

This is where planning meets reality.

1. Selection: Look at your lists of methods from Step 3. Select a minimum of 4 specific points you want to execute.

2. Convert "could" to "can": If you selected a point that started with "I could" (e.g., "I could start a business"), list the sub-steps required to turn that possibility into a certainty.

3. Micro-steps: Break these points down into basic steps you can perform daily.

The boulder metaphor: It is much easier to move 1,000 small stones than one boulder the size of a car. Your job is to break the boulder down.

The golden rule of strategy: Do not overcommit. The plan shouldn't force you to work through the night or burn out in a week. Set an order of operations.

Your logic chain: basic daily task → method → the means → the goal.

Summary

By following this technique, you stop dreaming and start engineering your success. You move from a vague desire to a "How" question, then to specific means, and finally to small, daily actions.

Open Paso, set a timer for 10 minutes, and ask yourself: How?