Remember Your Future Self

“The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”
- Steve Jobs

Remembering Your Future Self takes concentration and persistence. More importantly, the future self you imagine needs to be a picture of someone who is doing great things. In other words - don’t just imagine a more productive version of yourself doing the same old things that you’re not very passionate about. Dare to imagine a future you who is not only productive, but is also someone deeply enjoying their work!

Steve Jobs's philosophy is a perfect match for the concept of "Remembering Your Future Self" within the ROCKET Goals framework. He emphasized passion, perseverance, and vision—essential qualities for envisioning and realizing a compelling future. Here are three key insights drawn from his approach that can help anyone focus on creating a future self that is not just productive, but passionately engaged in great work:

1. Find Your Passion and Let it Guide You: Steve Jobs believed that work should be something you love. This isn't just about satisfaction, but about finding what makes you come alive. To remember your future self effectively, ask yourself what you are passionate about and how you can align your career or personal growth with these passions. Reflect on what activities make you lose track of time or what you would choose to do even if you weren't getting paid for it.

2. Seek Excellence, Not Just Success: Jobs was known for his relentless pursuit of excellence, often going to great lengths to perfect a product. When you envision your future self, think about what excellence looks like in your field or personal life. How can you push the boundaries of your current capabilities? Envision a future where you are not just doing well but are setting new standards in whatever matters most to you.

3. Persevere Through Setbacks: Jobs faced numerous setbacks, from being ousted from Apple to dealing with his initial failures with NeXT and Pixar. However, he used these experiences to refine his vision and approach. When you think of your future self, consider the resilience required to overcome challenges. Plan for potential setbacks and decide how you will react. This resilience will be a crucial part of achieving the greatness you envision.

By applying these insights from Steve Jobs, you can create a vision of your future self that is deeply engaged in meaningful and satisfying work, constantly striving for excellence, and resilient in the face of challenges. This exercise isn't just about career success or checking off some to do list—it's about imagining and crafting a life that reflects your deepest values and passions.