Problems cannot be solved unless you have an outcome.

Four basic outcome questions:

• What am I moving towards? (The desired state or outcome)
• Why am I moving? (The values that guide you)
• How will I get there? (The strategy for the journey)
• What if something goes wrong? (Risk management and contingency planning)

There are two aspects to outcomes:

• Outcome thinking: deciding what you want in a given situation.
• Outcome orientation: consistently thinking in outcomes and having a general direction and purpose in life.

How to structure outcomes:

• Positive: What do I want?
• Evidence: How will you know you are succeeding/have succeeded?
• Specifics: Where, when, and with whom?
• Resources: What resources do you have?
• Control: Can you start and maintain this outcome?
• Ecology: What are the wider consequences?
  • What time and effort will this outcome require?
  • Who else is affected and how will they feel?
  • What will you have to give up when you achieve this outcome?
  • What is good about the present situation?
  • What else could happen when you get your outcome?
• Identity: Is this outcome in keeping with who you are?
• How do your outcomes fit together?
• Action plan: What to do next?