The Art of Ambitious Goals

Set Innovation Goals
XPRIZE Chairman Peter Diamandis emphasizes the importance of defining a clear goal, encouraging innovative solutions, enlisting expert support, and personalizing outcomes to effectively harness a team's creativity in achieving objectives.

Unleash Innovation with Audacious Ambition
Innovation thrives on audacious ambition rather than incremental steps; in his video lesson, Charles Duhigg emphasizes that starting with "stretch goals" can inspire revolutionary change by encouraging a fresh perspective on challenges.

Pair Your Ambition with a Structured Plan
Charles Duhigg suggests improving productivity by prioritizing a "stretch goal" at the top of your To-Do list, followed by "SMART goals" that break down your big ambition into manageable tasks, avoiding the pitfalls of mood-repairing trivial tasks.

Help Your Team Enter a Challenge Mindset
Video game designer Jane McGonigal argues that games can train for real life by fostering a challenge mindset at work, encouraging employees to choose their own challenges and set personal goals, which minimizes a threat-based mentality.

Be More Creative by Embracing Deadlines
Creative thinkers often struggle with organization due to their tendency to make unlikely connections and avoid the inherent challenges of their work, but deadlines can serve as a motivating force that instills discipline and encourages productivity.

This class, led by a diverse group of experts including Peter Diamandis, Charles Duhigg, Jane McGonigal, and Tina Brown, focuses on harnessing innovation and creativity to achieve ambitious goals. Diamandis emphasizes the importance of defining clear objectives and allowing teams the freedom to explore solutions, while Duhigg advocates for setting “stretch goals” that inspire revolutionary thinking rather than incremental changes. By breaking down large ambitions into manageable SMART goals, participants learn to maintain focus on their overarching vision while effectively organizing their tasks. This approach not only enhances productivity but also fosters a culture of innovation.
In addition to goal-setting strategies, the class explores the psychological aspects of motivation and creativity. McGonigal highlights the benefits of a challenge mindset, encouraging individuals to take ownership of their goals, while Brown underscores the role of deadlines in driving creative output. By embracing the pressure of deadlines, professionals can channel their energy into productive work. Collectively, these lessons underscore that innovation thrives in environments where individuals feel empowered, challenged, and motivated to push boundaries, making this class essential for anyone looking to elevate their creative and professional endeavors.