Unlocking Success: How My Teenage Obsession with B-17 Bombers Taught Me the Power of Inversion for Achieving Goals

“The bad news is that you have to write a term paper. The good news? You can choose any topic you want.”

I remember the surprise on my 9th grade English teacher's face as my 15-year-old, girly-girl-with-pink-ribbons-in-my-hair-self handed in my paper:

“The impact of B-17 Bombers in the 8th Air Force during World War II.”

“Huh? Ok, wow… can't wait to read it, Jane.” (p.s. I got an A).

My interest in B-17 bombers started for a very teenage-girl reason:

While other girls in my grade were crushing on the New Kids on the Block and young Johnny Depp, I was obsessed—obsessed, I tell you— with crooner Harry Connick Jr.

Eat your heart out, New Kids on the Block.

My beloved Harry was then starring in the movie Memphis Belle (still one of my favorite movies), about the first B-17 Bomber crew to finish their tour of duty in WWII.

I went to the theater to swoon, and came out a history-nerd.

Now that Apple+ TV is featuring shows like Masters of the Air and The Bloody 100th—Freedoms Bought & Paid For, I'm thrilled that others are learning about the unbelievable courage of B-17 bomber crews.

(And of course, my ego wants to point out, “I was into B-17s before they were cool!!”).

An interesting tidbit I learned from aviation history that may get you thinking about your business differently:

B-17 “Flying Fortresses” in formation

During World War II, military analysts were examining returning planes to see where they found the most bullet holes (wings, tail, and fuselage).

They immediately made plans to reinforce those spots.

But a statistician named Abraham Wald pointed out that these were the planes that had returned.

The planes that didn't survive had likely been shot in the places that the returning planes lacked bullet holes (ex. the engine).

They flipped their strategy, started reinforcing those vulnerable spots, and many more planes —and young airmen—survived.

This is the principle of Inversion: flipping the question upside-down.

Rather than asking, “How can I make my goal happen?” you can invert it and ask, “What could keep this from happening? What could lead to failure?”

Like Abraham Wald examining where the bullet holes weren't, imagining the possible negative outcome lets you work backwards to determine what habits & tendencies to avoid.

Sometimes clarifying what won't work lays out the path to success, Ashley.

Researchers have also coined this “WOOP”-ing your goals: identify the Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, and Plan.

So, think about one of your goals:

Wish: What do you want?

Outcome: Can you imagine the positive outcome deeply (really spend time in what it will feel & look like)? If you invert it and imagine failure, what most likely leads to it going wrong?

Obstacle: What habits, mindsets or distractions could get in the way of the positive outcome? (ex. scrolling social media, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, poor boundaries).

Plan: What can you plan to do now to overcome these obstacles? (leaving the phone in another room, saying “No” to distractions, practicing imperfect action, getting support/accountability).

Taking positive steps is great, but so is actively avoiding mistakes.

(Or as Dwight Schrute from The Office puts it: “Whenever I'm about to do something, I think, 'Would an idiot do that?' And if they would, I do not do that thing.”)

What's your what-not-to-do?

(I'll suggest a personal one: Don't miss out on Memphis Belle or Masters of the Air. You'll appreciate the unbelievable sacrifice that bought our freedom, and be entertained in the process).

To your success,

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