Yemi Johnson discusses the Bezos Inspired Method towards achieving goals

Resolutions aren’t just for the start of the year—they’re tools to help us change our lives whenever we choose to.

A common approach to resolutions is setting goals, creating micro-habits, or learning something new. While these are all good practices, they often miss the true purpose of setting resolutions. The key is to first understand why you want to make changes in your life. For example, waking up earlier or quitting bad habits may seem like positive changes, but they might not be aligned with your long-term vision. You might be adopting habits because they’re “socially good,” but they might not be truly necessary for your personal growth.

Jeff Bezos is widely known for popularizing the “regret minimization framework,” which encourages individuals to make decisions they won’t regret when looking back on their lives. Although I respect his success, I believe his framework overlooks the complexities of real life. He can afford to promote this kind of advice because he is one of the wealthiest men in the world, but his perspective doesn’t always reflect the challenges others face.
I believe in growth, but I don’t subscribe to the idea that growth should be slow. When compounded over time, progress can happen more rapidly than we expect. Unfortunately, many people settle into mediocrity, thinking that progress has to be slow. This mindset keeps them stuck in unsatisfying situations. However, I also believe you’re never too old to make a change; age might make it harder, but it doesn’t make it impossible.

My version of Jeff Bezos’ framework focuses on “future regret” rather than past regrets. You don’t have to have lived a life full of regrets to change your course. Here’s how it works:
Imagine you’re 5–10 years older than you are now. Imagine you’re still in the same situation—arguing with your parents about your life choices, stuck in a job you dislike, eating unhealthy, not saving, constantly postponing your dreams. Would you be happy with that future?

If not, imagine the life you want 5–10 years from now—happy, successful, influential, loved, celebrated, or kinder. Don’t focus on specific material things like the car you’ll drive or the house you’ll live in. Those are fleeting. Instead, focus on how you want to feel: fulfilled, proud, accomplished.
Now, imagine the regret you would feel if you didn’t take action now. Think of the things you didn’t do, the opportunities you missed, and the decisions that kept you stuck in an unfulfilled life. Let yourself experience the regret of not acting on your goals and dreams. Write down everything you wish you had done differently over the past 5-10 years.
Your list might include things like: staying in a job you don’t love, not learning a valuable skill, wasting time on unimportant things, neglecting relationships, or not pursuing your passions. These missed opportunities are your regrets.
Now, come back to the present moment. Be grateful that you have the chance to change. Don’t regret your past decisions; instead, see them as valuable lessons that will help you make better choices going forward.

This list of regrets now becomes your goal. These are the areas you need to address in order to create the future you want for yourself in 5-10 years. I recommend revisiting this exercise annually to keep refining your goals. Having a long list of things to improve is okay, as long as you learn to prioritize and take actionable steps toward achieving them.
To make these goals achievable, treat each one like a project. Break them into smaller tasks and then schedule time to work on each task. Planning your approach is often more important than diving into the tasks themselves.

For example, if my goal was to study abroad, here’s how I might break it down:
Goal: Study abroad
Spend 1 hour every day preparing for the GMAT.
Spend 1 hour every weekend researching scholarship opportunities.
Save 2,000 Naira every week for application fees.
Build relationships with family members for their support.

By following this approach, you’ll realize that your typical resolutions—like waking up earlier, quitting distractions, or taking small actions—might not be enough to create the life you want 5-10 years from now. Instead, focus on the larger goals that align with your true desires and long-term vision for your life.