Learn From the Future Back: How to Move Forward When Growth Feels Stuck

Feeling stuck in your growth? Learn how to reframe progress with the “Three Horizons” method — a simple mindset shift to move forward with clarity.

Introduction

There are moments in every career when progress feels slow. You’re doing the work, leading the team, checking the boxes — yet something feels flat.

I remember one of those moments clearly. It was during Singapore’s COVID lockdown. The world had gone still, and like many parents, I was spending unexpected hours at home. One afternoon, while drawing with my daughters, I sketched a quiet cabin framed by wide mountains and a skier mid-air.

It wasn’t an escape fantasy. It was a symbol of clarity.

At the time, I was one of the leaders in Google’s SMB Ads team for Southeast Asia. The work was meaningful, but the uncertainty of the world — and the pressure to keep performing — had blurred my sense of direction. That drawing became a turning point. It reminded me that progress starts with imagination, not motion.

Main Insight: Learning From the Future Back

Most people think growth is linear. You start from where you are, set goals, and work your way forward. But when the path ahead feels foggy, starting from the future back can give you a clearer view.

This is where the Three Horizons reflection comes in — a simple way to reconnect with what truly matters when momentum fades.

It asks you to zoom out before you move forward.

The Three Horizons Framework

The Three Horizons model is often used in innovation strategy. But it works beautifully for personal and leadership growth too.

It helps you shift perspective — from what’s urgent now, to what’s possible next, to what’s ultimately meaningful.

Here’s how to use it.

• 🔭 Horizon 3: Start With the Future You Want Ask yourself: What would future-you be proud to be known for?

Think five years ahead. Picture what success feels like — not just the title or revenue, but the contribution, the relationships, the kind of leader you’ve become.

This isn’t about predicting the future. It’s about clarifying direction.

• 🛠 Horizon 2: Stretch Toward That Future Once you’ve pictured that horizon, ask: What would stretch me toward it?

This is where growth lives — between comfort and discomfort. It might mean leading a new type of project, learning to delegate differently, or investing in a skill you’ve been avoiding.

You don’t need to overhaul everything. You just need one or two “stretch zones” that make your work feel alive again.

• 📍 Horizon 1: Learn From Where You Are Now Finally, come back to the present. What can you learn from the work already in front of you?

Often, we look past the current moment searching for the next opportunity. But there’s wisdom hidden in what’s happening right now — in your team dynamics, your habits, even your frustrations.

Every challenge is a classroom if you choose to see it that way.

Common Mistakes That Keep Growth Stuck

Even with good intentions, many leaders fall into familiar traps:

• Mistaking motion for progress. Staying busy doesn’t mean moving forward. Reflection creates better direction.

• Avoiding discomfort. Real growth often hides behind tasks that scare us a little.

• Focusing only on performance metrics. The most meaningful progress often starts before it’s measurable.

• Thinking you need all the answers. Clarity doesn’t come from certainty — it comes from curiosity.

Framework: How to Apply the Three Horizons

You can use this reflection in less than 30 minutes. Try it during your next journaling session or team meeting.

• Visualize Horizon 3. Close your eyes and picture your “future self.” What’s one thing that makes you proud?

• Identify one stretch in Horizon 2. Choose a single habit, skill, or project that moves you closer to that future.

• Name one learning in Horizon 1. What’s one lesson the present moment is teaching you right now?

Check back monthly. Growth isn’t a straight line — revisit your horizons often to see how your focus evolves.

Practical Lessons

Here are a few lessons you can apply right away:

• Growth starts with imagination, not execution.

• The future you want should guide today’s choices.

• Stretch zones are where meaningful learning happens.

• Reflection turns uncertainty into direction.

• Small, intentional steps often lead to the biggest breakthroughs.

Conclusion and Call to Action

When growth feels stuck, the instinct is to push harder. But sometimes, the most powerful move is to pause — to reimagine the path ahead from the future back.

Take a few quiet minutes to picture what “future-you” looks like. That vision might just be the spark that reignites your next chapter.

FAQs

Q. How do I stay motivated after setbacks?

Revisit your Horizon 3 vision. Reminding yourself of the bigger picture can turn frustration into renewed focus.

Q. How can leaders model a growth mindset for their teams?

Share your own learning process openly. When leaders talk about what they’re working on, it normalizes reflection and growth for everyone.

Q. What separates a fixed from a growth mindset at work?

A fixed mindset fears failure. A growth mindset treats it as feedback. The shift starts by asking, “What can I learn here?”