Going to Recovery College was a turning point for DB, I think its harder for men to talk about. His nurse also did an exercise going over his life timeline and looking at periods of trauma.
As a family member, what I have learned is, and excuse how I am putting this because it is not very eloquent, with DB (your post rang bells), he has goals but they are lofty (get his driving license back-would need a doctor to approve him driving while taking anti-psychotics) and doesn't seem to have a roadmap to get there.
Where over the years we have had the most success is when I've tried to involve myself with what his short issues/goals are (going to classes, sorting out bills companies etc.), especially things I know he struggles with, like making phone calls. So I might find out what goals he discussed in his support, catch up on how they are going, when he is doing things, where I have capacity to help. This has been esp. important at the big moments, getting bill companies set up, small furnishings, doing a big clean when he had a flat inspection, encouraging him to access a charity for debt help, listening to girlfriend woes, liaising with his support team ocasionally. I do not do everything, because its not helpful, but family are friends, simply by being there, are a massive source of support.
I guess his nurse is trying to encourage independence but sometimes its knowing when to push too- if the nurse isn't helping maybe he can ask for a different one, I know when DB changed social worker it got a lot better, his last one would say thinks like 'your sister got all the charm then' to his face!! It was actually his difficulty with social skills that gave him more feelings of inadequacy as a teenager, but he is far more intelligent than me.
Over the years what has helped too is building that entire support network for DB- ranging from a bank manager who knows about his illness, and therefore understanding of overdraft charges, local debt support agency, local mental health charity that he can continuously self refer to for 8 weeks of support, good GP relationship and he gets an annual double appointment, his over 40 health check, hobbies he enjoys, college courses, he did some volunteering and I have seen this lead onto paid work for others.
I also found asking questions about what its like hearing voices, how he sees schizophrenia, and I sometimes just ask him how his mental health is, as I think we forget to ask this, as I want him to know he can talk to me and that I recognise its a constant thing to manage. From asking these questions, and helping, I think I learned one of his struggles was organising (i.e. executive function - I think he was undiagnosed ADHD and possibly dyspraxia, but there is no going into that now as his schizophrenia diagnosis makes it difficult to pick it apart), also remembering appointments.
I do struggle with what ifs - what if it was picked up earlier, I had no idea, we just thought he was unique, and guilt, and blaming my parents sometimes (not to their face), but none of that is particularly constructive. Helping someone with schizophrenia as early as possible with practical things though would be my advice. I was in my early 20s and wish I had done more as he might not have gone round the houses so much. Hope is a very big thing - always hold onto it.