Designing Your Life

Designing your life takes a serious mindset shift and leap of faith that you can change your day-to-day. Have you ever taken the time to dream about what’s possible in your life?

Do you wonder what would have happened if you just pursued your passion and set big goals in a career transition? Or quit the soul-sucking job for a new opportunity?

We all need help taking the first steps and figuring out a plan for our lives and finding the time to do it all. The right resources also help.

The book I recommend MOST often is Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett + Dave Evans.  This book was my guide when I decided that I was no longer fulfilled by my job as a commercial litigator, but before I was certain of what was next.

Answering the Question: Then What?

This book asks you first to take a long look at your current circumstances – where are you NOW. What’s working? Where are you most engaged? What gives you energy?

Then, it asks you to get outside the box of what you think is possible and to dream.  Most of us analytical types haven’t spent much time dreaming, but you have to dream it in order to redesign your life.  Whether you want more personal time for hobbies or are looking for a career transition, you need to dream big.

This is where a lot of folks encounter resistance and listen to their internal voices that say, “You couldn’t possibly be a bartender in Belize…”  Or maybe it’s saying, “You can’t launch a new side hustle during a pandemic.” But, you could be a bartender in Belize if that is the future you choose.  Don’t let those voices keep you from dreaming.  Dream ALL the impossible dreams . . . They just might be possible!

To fully explore what your future could look like and a possible career transition or personal transformation, the book guides you to create Odyssey Plans where you map out three alternative versions for the next 5 years of your life.

What Do You Want to Explore First?

Once you identify what you want to explore, the book asks you to create conversations and experiences that would give you more information about whether this is a future you want to pursue further.

This type of exploration allows you to “fail fast” so you don’t quit your job to pursue your dream of becoming a bartender in Belize . . . only to realize that Belize is not currently issuing Visas to American citizens.  Failing fast can feel scary, but is actually empowering. It clarifies what’s possible and the reality of taking steps towards your dreams.

And, finally, it asks you to design your dream job.  This powerful strategy helps you envision what’s possible and how to frame your life.

Reframe Dysfunctional Beliefs & Replace with Generative Beliefs

I have no doubt that this book hastened my own career transition from the practice of law into coaching by giving me permission to design a happier and more fulfilling life.

“The end result of a well-designed life is a life well lived. And, really is there anything more we could hope for?”

Buy the book and tell me what you think! Will you apply it to your own career transition or personal transformation? Or will you still be dreaming about your goals this time next year without taking concrete steps to get there?