Alex: Hey everyone, welcome! Today we're tackling a really interesting idea: using design thinking to build a life you actually want. You know, the same principles that create amazing products can help you find more joy and purpose. Michelle: Hold on a second. Are you saying the same methods that design, say, iPhones or self-driving cars, can solve my mid-life crisis? Sounds like we're giving our lives a serious software upgrade. Alex: Precisely! And our guide is "Designing Your Life" by William Burnett and David Evans. These Stanford design gurus show you how to stop simply drifting through life or getting paralyzed by choices. Instead, you can actively design your future by rethinking your assumptions, staying curious, and iterating – taking small, creative steps that lead to big changes. Michelle: Rethinking assumptions, eh? So, turning “stuck in a rut” into “conducting an in-depth study of my couch's structural integrity”? I’m intrigued. What's the game plan here? How do we actually do this? Alex: Good question! We’re going to focus on three main things today. First, the design thinking mindset itself – how curiosity and reframing limiting beliefs can open up new possibilities. Then, we'll get into practical tools, like Odyssey Plans, where you imagine three totally different versions of your future, and personal compasses to keep you aligned with your values. Lastly, we'll talk about dealing with roadblocks like failure and self-doubt, and why a support system is so crucial. Michelle: So, we’re essentially sketching, testing, and tweaking our lives like architects of our own happiness? Okay, Alex, let's see if this "life design" thing can handle some real-world pressure. I'm ready to be convinced.

Alex: Okay, let’s dive into design thinking itself – it's really the backbone of this whole idea. It's more than just a way to solve problems; it’s a way to approach life like a designer would. Instead of getting stuck on rigid plans or worrying about making the “wrong” choice, you basically treat everything like a prototype – your career, relationships, hobbies, everything! You explore, test things out, and then refine. Michelle: Prototypes, huh? So, does that mean my disastrous attempt to make sourdough wasn't a complete waste of time? It was just an “iteration,” a test to see if my poor yeast-wrangling skills aligned with my grand purpose? Alex: Exactly! That’s the core idea. And the first step is to reframe those dysfunctional beliefs we have – those narratives that keep us stuck in a rut. Think of those “gravity problems” you just can’t solve by sheer force, like believing you’re stuck with your college major, or that a big paycheck automatically equals happiness. Michelle: So, we're talking about rewiring your brain so it stops running on Windows Vista? I get it. Do you have any real-world examples of this in action? Alex: Absolutely. Take Ellen, for example. She was a geology major in college and loved it, but then realized she didn't want to spend her life just studying rocks. Most people would think, "Oh no, you wasted your degree!" But she reframed it and turned her geology background into a stepping stone – pun intended – to something that better fit her strengths. Michelle: Let me guess – she didn't become a professional rock polisher, living her best life? Alex: Not quite! She shifted to a gem-related startup and used her skills, but not only her geological expertise, she also got to use her organizational and networking abilities. The point wasn’t to throw her degree away, but to see its value in a wider context. Michelle: So, the idea that "you have to stick with what you studied" is a myth. Ellen smashed that rock into pieces, metaphorically speaking, and found gems underneath. Inspiring, sure. But what about something tougher to crack, like the "success equals happiness" idea? That seems hardwired. Alex: That's a perfect lead-in to Janine's story. She was a lawyer who had achieved all the external measures of success – prestige, money, respect. But she felt empty because her values and passions didn't align with her career. Michelle: So, this wasn't just a "the grass is greener" feeling? Sounds deeper, like she needed to redefine what “winning” actually meant. Alex: Exactly. She had to let go of those external pressures and ask herself, "What does success actually look like for me?" For Janine, it meant reconnecting with her love of poetry. She didn't quit her job right away, but she started weaving her passion back into her life and eventually reshaped her career to reflect what truly fulfilled her. Michelle: So reframing wasn't an all-or-nothing choice for Janine. She just started coloring outside the lines until the picture made sense for her. Alex: Precisely! And that process fits nicely with the second principle, which is about being curious and playful. Life design is all about open-ended exploring – asking, "What if?" and meeting challenges with a sense of discovery. Michelle: Play? Are we talking about buying a PlayStation, or is this more abstract? Alex: It's about tapping into that curiosity we had as children. As adults, we tend to overthink and fear the unknown instead of just experimenting for the fun of it. Burnett and Evans encourage small, low-stakes actions – have you ever heard of Informational Interviews? Michelle: Is that where you, like, grill someone who's living your dream life over coffee? Alex: Kind of! It’s a chance to learn what their job or lifestyle really entails. Maybe you shadow them for a day, volunteer, or try out a side project. These “prototypes” are meant to give you data through experience, they are not necessarily meant to solve your life overnight. Michelle: So instead of buying the car, you're test-driving it – or, in this case, borrowing someone else's commute. But isn’t there pressure to succeed even in those “safe” experiments? Alex: That’s where iteration comes in. Life design kind of assumes you'll fail sometimes, and that's okay. Donald’s story is a great example of this mindset shift. Michelle: Donald – was he another degree-major escapee? Or is this a midlife crisis story? Alex: The latter. Donald was stuck in a well-paying but unfulfilling job. He thought it was too late to change because he had already invested so much time. But instead of making one big jump, he started small, with initiatives at work – team-building, things he enjoyed. Those small wins helped him change his identity at work without throwing his career away. Michelle: So, instead of nuking his current path, Donald just applied patches and upgrades. Did those experiments actually work? Alex: Many of them did. In the end, he found a role that combined his strengths with his passion for building workplace culture. It wasn’t an instant transformation; it evolved as he tested and refined his approach. Michelle: Okay, I'm getting it. Ellen turned her rocks into stepping stones, Janine went from tedious lawyering to poetry, and Donald prototyped his own career upgrades. But is the key just randomly trying things and hoping for the best? Alex: The key is mindset. Reframe your beliefs, stay curious, and embrace iteration. Have the mindset to accept that life is messy and constantly evolving. Over time, those small moves help you align your choices with your values and passions. Michelle: Fine, Alex, you win this round. I'll prototype not muting you during my next meeting. Alex: Hey, progress is progress, right?

Alex: So, that foundational mindset really sets us up for diving into the practical tools—the real heart of life design. This is where theory meets action, offering concrete methods to map out your future, align your values, and actually build a life that resonates. Michelle: Ah, the instruction manual for happiness. So, these tools had better be more than just diagrams of stick figures getting frustrated with Allen wrenches. Alex: Not quite, Michelle, though designing your life “does” involve some assembly. Let's kick off with Odyssey Plans; it's one of the most creative and empowering of the tools. Michelle: Odyssey Plans, huh? Sounds epic! Are we charting courses to mythical lands? Or is this a purely metaphorical exercise? Alex: It's metaphorical, but it's still adventurous. Odyssey Plans ask you to envision three very different paths your life “could” take in the next five years. The key is to break free from the idea that there's only “one” right answer for your future. Michelle: Like building a "multiverse of me"? So we're talking superhero by day, pastry chef by night, and maybe a hermit on weekends? Alex: You're not far off! Each plan represents a different potential life. Life One is based on your “current” trajectory — your existing job, goals, commitments, all of it. Michelle: So, the "if things stay the same" version. AKA, the comfort zone? Alex: Exactly. And it's actually good to explore where you already are! Take someone like Donald, a professional with a high-paying, stable job. This exercise gave him a chance to reflect on what he appreciated about his current life, and what was missing. So, he realized his passion wasn't being satisfied, and “that” helped him start looking at alternatives. Michelle: Ah, Donald. Wasn't he the guy who felt stuck crunching numbers but actually loved energizing his team? His Life One must've been like staring into a mirror and realizing, "This isn't me." Alex: Precisely! Mapping out Life One helped Donald see that his values—like fostering collaboration and creativity—weren't as present in his career as they needed to be. From there, Life Two comes into play: the backup plan. Michelle: The contingency option. What -- you pack some canned goods and extra batteries in case Life One implodes? Alex: If canned goods are your metaphor for adaptability, then yes. Life Two pushes you to consider, "What could I pursue if my current path isn't sustainable?" It builds resilience, because it forces you to get creative and prepare for unexpected pivots. Michelle: Like, "What if I lose my job tomorrow—do I have a parachute, or am I just free-falling into Netflix marathons?" Alex: Exactly, but it's not “all” about worst-case scenarios. Life Two is also about expanding your horizons. Think about someone whose Life One revolves around corporate sales. Their Life Two might consider leveraging those same interpersonal skills to transition into something like nonprofit fundraising, if they ever need a change. Michelle: Got it. Plan A keeps you grounded; Plan B keeps you flexible; and Life Three? Is that where we finally go full dreamer—quit the desk job and open a taco stand in Bali? Alex: Pretty much! Life Three is where you dream “big”, without worrying about practicality or social expectations. Imagine what your life would look like if time, money, or status weren't limiting factors. It's freedom to fully explore your passions. Michelle: Trading the crowded commute for writing novels on a beach? You're not saying to pack up tomorrow and go full Hemingway, are you? Alex: No. It's about painting a vision, and then considering small, meaningful steps toward that dream. Maybe it starts with taking a creative writing class on the weekends, or transitioning into a role with flexible hours so you can dedicate some time to your passion. Michelle: I can see how mapping these three potential paths would change the game. It's like building a "decision showroom"— test-driving your futures without fully committing. Alex: That's the power of Odyssey Plans—they break through analysis paralysis, by showing you that there's no “one” "perfect" path, just possibilities that evolve over time. Michelle: I like it...Options without the pressure of finality. So what's next? Are we journaling our way to enlightenment? Alex: Almost! The next tool is the Good Time Journal. You literally log your day-to-day experiences, tracking when you feel energized, engaged, or drained. Over time, you start to identify patterns that reveal your true passions and strengths. Michelle: Let me guess—someone discovers they hate meetings but light up while gardening, and suddenly they ditch boardrooms for flower pots? Alex: Exactly! Take a mid-level manager who couldn't shake her feeling of dissatisfaction. By documenting when she felt happy and fulfilled, she saw that gardening was her highest source of joy. That realization helped her pivot into a role linked to environmental sustainability. Michelle: Hmm... I've probably been overanalyzing "Netflix binge" as my most fulfilling activity. So what do these patterns tell us—just hobbies we like, or something deeper? Alex: It's deeper, for sure. It's not just about hobbies, it's about identifying what aligns with your values, and provides a sense of “flow”—those moments of complete immersion, where time flies because you're so engaged in what you're doing. Michelle: Flow, huh? Like getting sucked a Sudoku puzzle and losing an hour? Sounds pretty niche. Alex: It's a little more than that, Michelle. Flow happens when your skills and challenges match perfectly, creating a state of focused creativity and enjoyment. The Good Time Journal helps people uncover these moments in their lives, so they can design more opportunities around what energizes them. Michelle: Okay, I'll admit, I'm intrigued. But all this planning still sounds a tad abstract if you don't know what guides your choices in the first place. Alex: That brings us to the Personal Compass. It's the tool that aligns “everything” you do with your values, and it's made up of two parts: your Workview and your Lifeview, which are like your mission statements for what work and life mean to you. Michelle: Mission statements, got it. Workview—is that like, "What's the point of a job?" Like, paycheck versus passion? Alex: Pretty much! Your Workview clarifies what you believe work should accomplish. Is it primarily about financial stability, self-expression, or making a societal impact? Everyone's vision is different. Michelle: And Lifeview is the philosophical stuff, like “What’s my purpose?” or “What makes life meaningful?” Alex: Right. When you combine your Workview and Lifeview, you create a Personal Compass that helps you evaluate everyday decisions. So, if your job conflicts with your values —say, working overtime clashes with your desire to spend time with family—it signals a need for adjustment. Michelle: This compass works like a reality check. If your Workview says jobs should inspire collaboration, but you're stuck in a cubicle war, you're heading in the wrong direction? Alex: Exactly! It helps you recalibrate. For example, Janine the lawyer realized her life wasn't aligned with her values; her Workview emphasized creativity, connection and joy, which led her to rediscover poetry, and reframe her definition of success. By writing down her compass, she got clarity on what changes to make. Michelle: Makes sense. Combine Odyssey Plans for exploration, the Good Time Journal for self-awareness, and the Personal Compass for navigating decisions, and you've got a whole toolkit for designing your life. It’s… dare I say it… practical. Alex: It is! When you put these tools into action, you design a life that blends ambition with authenticity, challenges with flow, and dreams with grounded action. What could be more fulfilling than that? Michelle: Fine, Alex, consider me 1% convinced. But if I find myself journaling next week, we might need a Lifeview update about why you're such a bad influence.

Alex: So, with all these life design tools, the real challenge is tackling those obstacles and keeping the momentum going. This part is all about building resilience and leaning on your community. It’s about how we can not only face the music but also grow from it, while staying true to our values and being flexible. Michelle: Ah, resilience and growth – the kale smoothie of self-improvement, right? We know it's good for us, but it's not exactly a treat. So, I bet this is where we hear that failure is... a good thing? Alex: Well, it’s part of the equation. Life design really embraces the idea that failure is not just inevitable, but actually crucial for growth. But before we dive into that, let's talk about one of the biggest roadblocks the book mentions: inertia. How often do people feel completely stuck because they think their problems are just too big to solve? Michelle: Totally. It's like being stuck in quicksand, right? They call them… gravity problems, maybe? Alex: Exactly. These are the challenges that seem so unchangeable that people convince themselves they can't do anything about it. But the key is to realize that not every problem needs a solution. Sometimes, it’s about shifting your perspective or breaking it into doable, smaller steps. Michelle: So, is this a good time for Ellen to come back into the conversation? You remember, our geology grad friend who went from rocks to starting a gem business? Alex: Definitely! Ellen's story is a great example of overcoming inertia. At first, she felt stuck because she had a degree in geology, and she thought she had to stick with that. But once she looked at her situation differently, she stopped seeing her background as a limitation and started using it as a springboard to explore other things. Michelle: And her first move wasn’t exactly glamorous, right? Babysitting, wasn’t it? A little different from tectonic shifts, I might add. Alex: Right, but that's the beauty of her approach. She started small, with low-stakes prototypes – experimenting with different roles, talking to people in totally different fields – and each step gave her more momentum. That’s the big lesson here: you don't have to solve the "big problem" all at once. Simply making small move in the right direction helps you to get unstuck. Michelle: So, the secret to fighting life's gravity is basically Newton's first law – get moving, even if it’s just a tiny push. But what happens when those "pushes" lead to epic fails? I mean, a lot of experimenting probably leads to that, right? Alex: That's where reframing failure comes in. Burnett and Evans actually break down failure into three types: screw-ups, weaknesses, and growth opportunities. And each one teaches you something different. Michelle: Okay, walk me through these. Screw-ups, I get – like spilling coffee all over your laptop. Doesn’t exactly scream “life-changing,” you know? Alex: True, screw-ups are the everyday mishaps. But they still teach us quick lessons, you know, like time management or better planning. Then, you have weaknesses – those recurring patterns that hold us back, like procrastination or stage fright. These need real effort to tackle. Michelle: Alright, yeah, that makes sense. And growth opportunities? I'm guessing these are the big kahunas, like bombing a major interview or getting passed over for a promotion? Alex: Exactly. They're those high-stakes situations that force you to stop and think. Let’s take Janine, the lawyer from earlier. Her "failure" wasn’t just a screw-up, but a reckoning with her own unhappiness. She spent years doing well in a field that didn't align with her values – until she reframed that as an opportunity to make a change. Michelle: And for Janine, that change was poetry – which makes me wonder if every unhappy accountant has an opera waiting inside them. But seriously, didn't that feel like running away? Alex: It wasn’t about running away, but about finding what truly mattered to her. And remember, she didn't just ditch her law career overnight. By doing small prototypes, like attending workshops and writing every day, she found a way to weave her passion into her life, eventually finding a more satisfying balance between the law and creativity. Michelle: Okay, I see the pattern here: reflect, reframe, and experiment. Speaking of patterns, you mentioned collaboration earlier. Where does that fit in all this? Alex: Well, collaboration is the antidote to feeling alone. Life design emphasizes having a support system – people who can be your mentors, critics, cheerleaders, or sounding boards. This network helps you see your blind spots, stay responsible, and stay motivated when things get tough. Michelle: So, life's not supposed to be a solo act – it's more like a group project, but hopefully less of a mess than high school science class. Got another example? Alex: Absolutely. Remember Donald? The mid-career professional felt trapped in a high-paying career that wasn’t fulfilling. What helped Donald wasn’t only his experiments, but the collaboration of his colleagues. Michelle: Oh, right, Donald. Didn't he go from spreadsheet boredom to team building? How did his team help him out? Alex: His colleagues and mentors gave him a fresh perspective. They pushed him to focus on his knack for building workplace connections, rather than just obsessing over productivity metrics. With their support, he experimented with new roles – starting team-building activities and creativity workshops that fired him up. Over time, Donald found ways to make his current job more rewarding by evolving within his role instead of abandoning it. Michelle: That's a cool twist. Donald didn't just bail out; he reshaped his job with input from those who knew him best. Collaboration isn't just about being inspired – it sounds like a way to keep your experiments pointed in the right direction. Alex: Exactly. And the best collaborations challenge you, keeping you grounded while still fueling your ambition. Combine that with reflective practices, like gratitude or weekly evaluations, and you've built a solid base for lasting growth. Michelle: Gratitude journals, huh? Those sound tough for a cynic like me. Alex: They’re surprisingly effective for everyone. Writing down three things you're grateful for each day shifts your attention from frustrations to progress. Pair that with weekly reviews, where you look at wins and challenges, and it really helps keep you aligned with your changing goals. Michelle: So, it’s like running diagnostics on your life, keeping everything aligned and well-oiled. How about mindfulness – is that another tool in this sustainability kit? Alex: Definitely. Mindfulness sharpens your self-awareness, helping you stay present and make mindful decisions. A five-minute breathing exercise can be surprisingly helpful for managing stress and gaining clarity, especially when you're facing big decisions. Michelle: Gratitude, mindfulness, reflection – sounds like building a “resilience muscle.” It’s the same idea across the board. Reframing, collaborating, sustaining – this is really about creating momentum and maintaining it. Alex: Exactly. Life isn't about being perfect; it's about being persistent. By tackling inertia, reframing failure, tapping into your community, and making reflective practices a regular thing, you can navigate challenges with grace and grow in a sustainable way. Michelle: Okay, Alex, I'll give you this – this whole messy, iterative journey thing does make life design feel less like a pipe dream. Though I’m still skeptical about those breathing exercises. Alex: Hey, small steps, Michelle. Just remember – this whole process thrives on curiosity, action, and, yes, a little open-mindedness. Michelle: Fine. I'll reframe my skepticism as… "constructive collaboration." Progress, right?

Alex: Okay, so let's recap. Today, we dove into how design thinking isn't just for products, but how it can seriously upgrade your life—like, reframing those limiting beliefs, sparking your curiosity, and getting comfortable with tweaking things as you go. We talked about cool tools like Odyssey Plans, that Good Time Journal, and your personal compass to help map out where you're going, what fuels you, and staying true to your values. And we went over how to bust through feeling stuck, seeing failure as a lesson, and teaming up to keep moving forward. Michelle: Right, so life isn’t this perfectly laid-out GPS route. It’s more like… remember those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books? Full of unexpected turns, experiments, and a few "oops" moments. The big thing to remember? Stop waiting for this "perfect" path to magically appear. Instead, just start small—try things out, see what happens, and adjust. Alex: Precisely! Life design is all about getting comfortable with the chaos and turning those challenges into opportunities to grow, you know? Whether it's sketching out a few different futures, noting down what gives you energy, or just taking a moment to reflect, these tools are there to help you build a life that “really” resonates with you. Michelle: Alright, time for action. Go out there and experiment, stay curious, and don’t beat yourself up over mistakes—they're part of it all. And seriously, if you haven’t started designing your life yet, what’s holding you back? It’s never too late to begin. Alex: Absolutely, Michelle. Remember, you’re the author of your own story. Make it a good one!