Stanford Webinar: Designing Your Life - How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life

Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life
Speaker: Bill Burnett, Stanford University

Have you ever asked yourself “What do I want to be when I grow up?’ or “Am I living a meaningful life?” In this webinar, Bill Burnett, Executive Director of the Design Program at Stanford University, and co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller of the same name, explains that there’s more than one right solution for the optimal way for you to live.

Bill will show you how you can apply proven design-thinking principles, like prototyping and bias-for-action, to your own life, so that you can reframe ideas that are holding you back. He’ll show you how these same tools that are used at companies such as IDEO, IBM and Apple, can help you answer the question “What should I do with the rest of my life?”

You will learn:
-Strategies to apply design thinking to your life
-Methods for aligning your “life” views with your “work” views
-Tools to understand what gives you energy – and what drains you

About the Speaker:

[DanielL]

Bill mentions that the path that led him to success included 1 - making choices, 2 - putting himself in a context which supplied opportunities and 3 - luck; he forgets to mention 4 - privilege (a highly significant form of luck); how many of us could even think about choosing to go to Stanford or going to Harvard; this is not a criticism (I love this video and am grateful for the advice that i wish i had when i was young and am still hoping that it is not too late to apply even though it is late in the game for me) - its just an observation for the general population and a slight refinement of the ingredients that it takes to bake the cake (it helps to have a stove). Thanks Bill - I'm going to buy your book and give it to my nephew - who is lost.

[yuliyaruzhechka]

That's one of the best videos I've ever seen on life design. Inspiring and concrete at the same time. Thank you so much.

[davidcritics]

Good way to take the project management skills we learn and use at work and apply them to the rest of our lives.

[DougRigsby-tfxw]

Great points. Maybe better for those starting out. Once you’ve been in a career with family, life has a way of creating boundaries. I’ve attempted many times to break out and do something different only to find myself unable to change. Interviewing for a career with experience in a different area yet same industry, likely you will be judged on your experience rather than your ability and willingness for change.

[benschewe]

Great webinar! I experienced the power of working during my “FLOW-Time” myself. Greets from Hamburg and thanks for sharing!

[thebonnibelle]

This was a great webinar. Can't wait to get the book. Thank you!

[misyelvids]

Thank you for releasing such great content. I just wish the audio was clearer. :-(

[daniellenotti]

Very interesting lecture, good ideas and grear sensitivity

[ElviraZee]

Interesting video, thank you! Though the sound is terrible indeed :/

[vintagetrailerlady]

This is such a great Webinar. Are we able to share outwardly?

[noeldsouza]

Only if this video was available 25 years earlier... It's never too late, though...

[albertstein]

Any ideas where the "learn more" link is gone on the Stanford Webpage?

[pegdimarco]

I did something similar with Avasva solutions.

[alfredhitchcock]

Unavailable best is the enemy of all available betters
1. Meaning Making
2. Discovery and Support
Flow journal
2 types of Noticing:
1. Meditation - in the here and now
2. Retrospect
California New Age energy sort of thing

[shreeabraham]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

01:08 🎨 *Applying Design Thinking to Life Design*
- Applying design thinking principles to life design.
- Can design thinking be used to address the challenge of designing a meaningful life?
- Exploring the concept of reframing life questions using design thinking principles.
03:07 🔄 *Reframing the "What do I want to be when I grow up?" Question*
- Reframing the question "What do I want to be when I grow up?" to "What do I want to grow into as I explore the rest of my life?"
- The universality of the question about life purpose and direction.
- Introducing the concept of reframing as a method for approaching life design.
06:20 📊 *Impact of Designing Your Life Course*
- Measuring the impact of the "Designing Your Life" course.
- Increased confidence in exploring careers and making decisions.
- Reduction in dysfunctional beliefs and enhancement in the ability to identify and achieve occupational goals.
07:45 🚫 *Challenging Dysfunctional Beliefs*
- Challenging dysfunctional beliefs about finding one's passion and knowing the future path.
- Debunking the myth that there's a singular version of oneself that needs to be optimized.
- Encouraging individuals to embrace multiple interests and career paths.
14:26 🌟 *Enhancing Meaning and Decision-Making*
- Integrating a meaning-making layer with design thinking principles.
- Encouraging individuals to seek moments of flow in their careers and lives.
- Emphasizing the importance of reflection and journaling to enhance self-awareness and decision-making.
18:25 🎯 *Finding Meaning in Work*
- Finding enjoyment and meaning in your work is crucial for a fulfilling life.
- Many people are disengaged from their work, leading to dissatisfaction and dysfunction.
- Flow states can indicate meaningful work, where tasks energize rather than drain you.
19:28 🔄 *Managing Energy Instead of Time*
- Traditional time management systems may not capture how you feel about tasks.
- Reframing time management as energy management helps prioritize tasks based on their impact on your energy levels.
- Charting activities based on their energy impact can lead to a more balanced and fulfilling schedule.
24:51 🧠 *Understanding Attention and Energy*
- The brain consumes a disproportionate amount of energy compared to its size, highlighting the importance of where you direct your attention.
- Being mindful of what you pay attention to can significantly impact your perception of reality and your overall well-being.
- Recognizing positive and negative energy loads on your attention can help you optimize your engagement and productivity.
36:19 🤔 *Reflecting on Career Choices*
- Cautionary tales of successful but unhappy individuals stuck in careers they dislike.
- Importance of engaging in the design process before committing to a career path.
- Utilizing informational interviews and prototypes to explore future possibilities.
38:17 🛠️ *Prototyping Your Future*
- Learning from individuals already living analogous futures.
- Importance of low-threat experimentation and prototyping in career exploration.
- Concept of narrative resonance in aligning with a desired future.
41:07 💰 *Money and Happiness*
- Discussion on the role of money in career satisfaction and happiness.
- The hedonic treadmill and the diminishing returns of pursuing wealth for happiness.
- Emphasis on purpose, autonomy, and mastery as drivers of fulfillment in work.
48:15 🔄 *Feedback and Metrics in Career Design*
- Importance of self-empathy and assessing emotional and intellectual states in career activities.
- Seeking feedback from the world on the reception of one's work.
- Metrics including flow state frequency, energy levels, and financial compensation in evaluating career alignment.

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