Image created by Google AI. -
Design Your Life:
- Why Planning Three Futures Might Be the Best Thing You Ever Do”
Imagine sitting down with a big blank canvas in front of you. Instead of drawing just one version of your future, you get to sketch three.
That’s the magic of the Odyssey Plan, developed by Stanford’s Design Lab—the same brilliant team behind Designing Your Life. It’s simple. It’s powerful. And it reminds you that life isn’t a straight line.
First, you map out what your life looks like if you keep going just as you are.
Second, you dream up a life based on a passion you’ve always been curious about.
Third, you create a wild version of your life—what you’d do if money, time, and opinions didn’t matter one bit.
The point isn’t to pick the “perfect” path. It’s to realize you have choices. Real ones. And every one of them starts when you give yourself permission to imagine more.
Forcast out 5 years – it is a magic number.
#Blogboost #VisionaryLeadership #ActThePart #AdvantaStrategies #StrategicThinking
How Humor Can Lighten the Room
A smile can make your design pitch twice as memorable. Humor, when done right, isn’t about being a comedian it’s about being human. A little laughter reminds everyone that design is supposed to bring joy, not stress. So the next time you walk into a presentation, bring your sense of humor along with your fabric swatches. You’ll leave behind not only a beautiful concept but also a positive impression.
Creating Connection: The overlooked power of eye contact
Eye contact is the designer’s secret to presence. It’s what transforms a presentation from mechanical to magnetic. Slides may show your ideas, but your eyes show your confidence and that’s what clients and audiences remember most.
Why Every Designer Should Practice Their Speech
In design, presentation is persuasion. When you practice speaking as much as sketching, you build trust, authority, and excitement around your ideas. A polished pitch can make the difference between a “maybe” and a “let’s do it.” Remember your voice is part of your professional toolkit. Use it well, and let it sell your vision as powerfully as your designs do.
Fear is a Signal
Fear is a signal - not a stop sign Even the most polished designer has felt that familiar flutter before stepping on stage or into a client presentation. Your palms sweat, your voice trembles, and your perfectly crafted ideas suddenly feel tangled. But...
Grammar Matters
In a world where your words represent your brand, grammar isn’t just about correctness it’s about credibility. You can have the best ideas in the room, but if your sentences stumble, people stop listening. When you speak (or write) with precision, you project professionalism, confidence, and attention to detail qualities every successful designer and business owner needs.
Think Fast, Speak Smart
When someone tosses a tough question your way, your brain might go blank before your mouth opens. That’s normal—but it’s not permanent. The trick is to pause with purpose, not panic. The repeat-pause-answer method lets you buy time...
Social Savvy
Elegant events aren’t just about the wine and the lighting they’re where lasting professional connections begin. With confidence, curiosity, and a graceful goodbye, you can turn any gala or awards night into an opportunity for genuine rapport.
Sweat Palms
Swap sweaty palms for confident handshakes.
Tell Me More
A few months ago, I watched a young designer at a networking event nervously circle the coffee station. She rehearsed “So, what do you do?” at least four times before finally approaching a woman from a major firm. Five minutes later, they were laughing...
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Advanta Strategies, LLC
814-360-1950
linda@advantastrategies.com
This is such a refreshing way to think about the future. I love the idea of giving yourself permission to dream without limits — it makes planning feel way more exciting and less stressful!
Thanks Barbara – I found the thinking to be a bit different and in doing some research I think it could be helpful for 17 yo or 80yo.
What a neat idea! I have 3 ideas for the middle one, with the devotion to a passion: singing, dancing or writing romance novels. The life where money is no object is a very familiar dream life visualization. And for the life where things continue as they have begun, I have plans for that to turn out well. So I really can’t lose. 🙂
Jeanine:
I doubt after reading more than one of your posts that you can never really lose. You are on top of your game. I love the singing and dancing. More of that in our lives.