Build your tested path
Achieve your design goal by implementing the tested ideas of your chosen life path.
In the previous life design phase, you tested the ideas of your chosen life path, resulting in one or more ideas that are likely to help you achieve your design goal. If you have not yet completed the previous phase, you can find the instructions by clicking on this link:
https://www.a3lifedesign.com/blog-english/test-your-chosen-path
The purpose of this phase is to achieve your design goal by implementing the tested ideas of your chosen life path. Perhaps more importantly, you will become more like the kind of person you want to be by behaving in accordance with your life purpose and personal values (your design purpose is aligned with this).
Life design is about taking action. All your previous work only has value if you do something with the results. So once you've tested a life path, immediately start building it by implementing its tested ideas.
To refresh your memory, here are some examples of design goals and tested life paths:
👉 I want to exercise enough every week. I’m going to exercise while watching TV, swim twice a week and take the car less.
👉 I want to choose a study that suits my strengths and interests. I’m going to study mathematics.
👉 I want to move to a country with a lower cost of living and a favourable climate. I’m going to move to Croatia.
👉 I want to improve my cardiovascular fitness and push myself beyond my physical limits. I’m going to run a marathon.
Ideas can range from relatively simple, such as building a new habit, to complex, like studying for many years or relocating to another country.
How do you increase the chance of achieving your design goal?
Use as many of the techniques below as possible to significantly increase the chances of successfully implementing your tested ideas.
👉 Define your goals
For each idea, specify the goal you want to achieve, including a time frame for when you want to achieve the goal. Goals provide direction, motivate you to take action, and allow you to determine progress. Be specific and make sure your goals are realistic and achievable. For example, you want to obtain a bachelor's degree in mathematics within four years. Or you want to have built up the habit of exercising while watching TV within two months.
👉 Break down big goals into smaller subgoals
Worthwhile goals often require sustained effort that can last months or years. Work backward from a big goal, defining and recording concrete, realistic, intermediate subgoals and their completion dates. Arrange subgoals in a logical order so that achieving one subgoal naturally leads to the next subgoal on the way to your big goal.
Define your goals SMART: Specific (so there is no ambiguity), Measurable (so you can monitor progress and ensure you're making steady progress), Achievable, Realistic (both to avoid frustration and demotivation), and Time-bound (give each of your subgoals a deadline to create a sense of urgency).
For example, if your goal is to run a sub 4 hour marathon a year from now, you can create a structured training plan that covers the entire year. You could define subgoals that specify a weekly or monthly buildup of mileage and speed, working backwards from your big goal to your current fitness level.
👉 Break down subgoals into tasks
Break down subgoals into specific tasks or actions that directly contribute to achieving these goals. The tasks should be small and actionable. What do you need to do to achieve each subgoal?
Describe your tasks clearly and make sure they are easy to understand. Use concrete verbs to specify what needs to be done, such as send, call, write, pick up, wash, and so on. Indicate where and by whom the task will be performed. If necessary, include criteria that will help you objectively determine whether the task has been completed.
Plan the tasks for the coming days in detail: write down the list of tasks you will complete and when you will do them. Keep the plan simple and clear.
👉 Be organised
Being organised can help you stay focused, motivated, and on track toward your goals. Use task management tools or apps, such as to-do lists, calendars, or project management software, to track your big goal, subgoals, tasks and periodic reviews.
👉 Minimise barriers and distractions
Remove the biggest obstacles that can keep you from achieving your goals. What is holding you back the most right now? What is the bottleneck for you at the moment?
For example, if you have too many other commitments, set clear priorities, tackle important tasks first, and learn to say no politely. Remove distractions from your environment, for example put your mobile phone in a safe and keep your workplace tidy. Minimise multitasking and turn off non-essential notifications on your devices.
👉 Anticipate obstacles
How you handle the inevitable obstacles in your path can determine your ultimate success. Write down in advance the main obstacles (or pitfalls, setbacks) that you foresee on the way to your goal and what you will do to overcome those difficult moments. What crisis moments do you expect? What setbacks can occur?
You can use the format: When <obstacle occurs>, then <concrete actions to overcome obstacle>.
Some examples of actions you can take if you encounter an obstacle:
🎬 Take a timeout, reaffirm your commitment to your goal, and remind yourself of the reasons why it's important to you.
🎬 View the situation objectively from a distance and assess the nature of the obstacle or setback: What caused it? What are the potential solutions?
🎬 Reframe the setback as a temporary challenge rather than a permanent failure.
👉 Celebrate achievements
When you complete a subgoal or task, celebrate your achievement. Celebrating achievements provides motivation, reinforces positive behaviour and helps maintain enthusiasm throughout your journey.
Treat yourself to a small reward that you really enjoy, such as eating a piece of dark chocolate. Make sure the reward matches your life purpose and personal values. Or celebrate the achievement in a way that makes you feel good, for example by saying something to yourself, smiling or making a certain gesture. For example, say to yourself ‘Good job!’ and give yourself a thumbs up while looking in the mirror.
👉 Seek support
Collaboration is a fundamental aspect of life design. Whenever possible, ask for help from others to implement your ideas. You don't have to do it all alone. Consider who in your network, both personally and professionally, is best positioned to help you. These can be friends, family members, colleagues, mentors or experts. Help them understand why your goal is important to you and potentially to them as well. Clearly communicate what kind of support you require. Do you need advice, feedback, time, or something else? Be specific about what you're asking for. Be willing to offer something in return for their support, for instance your time, skills, or support in achieving their goals. Always express your appreciation and gratitude for any support you receive. A simple thank you goes a long way.
👉 Reduce the impact of unhelpful thoughts and feelings
Pursuing worthwhile goals can trigger unhelpful thoughts, such as 'I am not smart enough' or 'This is too hard for me.' Reduce their impact by using techniques such as placing the phrase ‘I am having the thought that…’ in front of the thought, thanking your mind ,or silently saying the thought to yourself in a funny cartoon voice.
It can also bring up unhelpful feelings such as insecurity, frustration or stress. Reduce their impact by letting go of judging your feelings as good or bad. Accept them fully and make space for them. Always act according to your personal values and not according to how you feel.
For further details and more techniques see the links in the References section.
👉 Monitor progress
Monitoring progress is essential to ensure you stay on track and make necessary adjustments along the way. Collect data on your progress regularly and analyse progress against your timeline. Are you on track to achieve your subgoals and ultimately your big goal? If not, adjust your plan as needed.
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Become the kind of person you want to be
What you do (process) changes who you are (identity). Building your tested life path is not just about achieving your design goal. Perhaps more importantly, behaving in accordance with your life purpose and personal values will help you become the kind of person you want to be. Just like you become a life designer by regularly thinking and acting accordingly. A design goal is no longer a goal once you achieve it, but the associated change in your identity can last a long time.
For example, by making sure you get enough exercise week after week, you become the kind of person who gets enough exercise no matter what. Studying mathematics makes you the kind of person with a mathematical mindset. Relocating to another country makes you the kind of person who is adaptable and resourceful. And preparing for and running a marathon will help you become the kind of person who is disciplined and mentally strong.
Design goal achieved: what now?
At some point you will hopefully achieve your design goal and become the kind of person you want to be. This is your new 'normal'.
That doesn't mean you're done now. You're never done. Life design is a process in which you continually design and build your life in a way that aligns with your life purpose, personal values and related goals. Important matters, such as physical and emotional health, work and relationships, require permanent attention. Let’s say you have achieved your design goal of getting fit. Then you need to keep exercising if you value staying fit. And to maintain your valued relationships, you must continue to invest time and energy into them.
By carrying out the life design process, you reinforce the underlying ways of thinking and behaving. This makes you more of a life designer: you do what is important, are curious, collaborate, take action, embrace your failures, and so on. By applying the mindsets of life design, you can design and build a rich, full, and meaningful life. Of course, that doesn't mean that your life runs smoothly and that you always feel good. Setbacks and unpleasant feelings are part of all lives, also of well-designed ones. It's all about how you deal with this.
After you achieve your design goal, formulate a new goal if desired, determine a life path to it, and test and build your new life path. Enjoy the journey.
References
Designing Your Life, by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
How to reduce the impact of unhelpful thoughts, A3 Life Design, by Adrie Kuil, https://www.a3lifedesign.com/blog-english/how-to-reduce-the-impact-of-unhelpful-thoughts
How to reduce the impact of unpleasant feelings, A3 Life Design, by Adrie Kuil, https://www.a3lifedesign.com/blog-english/how-to-reduce-the-impact-of-unpleasant-feelings
My blog posts about Life Design are available at this link:
https://www.a3lifedesign.com/blog-english/category/Life+Design
