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

Move beyond guesswork by prototyping the life you want

Bill Burnett, Dave Evans

2016

8 Key Insights

About This Book

Designing Your Life reveals an entirely new approach to the perennial questions of “What do I want to be when I grow up?” and “How do I build a life I love?” By applying the same creative, human-centered design process that developed products like the iPhone and services like Starbucks, you’ll learn to reframe outdated beliefs, discover hidden opportunities, and use simple yet powerful prototyping exercises to explore exciting new possibilities. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a mid-career professional, or someone rethinking retirement, this guide will empower you with the mindsets, tools, and curiosity to design a joyful, meaningful, and endlessly adaptable life.

About the Author

Bill Burnett is Executive Director of Stanford’s Design Program and former Apple design engineer who shaped award-winning product innovations. Dave Evans is a Stanford-trained consultant, former Apple product manager, and co-founder of Electronic Arts, with thirty years guiding leaders and startups. Together, they co-teach Stanford’s popular “Designing Your Life” course, making these proven design thinking principles accessible to everyone—from students to seasoned executives.

Biggest Takeaway

Readers will: • Identify and discard limiting beliefs that trap them in unsatisfying jobs or routines • Create a personal compass by articulating their unique Lifeview and Workview for clearer decision-making • Unearth hidden career and life opportunities through targeted “prototype” conversations and real-world experiments • Master ideation tools like mind mapping and ‘Good Time Journals’ to pinpoint flow states, energy drains, and untapped strengths • Build resilience and creativity by embracing failure as data, reframing setbacks, and iterating toward richer, more balanced lives

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