3.2 Make prototypes of your future career scenarios

The article below builds upon insights taken from Burnett, Bill, & Evans, Dave (2016). Designing your life: How to build a well-lived, joyful life. Knopf. Image by Senne Hoekman.

Build a prototype for missing information

Review your three future scenarios. Examine the questions that pop up for each. For example, information that is missing for optimal decision making, or obstacles that you need to overcome to realize that particular scenario (e.g. relocation or learning new skills).

Prototype conversations

Next, make a list of prototype ‘conversations’ that might help you answer these questions. For example, what network events could you visit or whom could you interview to gather more information?

Prototype experiences

In addition, make a list of prototype experiences that might help you answer these questions. For example, identify internship opportunities. Alternatively, you could simply make a PowerPoint presentation about your solution for a problem one of your favorite companies is facing. When working on the presentation you are forced to make your ideas more concrete and you start to better understand the company, the industry and the tasks you will engage in (e.g. designing a social media strategy to counter bad publicity)

Gain more insight into each scenario

By going through these exercises, however small or theoretical they might appear to you, you will find out clues about whether you want to continue to pursue a particular scenario or not.

If you are stuck, consider an informal brainstorm session with a friend or colleague to make sense of your own thoughts and gain deeper insights in the different scenarios.

Go to article 3.3 ‘Keep a journal to reflect on your life‘.

Related books

RELATED POSTS

3.1 There is no standard career path

You can make career decisions for two different types of reasons: instrumental reasons or fundamental reasons.

3.3 Keep a journal to reflect on your life

Keeping a journal is a great way to help you order all kinds of ideas that float in your head during the day. Flashes of insights can be jotted down.

3.4 Connecting the dots in the past

This is a transcript of the first story in Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address on YouTube. Scroll down to watch the full video segment.