Three Lives, One You: A Powerful Exercise for What’s Next
Inspired by “Designing Your Life” by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans.
What if your next career move didn’t have to be the perfect choice?
What if there were actually multiple versions of your future self, all waiting to be explored?
This is one of my favourite exercises to use when people are asking the big questions:
👉 “What should I do next?”
👉 “Should I stay or go?”
👉 “Is it too late to make a change?”
Enter the Odyssey Plan – a deceptively simple, yet surprisingly transformative tool from the book Designing Your Life.
The idea is this:
Sketch out three radically different versions of your life over the next five years.
Yes. Three. Even if one feels like a stretch (especially if one feels like a stretch).
Here’s how it works:
1️⃣ Life One
The path you’re already on. What does the next five years look like if nothing major changes?
2️⃣ Life Two
A life where you’ve taken a bold pivot. Something you’ve secretly considered but never fully explored – maybe a side hustle, a new industry, a long-lost dream.
3️⃣ Life Three
The wildcard. If you had no limitations – no worries about money, image, status, or fear, what would you do? Start a farm? Write a novel? Train as a counsellor? This is your space to be brave and curious.
Why it matters:
When we’re stuck, it’s usually because we think there’s one right answer.
But life, and careers aren’t linear. And there’s no “perfect” plan.
This exercise creates breathing room.
It gives you permission to play, to explore, and to remember that your identity isn’t fixed.
Try this:
Take 20–30 minutes this week and sketch out your three paths. Include:
- What you’d be doing
- Where you’d live
- How your days would feel
- Who you’d be with
Then reflect on:
- What excites me?
- What surprises me?
- What am I grieving (or letting go of) in each version?
- What tiny experiment could I run to explore one of these lives?
What I Hear Again and Again
I’ve used this exercise with clients at career crossroads, entrepreneurs questioning their path, and leaders wondering what comes after burnout.
And here’s what I hear, over and over again:
“I didn’t realise how boxed in I’d become.”
“It’s such a relief to see that I have options.”
“This made me excited again.”
Sometimes, all we need is a wider lens.
If you try it, I’d love to hear what you discover.
And if you’ve done this before, what did your third life look like?
You might be closer to it than you think.
Thinking About What’s Next?
If this exercise sparked something for you, and you’re ready to explore what’s next with more clarity, confidence and creativity, coaching might be a helpful next step.
I work with individuals at pivotal career moments:
→ Navigating change with purpose, whether that’s a career pivot or a return to themselves after losing their spark.
→ Designing more fulfilling work that aligns with their values, needs and vision for life.
→ Stepping into leadership with authenticity – building the confidence, presence and resilience to lead others without compromising who they are.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to be willing to open up and explore.
Drop me a message if you’d like to explore whether coaching could support you or here’s my calendly if you’d like to set up a discovery call.