“Everything Everywhere All at Once” lifts the curtain.
When the movie ends, you wonder – what other lives are in me?
I’m excited to hear your answers! I’ll share mine.
There’s a beauty in what Evelyn does with her realization of the multiverse
In the 2022 movie “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, Michelle Yeoh plays Evelyn. She runs a laundromat, stars in blockbuster movies, masters karate, has a family, and struggles with her taxes. These are all in different universes. (Though it isn’t clear if taxes are a mess in every universe.)
The beauty of her journey is that she is able to tap into elements of each of these visions of her life, to enhance the one she’s grounded in.
It’s beautiful because you can do it too and enhance your own life.
“Designing Your Life” taps into the same thing
In 2019, I bought a copy of “Designing Your Life” (DYL) by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. I happened to walk by a display, and as much as a book can, it jumped out at me and said to take me home.
After some reflections to feel grounded, and some exercises to get my creative brain warmed up, I focused on making three Odyssey Plans. These were three versions of how the next 5 years could play out.
- The Amateur Athlete Goes for Pro: In five years, I’d be on the circuit playing golf and curling, with revenue from sponsorships, lessons, coaching, and tournament prizes. Along the way I’d learn how my body actually works and recovers, and how to engage the media.
- The Construction Nerd Juggles with the Banks: In five years, I’d be the ‘go-to’ for regularly walking construction sites and issuing reports to the funders about progress and risks. Along the way I’d learn how banks impact economic growth, and how to influence stakeholders.
- The Sports Facilities Fan Reaches for the Keys to Milan: In five years, I’d be in Italy ensuring that the facilities for the 2026 Winter Games already had strong legacy plans to be valuable long term assets. Along the way I’d learn how Italians live, and how more opportunities can grow for women in sport.
It was really fun to dream these up! I put them on paper, played with them, and reflected on them.
The point wasn’t to then pick one.
The point wasn’t to rank them or reality test them.
The point was to notice what I really liked about each one.
- Being active and having something to say
- Being trusted and being influential
- Traveling and living in different countries and enhancing opportunities for others
Hmmm.
A few months later, I realized that serving as a leadership coach would bring all of these more deeply into my life.
Consider how life might unfold
Per DYL, it’s not about figuring what you want to be when you grow up. It’s about figuring out what you want to grow into next as your life unfolds.
So peek into a different universe and see yourself in 5 years.
TL:DR
- The concept of a multiverse can help you design your own life
- I can imagine different versions of the next 5 years (and can help you too)
- It’s not about growing up, but about what you want to grow into next
