In Homer’s epic tale, ‘The Odyssey’, Odysseus sets off on a thrilling journey full of trials, surprises, and unexpected challenges.
After the Trojan War, all Odysseus wants is to return home to his family in Ithaca, but the gods have other plans.
He finds himself wrestling with the one-eyed Cyclops, resisting the enchanting songs of the sirens, escaping the tempting clutches of goddesses, and finally returning home after ten long years.
Odysseus’ journey inspired the concept of the Odyssey Plan, which prompts us to visualise our own life journeys, considering the various potential paths and adventures they could bring.
The idea comes from the book Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, and it encourages us to dream up three totally different, five-year plans for our own lives. Each plan centred around a different vision of what our life could be. It goes as follows:
- Write out, in detail, what your life would look like 5 years from now if you continued down your current path.
- Write out, in detail, what your life would look like 5 years from now if you took a completely different path.
- Write out, in detail, what your life would look like 5 years from now if money and social obligations were irrelevant.
The power of the Odyssey Plan, then, is in the dreaming and the diversity of the options.
In fact, one study published by Oxford University Press found that when people generate a multitude of diverse ideas, they’re more likely to think creatively and less likely to feel stuck or unmotivated.
For example, let’s say Jane is a software engineer. Her first Odyssey Plan might be about becoming a CTO in the tech company she currently works for. In her second plan, she might envision herself quitting tech altogether to become a full-time nature photographer, her lifelong passion. And her third plan could be focused on balancing her career with personal happiness, like working part-time or freelancing while enjoying hobbies and time with her loved ones.
Creating these plans doesn’t mean Jane will follow all of them. The idea is to broaden her horizons, consider different possibilities, and figure out what she really wants from life. The Odyssey Plan is less about strict adherence and more about exploration and understanding ourself better.
It’s about planning our own epic journey, filled with adventure and personal fulfillment.
So, grab a pen, or your laptop, and start dreaming. Who knows where your Odyssey Plan will lead you?
Quote of the Day
Focusing is about saying No. You’ve got to say, no, no, no. The result of that focus is going to be some really great products where the total is much greater than the sum of the parts.
Tool of the Day
🦸 Superhuman
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