Interviewing Bill Burnett: Unveiling the Insights Behind “Designing Your Life”

Welcome to this exclusive interview featuring Bill Burnett, a renowned design thinker, educator, and author. With his innovative approach to life and career planning, Bill has made significant contributions to the field of design and personal development. As the executive director of the Stanford Design Program, he has guided countless individuals in discovering their passion and purpose, helping them create fulfilling lives and meaningful careers.

Bill Burnett is widely recognized for co-authoring the New York Times bestseller “Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life.” This groundbreaking book introduces readers to the principles of design thinking, employing its problem-solving techniques to tackle the challenges of shaping one’s own life. As an influential speaker and thought leader, Bill has inspired audiences worldwide to reimagine their existence and embrace the power of intentional design.

In this interview, we delve into the mind of Bill Burnett, exploring his insights on design thinking, personal growth, and finding purpose in an ever-changing world. Join us as we uncover the wisdom and expertise he has gained from years of teaching and mentoring aspiring designers, professionals, and individuals seeking a more rewarding path.

Whether you are grappling with career choices, seeking fulfillment, or simply curious about the intersection of design and personal development, this conversation with Bill Burnett promises to be enlightening and thought-provoking. So, get ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and gain invaluable advice from a true visionary in the realm of design thinking and life transformation.

Who is Bill Burnett?

Bill Burnett is a highly accomplished individual known for his expertise in the fields of design thinking, innovation, and product development. With a diverse background and a passion for helping individuals find their true calling, he has made significant contributions as an educator, author, and entrepreneur. Through his work, Bill has inspired countless people to embrace a design-centric approach to life, enabling them to create meaningful and fulfilling careers.

Bill’s career trajectory showcases his dedication to teaching and empowering others. He served as the Executive Director of the Design Program at Stanford, where he helped shape the minds of aspiring designers by instilling in them a deep understanding of design thinking principles. His unique ability to combine empathy, creativity, and analytical thinking resulted in the development of innovative solutions to complex problems.

Moreover, Bill’s contribution extends beyond the classroom. He co-authored the best-selling book “Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life,” which became a beacon of inspiration for readers worldwide. The book offers practical methodologies and thought-provoking exercises that allow individuals to approach life with curiosity, creativity, and intentionality.

Bill Burnett’s thought leadership in design thinking and career development has had a profound impact on individuals from diverse backgrounds. Through his teachings, writings, and public speaking engagements, he has inspired countless people to approach life with a designer’s mindset, helping them unlock their full potential and create meaningful lives and careers.

With his extensive knowledge, practical experience, and undeniable passion for design, Bill Burnett continues to be a beacon of inspiration and a driving force in the world of design thinking, empowering individuals to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives.

Here you can watch a video of Bill Burnett’s talk about 5 steps to designing the life you want.

20 Thought-Provoking Questions with Bill Burnett

1.Can you share ten Designing Your Life quotes which can represent this book’s theme?

1.Living coherently doesn’t mean everything is in perfect order all the time. It means you are living in alignment with your values and have not sacrificed your integrity along the way.

2. It doesn’t matter where you come from, where you think you are going, what job or career you have had or think you should have. You are not too late, and you’re not too early.

3. You can’t know where you’re going until you know where you are.

4. That’s why you start where you are. Not where you wish you were. Not where you hope you are. Not where you think you should be. But right where you are.

5. A coherent life is one lived in such a way that you can clearly connect the dots between three things: who you are, what you believe, what you are doing.

6. It’s worth emphasizing that failures and hardships are a part of every life, even the well-designed ones.

7. You can imagine a career and a life that don’t exist; you can build that future you, and as a result your life will change.

8. In fact, in the United States, only 27 percent of college grads end up in a career related to their majors.

9. It’s unlikely that health, work, play, and love will divide neatly into four equal parts. But when life is really out of balance, there can be a problem.

10. Work is often the largest single component of most people’s waking lives, and over a lifetime it occupies more of our attention and energy than anything else we do.

2. Can you briefly explain the concept behind “Designing Your Life” and what inspired you to write this book?

“Designing Your Life” is a book that aims to provide individuals with a practical framework for designing and living a fulfilling life. The concept behind it is rooted in the principles of design thinking, a problem-solving approach used in various fields. Design thinking encourages us to apply the same creative and iterative processes that designers use to tackle complex challenges in our own lives.

What inspired me to write this book was my experience as an educator at Stanford University. Over the years, I witnessed countless students feeling lost and uncertain about their career paths and overall life direction. I realized there was a need for a resource that could guide individuals through a structured process of self-reflection and experimentation. By combining design thinking principles with personal development, I wanted to empower people to create meaningful lives that align with their values, passions, and aspirations.

In writing “Designing Your Life,” my goal was to provide readers with practical tools, exercises, and insights to help them navigate the complexities of life and make intentional choices. I believe that everyone has the potential to lead a purposeful and fulfilling life, and I hope that this book serves as a catalyst for personal growth and transformation.

3. What are some common challenges people face when trying to design their lives, and how does your book address these challenges?

One common challenge is feeling stuck in a particular career or life path. Many individuals struggle with finding fulfillment and meaning in their work. Our book provides practical tools and exercises to explore multiple possibilities, generate ideas, and test potential paths through prototyping. By applying design thinking principles, readers can gain clarity about what they truly want and take steps towards a more fulfilling future.

Another challenge people often encounter is fear of failure or making the wrong choices. Designing one’s life involves taking risks and embracing uncertainty. We guide readers in reframing failure as feedback and encourage them to embrace a growth mindset. Through various exercises, such as “Odyssey Plans” that explore alternative futures, we help individuals overcome the fear of making mistakes and empower them to make informed decisions.

Furthermore, many individuals struggle with work-life balance and integrating different aspects of their lives. Our book helps readers examine their values, identify their priorities, and create strategies to align their work, relationships, and personal development. By emphasizing the importance of experimentation and iteration, we enable people to continuously refine their life design and find harmony in different areas.

4. Can you share examples of specific exercises or strategies from your book that readers can use to start designing their lives?

Building a “Good Time Journal”: This exercise involves keeping track of your daily activities and rating them on a scale of energy and engagement. By analyzing these ratings, you can identify which activities bring you joy and fulfillment, and which ones drain your energy.

Creating a “Life Dashboard”: This strategy encourages you to evaluate different areas of your life, such as work, relationships, health, and personal growth. By visualizing these aspects on a dashboard, you can assess your satisfaction levels and identify areas that may need improvement.

Prototyping: Applying the concept of design thinking to life, this exercise suggests creating small experiments or prototypes to test possible paths or ideas. For example, if you’re considering a career change, you could set up an informational interview or shadow someone in that field to gain insights and determine if it aligns with your interests.

The “Odyssey Plans”: This strategy involves envisioning multiple potential life paths and exploring them in detail. By creating three different scenarios for your future, you can consider various possibilities and determine which paths might be most fulfilling.

5. In “Designing Your Life,” you emphasize the importance of prototyping ideas for one’s life. Can you explain how this works and provide some practical steps?

Prototyping ideas for one’s life is a fundamental concept in “Designing Your Life.” It involves experimenting with different possibilities to gain insights, test assumptions, and make informed decisions about our future paths. Here are some practical steps to guide you through the process:

Identify your assumptions: Start by recognizing the underlying beliefs and assumptions you hold about your life choices. These assumptions might be limiting your options or leading you down an unfulfilling path.

Generate multiple options: Instead of fixating on a single solution, generate a wide range of potential life paths. Explore various careers, passion projects, hobbies, or lifestyle choices that interest you. The goal is to broaden your perspective and encourage creative thinking.

Create mini-prototypes: Once you have multiple options, create mini-prototypes for each one. This could involve conducting informational interviews, shadowing professionals, volunteering, taking classes, or engaging in temporary work experiences related to your chosen path. These prototypes help you gather first-hand information and gain real-world feedback.

6. Many people struggle with finding their purpose or passion in life. How does your book guide readers in discovering what truly matters to them?

Finding purpose and passion in life is no easy task. But fear not, for “Designing Your Life” is here to guide you on your journey of self-discovery. This book is a roadmap, a compass, if you will, helping you navigate the often confusing landscape of personal fulfillment.

You see, our approach is rooted in design thinking, a methodology that we believe can be applied not only to products and services but also to one’s own life. We encourage readers to adopt a mindset of curiosity and experimentation, treating their lives as prototypes to be constantly refined and improved.

Through various exercises, tools, and anecdotes, we uncover what truly matters to each individual reader. We challenge traditional notions of success and help them define their own unique values, interests, and aspirations. From there, we explore different possible paths, testing and iterating until we find the right fit.

But it doesn’t stop at discovery; action is key. We emphasize the importance of taking small steps towards designing a life that aligns with what truly matters. It’s about embracing a bias towards action, learning from failures, and adjusting along the way.

7. How can readers overcome the fear of failure or uncertainty when exploring different life design options?

Overcoming the fear of failure or uncertainty when exploring different life design options is indeed a common challenge. Here are a few strategies that can help readers navigate this situation:

Reframe failure: Instead of viewing failure as a negative outcome, see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Failure is often necessary for progress and can provide valuable insights for future endeavors.

Embrace uncertainty: Recognize that life is inherently uncertain and that taking risks is a part of the journey. Embracing uncertainty allows you to step out of your comfort zone and discover new possibilities.

Break it down: Rather than approaching a new life design option as one big leap, break it down into smaller, manageable steps. This approach helps reduce overwhelm and makes the process feel more achievable.

Experiment and iterate: Treat life design as an ongoing process of experimentation and iteration. Adopting a flexible mindset allows you to try different options, learn from each experience, and refine your path along the way.

8. “Designing Your Life” emphasizes the value of reframing problems and approaching them with a growth mindset. Could you discuss the role of mindset in life design?

Mindset plays a crucial role in life design, and “Designing Your Life” emphasizes this through the concept of reframing problems and approaching them with a growth mindset. Mindset refers to the beliefs, attitudes, and perspectives that shape how we perceive and respond to the world around us.

When it comes to life design, having a growth mindset is essential. A growth mindset is characterized by the belief that our abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and effort. This mindset enables us to see challenges as opportunities for growth and learning rather than as obstacles or failures.

By applying a growth mindset to life design, we become more open to exploring different possibilities and taking risks. We view setbacks as learning experiences and use them as fuel for improvement. Instead of being discouraged by failure, we see it as a natural part of the process and an opportunity to refine our strategies.

Reframing problems is another key aspect of designing our lives. It involves shifting our perspective and looking at challenges from different angles. By reframing problems, we can discover new solutions and unlock innovative approaches. This mindset shift helps us break free from limiting beliefs and discover new paths towards achieving our goals.

9. Throughout the book, you mention the importance of building a diverse life portfolio. Can you explain what this means and why it is important?

In Designing Your Life, we emphasize the importance of building a diverse life portfolio. This concept refers to intentionally cultivating a range of activities, experiences, and relationships in our lives. It entails expanding our horizons beyond just one area or aspect of life, such as work or a singular passion.

Building a diverse life portfolio is crucial because it allows us to lead a more fulfilling and balanced life. By engaging in various activities and pursuing different interests, we widen our perspectives, gain new skills, and foster personal growth. It helps us avoid becoming overly reliant on a single aspect of life for happiness and fulfillment, mitigating the risk of burnout or dissatisfaction.

Furthermore, having a diverse life portfolio enhances our ability to adapt and navigate through change. In today’s fast-paced world, where career paths are often non-linear and unpredictable, it’s beneficial to have a range of experiences and skills to draw upon. A diverse life portfolio provides us with resilience and flexibility, enabling us to pivot and explore new opportunities when necessary.

Additionally, building a diverse life portfolio allows for richer connections and relationships. By nurturing a variety of social circles and engaging in diverse activities, we broaden our network and increase the likelihood of serendipitous encounters. These connections can offer support, inspiration, and even potential collaborations, enhancing our overall well-being and professional opportunities.

10. How can readers balance their personal and professional goals while designing their lives? Do you have any advice on achieving harmony between the two?

Finding balance between personal and professional goals is essential for designing a fulfilling life. Here are a few pieces of advice to help achieve harmony between the two:

Define your priorities: Start by clarifying what matters most to you in both your personal and professional life. Identify your core values and the goals that align with them. Understanding your priorities will help guide your decision-making process.

Set realistic expectations: Recognize that achieving perfect balance may not always be possible. Instead, aim for a sustainable blend of personal and professional commitments that works for you. Be flexible and willing to adjust as needed.

Establish boundaries: Clearly delineate boundaries between your personal and professional life. Create space for activities that rejuvenate you and maintain a healthy work-life integration. Prioritize self-care, hobbies, and time spent with loved ones to nurture your personal well-being.

11. When faced with limited resources or constraints, how can individuals still effectively design their lives? Are there specific strategies you recommend?

When faced with limited resources or constraints, it is still possible for individuals to effectively design their lives by adopting specific strategies. Here are a few recommendations:

Embrace a growth mindset: Recognize that constraints and limitations can be catalysts for creative problem-solving. Embracing a growth mindset means viewing challenges as opportunities for personal growth and using limited resources as a chance to develop innovative solutions.

Clarify your priorities: Understand what truly matters to you and identify your core values. By prioritizing these aspects of your life, you can focus your limited resources on areas that align with your goals and make the most impact.

Practice design thinking: Apply design thinking principles to your life by reframing problems, exploring multiple perspectives, and generating alternative solutions. This methodology encourages experimentation, iteration, and learning from failures, enabling you to find innovative ways to navigate constraints.

12. Can you share some success stories of people who have applied the principles from your book to transform their lives?

Sara’s Career Pivot: Sara was feeling stuck and unfulfilled in her corporate job. She used the principles of “prototyping” and “getting curious” from the book to explore different career paths. Through informational interviews, shadowing professionals, and taking on side projects, Sara discovered her passion for teaching. Eventually, she pursued a teaching certification and successfully transitioned into a new career that brought her fulfillment and joy.

John’s Work-Life Integration: John struggled with maintaining a healthy work-life balance and felt overwhelmed by his demanding job. By applying the concept of “workview,” which encourages examining one’s beliefs about work, he realized that he had been equating success solely with long hours and stress. With this newfound awareness, John re-evaluated his priorities and started incorporating activities that brought him joy and relaxation. This shift not only improved his well-being but also increased his productivity at work.

Karen’s Retirement Reinvention: Karen found herself uncertain and anxious about retirement. Following the book’s principles of “mind mapping” and “wayfinding,” she explored various possibilities for her post-retirement life. Karen engaged in hobbies, volunteered, and took classes to explore new interests. Eventually, she found a passion for photography and combined it with her love for travel. Karen now leads photography tours around the world, discovering a fulfilling second career that allows her to pursue her passions and share them with others.

13. How does “Designing Your Life” account for unexpected life events or setbacks? How can readers adapt their plans accordingly?

To account for these unexpected events, “Designing Your Life” encourages readers to adopt a mindset of adaptability and resilience. Here are a few key principles and strategies from the book that can help readers navigate setbacks and adapt their plans accordingly:

Embrace a growth mindset: Recognize that setbacks and unexpected events are part of life’s journey. View them as opportunities for learning and growth rather than insurmountable obstacles. This mindset shift allows you to approach challenges with a positive and proactive attitude.

Build your design thinking skills: Design thinking is a problem-solving approach that is central to the book’s philosophy. By applying the principles of design thinking, readers can tackle unexpected life events by reframing them as design challenges. This involves empathizing with others, defining the problem, brainstorming possible solutions, prototyping, and testing different approaches.

Iterate and adjust your plans: When facing setbacks, it’s important to be flexible and willing to adjust your plans accordingly. Regularly evaluate your goals, priorities, and circumstances in light of the new information or circumstances presented by the setback. Iterate on your design, make necessary adjustments, and pivot if required.

14. What role does reflection play in the life design process, and how do you encourage readers to incorporate regular reflection into their lives?

Reflection plays a vital role in the life design process. It allows individuals to gain self-awareness, assess their values and goals, and make informed decisions about their lives. Through reflection, people can understand their passions, strengths, and areas for growth, which are essential for designing a fulfilling life.

To encourage readers to incorporate regular reflection into their lives, I would suggest several strategies:

Create dedicated time and space: Set aside specific moments for reflection regularly. Designate a quiet and comfortable place where you can focus on your thoughts without distractions.

Journaling: Encourage readers to keep a reflective journal. Writing down their experiences, thoughts, and emotions can help them gain insights, identify patterns, and track their progress over time.

Ask reflective questions: Provide readers with thought-provoking questions that help them delve deeper into their experiences and aspirations. Examples include: “What brings me joy?”; “What values are most important to me?”; “How do my current actions align with my long-term goals?”

15. Your book emphasizes the importance of taking action and iterating on life design ideas. Could you elaborate on this iterative process and its benefits?

The iterative process described in “Designing Your Life” is centered around taking action and making small changes to your life design ideas over time. It involves continuously testing and refining different options to discover what works best for you. Here are a few key aspects of this process and its benefits:

Prototyping: The book encourages treating your life as a design project by creating prototypes of different possibilities. These prototypes can take various forms, such as trying out new activities, exploring potential careers, or experimenting with lifestyle changes. By prototyping, you gain firsthand experience and gather valuable insights that help inform your decision-making.

Reframing challenges: Through iteration, you learn to reframe challenges as opportunities for growth and exploration. Rather than getting stuck in analysis paralysis or feeling overwhelmed by a problem, the iterative approach encourages you to take small steps towards solutions and adapt based on feedback.

Gathering feedback: Iteration is about learning from your experiences and incorporating feedback to improve your ideas. Seeking feedback from trusted friends, mentors, or coaches can provide valuable insights and alternative perspectives you might not have considered before. This feedback helps refine your prototypes and ultimately leads to more informed decisions.

16. How can individuals navigate societal or cultural expectations while designing a life that truly aligns with their values and aspirations?

Self-reflection: Start by gaining clarity about your own values, strengths, passions, and goals. Reflect upon what truly matters to you and the kind of life you want to lead. This self-awareness will serve as a strong foundation for making decisions and setting priorities.

Challenge assumptions: Society and culture often impose certain expectations or norms on individuals. Take the time to critically evaluate these assumptions and question whether they align with your personal values and aspirations. Recognize that it’s okay to deviate from societal expectations if it means living a more fulfilling life.

Define success on your terms: Society often defines success in narrow terms, such as money, status, or power. However, success is highly subjective and can mean different things to different people. Determine your own definition of success based on your values, interests, and desired impact on the world.

17. “Designing Your Life” suggests that people should focus on creating a well-lived, joyful life rather than seeking a single ultimate purpose. Can you explain this philosophy further?

The book suggests that the traditional notion of finding one’s ultimate purpose can be restrictive and overwhelming. Many people struggle to identify a singular passion or purpose, leading to feelings of discontentment or being stuck. Instead, the authors propose adopting a design thinking approach to life.

Design thinking is a problem-solving methodology often used in the field of design. It involves building prototypes, testing ideas, and iterating based on feedback. By applying this concept to our lives, we can view it as an ongoing design project where we constantly experiment, iterate, and adapt.

Rather than trying to discover a single purpose, the focus shifts to designing a life that aligns with our values, interests, and strengths. The emphasis is on actively creating a life that brings fulfillment, joy, and meaning. Designing Your Life encourages individuals to explore different possibilities, embrace curiosity, and engage in a process of continuous experimentation.

Through various exercises, the book guides readers to reflect on their own experiences, clarify their values and beliefs, identify areas of interest, and prototype different potential life paths. This approach helps to uncover what truly resonates with us, allowing us to make intentional choices that lead to a more fulfilling life.

18. What are some common misconceptions about designing one’s life that your book aims to dispel?

Misconception: There is one perfect life design for everyone.

The reality is that there isn’t a single blueprint or “right” way to design your life. We debunk this misconception by emphasizing that life design is a personal and iterative process. It involves exploring different possibilities, experimenting, and making adjustments along the way.

Misconception: Passion should be the sole guiding force in life design.

While passion is important, relying solely on it can lead to unrealistic expectations. Our book encourages readers to adopt a growth mindset and explore multiple interests. Instead of seeking just one passion, we suggest looking for multiple “good fits” to create a fulfilling and well-rounded life.

Misconception: Life design is only for young people.

Contrary to this belief, life design is relevant at any age and stage. Whether you’re a recent graduate, mid-career professional, or nearing retirement, our methodology can help you make intentional choices and find satisfaction in various aspects of your life.

19. How do you envision readers using “Designing Your Life” as a lifelong resource rather than a one-time read?

First off, let me say that “Designing Your Life” is not just a one-time read; it’s a guidebook meant to be revisited throughout different stages of life. My hope is that readers will see it as a trusted companion, always ready to provide guidance and inspire new insights.

To envision readers using my book as a lifelong resource, imagine this: after reading it initially, individuals embark on a journey of self-discovery and intentional design. They apply the concepts and tools provided to shape their lives according to their values, passions, and aspirations.

Over time, as circumstances evolve and goals change, readers can return to “Designing Your Life” for fresh perspectives and strategies. It becomes a source of inspiration during times of transition or when facing new challenges. Whether they’re reevaluating their career choices, seeking better work-life balance, or exploring new interests, the book offers practical tools to support them along the way.

Moreover, “Designing Your Life” encourages readers to build a network of like-minded individuals who are also incorporating these principles into their lives. This community becomes an ongoing source of encouragement, feedback, and shared experiences, enabling readers to continually learn and grow together.

20. Finally, can you recommend more books like Designing Your Life?

The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries: This book explores a methodology for building and launching successful products or businesses through continuous innovation and validated learning.

Atomic Habits” by James Clear: It delves into the power of small habits and provides practical strategies to create positive changes in various aspects of life.

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” by Greg McKeown: This book encourages focusing on what truly matters and eliminating non-essential distractions, helping readers lead more fulfilling and purposeful lives.