When I think of the word design I begin to think of my car, lawnmower, phone, computer, keys and so many other incredibly mankind creations. What comes to your mind when I say the word design?
All of us have and are benefiting from the designs and creations of others. Those that saw the future not for what it was but what it could be. Don’t you want to be a pioneer and live out your design?
Here’s one of the most incredible designs: The Human Heart.
Every minute your heart pumps 5 quarts of blood through it. Thats 2,000 gallons a day which could fill a 5 and a half foot pool thats 10 feet wide and long… That’s a lot of blood. Only about 16,660 pounds worth. It’s design is to help you function in your design. No batteries, no voluntary thinking or convincing it to work. It unconsciously works for you.
How about the design below. 90% of Americans consume this everyday. It’s caffeine. Coffee is the second most traded commodity in earth second to oil and for me there’s nothing like waking up to my morning brew.
When you drink coffee it enters the stomach then the bloodstream and on to the brain. Its structure is similar to adenosine the sleepiness chemical accumulated while your awake to help assist you to sleep. Caffeine binds with adenosine receptors in the brain convincing your body your not even tired. If you added a number or letter or branch above the design would be a complete mess. Its function wouldn’t be utilized the same if at all.
One of the things that I have noticed traveling around the world and speaking with people is their ability to dream big. Yet so many take their dreams to the grave. Graveyards have become full of unlived dreams, uncreated ideas, untaken risk and unstated businesses. I have put together my story and focused in on three of the most helpful keys to helping me learn and then live to the fullest, my design.
Design starts with who. Defining who you are. Your identity and your “I am…” statements. It’s why you exist and the essence of your purpose. It’s what you could do everyday and not get paid doing it, and continue doing it. Often people confuse who they are with what they do but strip away your degrees, titles, job, associations and what are you left with?
Developing out this aspect takes time in the process of walking out your design. Take the time and begin to write our you “I am…” and purpose. Be obsessed and obsessive about wrapping your heart and head around the fabric of your DNA. Your individuality that shows that you have a thought, idea, sound and business that no one else has. The world is waiting to benefit from your design.
Strategy is all about your plan. Its the how you do what you do and how you do it better and different than anyone in the world. I’m so glad when Steve Jobs got his dream that he didn’t design it based on the current model. He made black and while color and he took function and made it fun! You don’t have to originate a creation to make it great. Henry Ford didn’t create or build the car he took it and made a luxury item for the rich, a commodity item for the ordinary. That’s an extra-ordinary idea.
The human mind ONLY sees what’s different:
Yet so often we see others intimidated and then imitating the image, idea or thought of another. YOU have something different. Your brain might be the same size or look as others but the experiences and thoughts you have are not equal to a single human being in the planet. Your design is as unique as your fingerprint.
What we do is easy once we know who we are and how we plan to be different. Activity is what and what is opportunity. Often we rush to what because we have needs like paying our bills. We think “what can we do to pay them.” We spend our time, energy, resources and relationships on activities that don’t add value back to our purpose.
If you feel burned out, tired, stressed out and unhappy maybe its becuase your life is dictated by the opportunity rather than the ability to pick and choose to what lines up with your design.
Apple could make any product they choose go from average, to good, to great, to the best. Yet they focus on a small product industry. Don’t let good opportunity distract you from your great design.
All roads lead to your design but if you want to save time start with who, then with how and then the what you choose to give your attention to.
