Designing Destiny One Question at a Time

Unique Perspectives: Designing Destiny One Question at a Time

By Kim Stevens

Several years ago, I was on a long bike ride with my trainer, Olympic Rower Abby Peck. Abby was helping me regain my strength and health while I was recovering from my cancer surgeries and treatments. 

So, we’re on this beautiful stretch of roadway near Jim Thorpe, biking together and chatting, when all of a sudden Abby turns to me and says: “I love the way you make me think!” 

Best compliment of my life! 

The conversation happened after I attended a personal growth weekend, where I was trying to envision what I wanted for my life. In the seminar, I was instructed to answer one simple question: “What did I want people to say about me at my funeral?” 

Abby’s compliment was it! Her comment was already the manifestation of what the vision for my life should be. It works!

And what was that vision? After thinking about the question, I realized I wanted people to talk about my perspectives (in the best way possible). Here’s how I articulate my ultimate life’s vision today: “I want to offer Unique Perspectives to Refresh, Uplift and Empower the Individual Spirit.” 

These words established the bedrock of my very existence and changed the entire direction and trajectory for my life. As soon as I realized this was something I could bring into everything I do, it transformed every interaction I have. 

Here’s how I was instructed to create a vision for my life: 

1. First and foremost was the funeral question or what they called CONTRIBUTION. What did I want people to say about me at my funeral?

2. CAREER, FINANCE AND EDUCATION. What kind of education did I need for my career and what did I ultimately want to do? What would I like to learn how to do? How much money did I want to make? 

3. MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT. What did I want my body to be like? How did I want to feel? What kind of energy did I want to have? What kind of mindset did I want to embrace? 

4. RELATIONSHIPS. What were the most important relationships in my life and what could I do to make those relationships better and more valuable? 

In working through these questions while creating my life’s vision, I wasn’t just determining the direction I wanted to go, I was making sure with every fiber of my being that I got there.