It’s a paradox that the two major schools of thought typically recommended for making big life decisions are polar opposites. The first theory is that it is best to fully commit to something and just figure it out along the way. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the advice to do a paralyzing amount of research until the right decision is absolutely clear. Both approaches carry a tremendous amount of risk. Quite frankly, neither one actually works very well.
Prototyping is a third option that threads the needle between going “all in” and waiting for certainty. It requires figuring out a way to take action that produces data and insight into the decision without making a binding commitment. That approach avoids the risk of making a significant investment down a path that doesn’t pan out. It also avoids the opportunity costs associated with complete inaction.
Yesterday, I shared the story of how I used the prototyping process to create a cargo bay organizer for my SUV. Had I not followed that process, I quite likely would have drilled holes in my car and implemented a permanent inferior solution to what was ultimately built. While it is a great illustration of how the prototyping process works, that situation cannot be categorized as a major life decision.
However, I face a major crossroads in the near future, and I will most certainly take a prototyping approach. Once I retire and a couple of other time constraints resolve themselves, I believe that I want to travel around in an RV playing tennis tournaments. However, I have zero knowledge or experience with that. Consequently, immediately going all in would be extremely risky. I don’t know what class of RV would be best for me and the Trophy Husband. There is also no guarantee that we will both love the reality of RV life.
My prototyping plan is to rent an RV for an extended trial run. Additionally, I plan on doing that more than once to make sure we get a feel for at least two classes of vehicles. I view it as an investment that buys down risk rather than a potential financial inefficiency. Whatever I learn from the experience will be absolutely worth it.
Tomorrow we will close out this topic by examining some ideas on how to use a prototyping approach to improve the intangible qualities of tennis life. It is a versatile technique that is effective in a wide variety of situations.
Throughout 2024, I am publishing a series of essays imaging how to apply the principles in ‘Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life‘ (<- sponsored link), which is a non-tennis book that I have come to believe that everyone should read.
A chronological summary of all posts on this topic is available on the Designing Your Tennis Life summary page.
