Redesigning the Stories That Hold You Back

George Lucas famously noted that most of us live in cages with the door wide open. We have the freedom to move, yet we stay put, paralyzed by an internal monologue we didn't even realize we were writing. What if we could rewrite the script?

I had the opportunity to give an interactive talk in San Francisco thanks to Big Brain SF and Downtown First Thursdays where we dove into the architecture of possibility. Clearly the topic resonated— there was a line around the block!

*View down Geary Street on Thursday March 5th, 2026.*

Every day, we make choices that shape our relationships, our communities, and our careers. We are all designers! But the most important thing we ever design—often without realizing it—is the story we tell ourselves about what is possible.

Whether you're seeking a different future for yourself, your organization or your family, if you’re interested in crafting a life where more is possible, here is my challenge to you:

Ask bigger, bolder questions
Fall in love with not knowing
Be willing to try & fail (a.k.a. prototype)
Be collaborators to each other in realizing your dreams

Look for a repeat of the talk soon— evidently over 600 people RSVPd and the venue could only accommodate one hundred. (So sorry!) I hope to see you at the next one.

Or if you’re interested in booking me for a talk or workshop, drop me a line.

Together we’ll:

Audit Your Monologue: Identify the subtle "shutdown" phrases that kill exploration before it starts.
Prototype Your Dialogue: Move beyond theory with interactive "micro-sprints" to practice collaborative visioning in real-time.
Build a Curiosity Toolkit: Walk away with tangible prompts used by world-class design teams to foster innovation in any environment.

Meanwhile, I’ll be rooting for you whenever you dream bigger, imagine more, and encourage each other along the way!

Redesigning the Stories That Hold You Back

Onward!