Update: This class originally launched in 2015. In May 2016, John updated his class with a brand-new lesson on the importance of listening, inclusion, and building diverse teams. This new lesson is now at the top of the video playlist.

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YOUR PROJECT

Answer the question “What’s my next step?” using words, images, or both.

DESCRIPTION

I started my journey into Silicon Valley with the four words that Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, shared with an incoming class of freshmen at his alma mater, Rhode Island School of Design. Joe said to them all, “Four words: Take the next step.” I spent a few years repeating Joe’s words around campus, until I realized that I hadn’t taken the next step. So I took his advice to heart and took the next step.

Your assignment is to answer the question "What’s my next step?” This is an exercise in inviting yourself to change. It is an exercise in realizing that you can constantly design (redesign) yourself in your journey by focusing your creative energies onto yourself.

You are welcome to express your answer in any medium you wish: in words, in pictures, or in any other medium. Style it as a manifesto, blog post, or photo essay. I strongly encourage everyone to step outside your world to interview your mentors and the leaders who inspire you – and to use their experience to sketch your next step.

DELIVERABLE

You will share your answer to the question “What’s my next step?” in a written statement, illustrated vision map, or other creative medium. A complete project will address:

Questions you want to explore, that make you curious
Relevant facts and historical examples, that gave you strength
Discoveries you hope to find, or have made
Actions that you envision yourself taking as a creative leader

RESOURCES

I have a variety of websites that I update from time to time: creativeleadership.com, designandventure.org, lawsofsimplicity.com, and a new site kpcb.com/design. On these sites I try to figure out “design and venture” as a kind of “design adventure,” and attempt to (org)anize my thoughts. Browse the archive, subscribe to my monthly newsletter at tinyletter.com/designandvc, and check out opportunities for design professionals that I post regularly.

Always remember that you don’t have to interview people from scratch. Get started by finding interviews of people you admire. A great source online is The Great Discontent. And there’s tons of talks at PopTech and TED that you can mine for inspiration and host a “pretend” interview session with any luminary of your choice.

Download the PDF below for links to the people we interviewed, a glossary of terms used in the class, and additional tools.

Abigail Inness

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