Character Design Philosophy

A philosophy for intentionally designing your character and life trajectory by taking a long-term perspective.

The Character Design Philosophy

• You can "literally create whatever type of thing you want to be" when you zoom out long enough
• Combines with Bezos's "80-year regret minimization framework" to guide decision-making
• Focuses on designing your future self intentionally rather than letting life happen to you

Core Principles

• Be "ignorant of the past, realistic about the present, delusional about the future"

  • Disregard past failures and setbacks - your brain naturally helps block out painful experiences
  • Stay grounded and honest about your current situation
  • Maintain ambitious, even unrealistic visions for what you can become

• Use regret minimization as a decision-making tool

  • Consider what you'll regret not trying when you're 80 years old
  • Make choices that minimize potential future regrets
  • Example: "If I'm 80 years old and I didn't at least try to send it in this space, I'll regret it"

• "Life maxing" instead of just focusing on one area

  • Fill your "blank scorecard" with diverse experiences you thoroughly enjoy
  • Avoid falling into only chasing money or single-dimension success
  • Maximize your potential across multiple domains of life

• "Full sending it" in your chosen directions

  • Commit completely to your character design vision
  • Don't hold back or be bashful about marketing yourself or your work
  • If you believe in what you're doing, you "owe it to yourself" to fully pursue it

Implementation Approach

• Identify what character traits and capabilities you want to embody
• Look at examples of people who embody those traits already
• Apply business principles to personal development (treating yourself as a product)
• Take a ground-up perspective rather than following common narratives
• Embrace technology and change as enablers of personal transformation