199. The Stanford Plan That Will Help You Design Your Next 5 Years
Mon Dec 15 2025
Welcome to episode 199 and a big announcement! After nearly four years of never missing a Monday since launching in April 2022, we're taking a brief hiatus. But before we go, we're pulling back the curtain on everything: why we failed our big 2025 goal to double our podcast downloads, what we're learning about the difference between goal setting and feeling setting, and how the Odyssey Plan from Stanford's Design Lab is reshaping the next chapter of She Sells He Sells (and our lives).
If you've ever wondered whether it's time to stay the course, take a calculated risk, or blow it all up and start fresh—this episode is your roadmap. Plus, Brian announces a major career change after 20 years in health tech, and we get real about midlife pivots, entrepreneurship journey, and what it means to experience failure without being a failure.
Listen in to hear:
Why Brian's back after his "forced vacation" from the Acorn HR team
The profound message guiding our 2026 pivot: "All of us contain more liveliness than one lifetime permits"
Why we failed our goal to double podcast downloads in 2025 and what we learned
The Michael Phelps principle: Why people who achieve great things aren't necessarily better than you
Our big announcement: Taking our first Monday break since launching and what's changing
The Odyssey Plan from Stanford Design Lab explained: 3 scenarios for designing your next 5 years
Scenario 1 (Status Quo), Scenario 2 (Calculated Risk), and Scenario 3 (Magic Wand)—and how to know which is right for you
Brian's major career announcement leaving health tech after 20 years
Why this is called "Odyssey Planning" not "Finish Line Planning"
The danger of hyper-focused goal setting and why it makes you miss incredible opportunities
Dave Evans' simple formula: Get curious. Talk to people. Try stuff. Tell your story.
PRO TIP after listening:
Try the Odyssey Plan exercise this week. Map out your three scenarios for the next 5 years, rate them on excitement level (feelings, not logistics!), and identify one small step toward the scenario that feels most alive.
We're coming back in Q1 2026 with Episode 200, a fresh format, and bigger ideas. Want to help shape what's next? DM us @shesellshesellspodcast and tell us what you want more (or less) of!
Take the "What's Your Sales Style Quiz?":
https://www.kristademcher.com/sales-style-quiz
Follow us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQNMxt1N_x6vO_dnizVu2g
Follow SHE SELLS HE SELLS on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/shesellshesellspodcast
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Welcome to episode 199 and a big announcement! After nearly four years of never missing a Monday since launching in April 2022, we're taking a brief hiatus. But before we go, we're pulling back the curtain on everything: why we failed our big 2025 goal to double our podcast downloads, what we're learning about the difference between goal setting and feeling setting, and how the Odyssey Plan from Stanford's Design Lab is reshaping the next chapter of She Sells He Sells (and our lives). If you've ever wondered whether it's time to stay the course, take a calculated risk, or blow it all up and start fresh—this episode is your roadmap. Plus, Brian announces a major career change after 20 years in health tech, and we get real about midlife pivots, entrepreneurship journey, and what it means to experience failure without being a failure. Listen in to hear: Why Brian's back after his "forced vacation" from the Acorn HR team The profound message guiding our 2026 pivot: "All of us contain more liveliness than one lifetime permits" Why we failed our goal to double podcast downloads in 2025 and what we learned The Michael Phelps principle: Why people who achieve great things aren't necessarily better than you Our big announcement: Taking our first Monday break since launching and what's changing The Odyssey Plan from Stanford Design Lab explained: 3 scenarios for designing your next 5 years Scenario 1 (Status Quo), Scenario 2 (Calculated Risk), and Scenario 3 (Magic Wand)—and how to know which is right for you Brian's major career announcement leaving health tech after 20 years Why this is called "Odyssey Planning" not "Finish Line Planning" The danger of hyper-focused goal setting and why it makes you miss incredible opportunities Dave Evans' simple formula: Get curious. Talk to people. Try stuff. Tell your story. PRO TIP after listening: Try the Odyssey Plan exercise this week. Map out your three scenarios for the next 5 years, rate them on excitement level (feelings, not logistics!), and identify one small step toward the scenario that feels most alive. We're coming back in Q1 2026 with Episode 200, a fresh format, and bigger ideas. Want to help shape what's next? DM us @shesellshesellspodcast and tell us what you want more (or less) of! Take the "What's Your Sales Style Quiz?": https://www.kristademcher.com/sales-style-quiz Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQNMxt1N_x6vO_dnizVu2g Follow SHE SELLS HE SELLS on IG: https://www.instagram.com/shesellshesellspodcast