“Awakening Meaningful Change in Yourself and in Others!”
Are you ready to discover your unique potential and live a life of purpose and meaning – and help others do the same? The Life Design Catalyst Program is designed for individuals who believe that everyone has a vital role to play in the world.
Join us on a journey of self-discovery. Through insightful tools and resources, you’ll explore your “why” – the driving force behind your existence. By answering the questions “Who am I here to be?,” “What am I here to do?,” and “Why am I here?,” you’ll gain a profound understanding of your purpose and significance.
Purpose is about aligning your actions with a greater cause or goal, often involving personal growth and service to others. Meaning is about understanding your unique role in the world and the impact you can make.
We believe that personal transformation is the key to making a positive difference. By investing in yourself, you’ll be empowered to live a more fulfilling and meaningful life. And inspired to use this newfound knowledge to help others do the same.
“If you want to make a difference in the lives of others, you must first make a difference inside yourself.” – Melinda Cates
Three Pillars and Big Questions
Three Pillars
The journey of personal and professional fulfillment is often guided by three fundamental pillars:
- Know Yourself
- Serve Profoundly
- Find Your Right Pond
Deep self-awareness, cultivated through introspection and honest self-reflection, is crucial for navigating life’s complexities (“Know Yourself”). This self-knowledge empowers individuals to identify their passions, values, and strengths, leading them to pursue meaningful contributions that align with their purpose (“Serve Profoundly”). Finally, finding an environment that nurtures their growth and provides a supportive community is paramount (“Find Your Right Pond”). By embracing these interconnected pillars, individuals can cultivate a life of purpose, impact, and lasting fulfillment.
These three pillars, when integrated into one’s life, can provide a framework for personal and professional growth, leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful existence.
The Big Questions
The Big Questions invite us to delve deep into the core of our existence. They challenge us to move beyond superficial goals and explore the deeper meaning and purpose that drives our lives. The Big Questions are:
- Who must I FEARLESSLY become?
- How must I PROFOUNDLY serve?
- What is my UNIQUE role in the world?
- How does my life TRULY matter?
By confronting these profound questions, we embark on a journey of self-discovery that can lead to a life of greater meaning, purpose, and fulfillment.
SPARCK Framework
The SPARCK Framework is a comprehensive guide to personal and professional growth, encompassing Story, Perspective, Aspirations, Reflection, Connection, and Kick-Start. This holistic approach empowers individuals to achieve their goals by encouraging them to reflect on their past, envision their future, define their aspirations, regularly evaluate their progress, build supportive relationships, and take decisive action. SPARCK addresses these questions:
- S (Story) – What got me here?
- P (Perspective) – Who will I become?
- A (Aspirations) – What do I want?
- R (Reflection) – How am I doing?
- C (Connection) – Who will join me?
- K (Kick-Start) – When will I start? (Hint: Today!)
The SPARCK Framework encompasses six key elements: Story (reflecting on past experiences and how they have shaped the present), Perspective (envisioning the desired future self), Aspirations (defining specific, achievable goals), Reflection (continuously evaluating progress and making adjustments), Connection (building supportive relationships and collaborating with others), and Kick-Start (taking immediate action today). By integrating these elements, the SPARCK Framework empowers individuals to translate their dreams into reality, fostering a sense of purpose and driving meaningful change in their lives.
Presentations/Workshop/Retreats
Discover the most sought-after offerings from the Life Design Catalyst Program. Explore a diverse range of presentations, workshops, and retreats designed to ignite your personal growth and unlock your unique potential. From inspiring talks to immersive experiences, our programs cater to individuals seeking purpose, meaning, and a deeper connection to themselves and the world.
Example Presentations/Workshops/Retreats
- Introduction to the Life Design Catalyst Program (30-60-minute Presentations/Keynotes/Sessions)
- Know Your Why (typically 1-2 Hour Session)
- Aspirational Goals and Dreams (typically 1-2 Hour Session)
- Purpose Quest (typically 1-2 Hour Session, which could extend to Week-Long/Multiple-Week Program)
- Character Resume (typically 1-2 Hour Session, which could extend to Week-Long/Multiple-Week Program)
- My Life, My Story Project (Half-Day Workshop to One-Day Workshop)
- You, The Superhero Project (Half-Day Workshop to One-Day Workshop)
- Design a Great Life on Purpose – Personal Development (Half-Day to One-Day Workshop)
- Design Great Work on Purpose – Professional Development (Half-Day to One-Day Workshop)
- SPARCK Bootcamp (One-Day Workshop)
- The Business of Being a Catalyst (Two-Day or Three-Day Retreat)
- Life Design Catalyst Deep Dive (Two-Day, Three-Day, or Four-Day Retreat)
Communities on Purpose
“Communities on Purpose” are transformative workshops designed to help individuals within specific groups, such as parents, students, and educators, discover and live with greater purpose and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Some of the themes include:
- Students on Purpose (for juniors/seniors in high school and first-year college students
- Parents on Purpose (as well as Moms on Purpose and Dads on Purpose)
- Seniors on Purpose (for those over 50+ years old, as well as Retirees on Purpose)
- (Academic) Advisors on Purpose
- Coaches on Purpose (includes Sports Coaches and Life Coaches)
- Athletes on Purpose
- Leaders on Purpose
- Counselors on Purpose (as well as Therapists on Purpose)
- Educators on Purpose (with an emphasis on teachers/staff in K-12 and faculty/staff in higher education)
- Entrepreneurs on Purpose
- (Church) Congregations on Purpose (as well as Pastors on Purpose)
Communities on Purpose workshops empower individuals to find meaning and fulfillment by connecting their personal growth to the collective good, fostering stronger communities and a more meaningful life for all.
Participants in LDC events embark on a journey of self-discovery, aimed at recognizing and enhancing their strengths, skills, abilities, characteristics, thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and beliefs, where they create declarations and goals to help them define who they want to be, what they want to do, where they want to go, and how they want to live.
Activities/Projects/Catalyst Business
Here’s a list of some of the Life Design Catalyst Activities and Projects that can be used to help find meaning, purpose, direction, connection, and vision in yourself, your staff, and those you serve. Note: There is a separate site (Catalyst Resources – it’s password protected) to access Life Design Catalyst materials, which includes handouts, slides, and videos.
Activities (based on SPARCK Framework)
- Story
- I Am Story Statement
- I Am Poem
- Letter/Poem to My Younger Self
- Life’s Disruptors Worksheet
- Story of My Courageous Self
- The Baggage We Carry
- Perspective – Know Yourself
- Engagement Assessments
- Motivators/Human Needs Assessments
- Personality Type Assessments
- Strengths Assessments
- Value Tags
- Values Assessments
- Perspective – Serve Profoundly
- Catalyst Mission Statement
- Catalyst Service Statement
- Service Through Emotional Challenges
- Engaging Activities
- Lollipop Moments
- Personal Kryptonite
- Personal Superpowers
- Talents and Skills
- Aspirations
- 1,000 Days of Dreams/100 Days of Dreams
- Catalyst Vision Statement
- Desired Feelings
- Fears and Limiting Beliefs
- Five Elements of Catalyst Transformation
- Life Word
- Personal Manifesto
- Purpose Quest
- Seven-Word Life Motto
- Transformation Triad
- Reflection
- 50 Kick-Ass Questions to Awaken Meaningful Change
- Catalyst Conversation-Starter Questions
- Catalyst Reflection Questions
- Engaged Work Reflection Question
- Engaged Work Scale and Self-Assessment
- Extraordinary Life Self-Assessment
- Kick-Ass Questions About Life
- My Life Self-Assessment
- Personal Integrity Self-Assessment
- Personal Responsibility Self-Assessment and Contract
- Practical Purposes
- Surviving vs Thriving Self-Assessment
- Connection
- Crucial Connections
- Dream Team/Dream Communities
- I Am Because You Were
- Solid Relationships Assessment
- Kick-Start
- Idea Exchange
- Life Design Catalyst Challenge
- LDC Challenge 7-Day, 28-Day, and 60-Day Worksheets
Projects/Posters (where it fits in SPARCK Framework in parentheses)
Projects/Posters are compilations of many of the Activities listed above.
- Calling Connection Plan (Perspective – Serve Profoundly)
- Catalyst Covenant (SPARCK)
- Character Resume (Perspective – Know Yourself
- Current State vs Ideal State (Aspirations)
- Major/Career Calling Plan (Perspective – Know Yourself/Serve Profoundly)
- My Life, My Story (Story)
- Personal Charter (Aspirations)
- Purpose Charter (Aspirations)
- Vision of My Best Self (Aspirations)
- You, The Superhero (Perspective – Know Yourself/Serve Profoundly)
The Business of Being a Catalyst
Resources for those individuals interested in starting their own Life Design Catalyst Business/Side Hustle/Program/Course.
- The Business of Being a Catalyst Self-Assessment (a self-assessment to determine if LDC work is this something you want to create?)
- The Business of Being a Catalyst Workbook
- Section 1: Your Influencer Voice
- Section 2: Know Yourself, Know Your Greatness
- Section 3: Catalyst Business Tools
LDC Research/Data Projects
- Dissertation: Finding Why: Helping Students Cultivate Purpose in College (Megan Cayton) – https://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/Cayton_uncg_0154D_13784.pdf
- Enrollment, Retention, and Graduation Rates for Life Design Catalyst Program (2008 to 2019) – enrollment, retention, and graduation rates, life design catalyst program, 9-7-21
- What’s Important in My Life Values Assessment Results (2017, 2018, and 2019) – what’s important in my life results, 10-29-19
- What I Want From College Assessment (2022) – what i want from college responses, 4-28-22
- Life Design Catalyst, Around the World: Listing of Colleges and Universities, Campus Programs/Departments, and Community Partners – ldc around the world, 8-31-24
Interesting Articles/Essays/Blog Posts
- Mental Health Challenges of Young Adults Illuminated in New Report – https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/news/23/10/mental-health-challenges-young-adults-illuminated-new-report
- Gen Z Needs 3 Things From Us To Find Purpose – https://churchleaders.com/pastors/486656-gen-z-needs-3-things-from-us-to-find-purpose.html
- It’s Not All About the Money: Why Meaning and Purpose Should Be at the Center of the College Experience – https://www.chronicle.com/article/its-not-all-about-the-money
- Sense of Purpose in School and Work Drives Gen Z Happiness, New Gallup Survey Finds – https://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/sense-of-purpose-in-school-and-work-drives-gen-z-happiness-new-gallup-survey-finds
- Your Career Doesn’t Need to Have a Purpose – https://hbr.org/2024/04/your-career-doesnt-need-to-have-a-purpose
- Harnessing the power of purpose: Harnessing the power of purpose: Why working with your learners to find and explore their purpose is so important – https://www.insidetrack.org/blog/harnessing-the-power-of-purpose-with-dr-britt-andreatta
- Purpose as a Unifying Goal for Higher Education – https://coa.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/purpose_as_a_unifying_goal_for_higher_education.pdf
For More Information…
For more information about the Life Design Catalyst Program, contact:
- Bill Johnson, aka “The Dream Dean”
- Email: thedreamdean1@gmail.com (preferred) or whjohnso@uncg.edu
- Phone: 336-207-6795
or
- Megan Cayton
- mcdelph@uncg.edu
- Phone: 614-284-1443
