Digital product development has a process called “The 5Ds”.
Discover, Design, Develop, Deploy, and Debrief.
Below is an overview of each:
- Discover – This is the exploration phase where we get our arms around the situation.
- Design – Here we create a vision, test ideas, and set high level goals.
- Develop – During this phase, we build the product and look to minimize cost & risk.
- Deploy – This is when we launch the product to the world.
- Debrief – The final step is more of a loop – document what we learned to improve next time.
Various models use different words like dream, deliver, and destiny.
My Perspective
When I consider personal development and becoming a Me-EO, the 5D process model fits.
Here is how I would define the stages in this context (substituting a few of the other words):
- Discover – Identify our personal operating system through self-awareness.
- Dream – Explore the 8 dimensions of wellbeing to create a vision and set high level goals.
- Design – Build a short- and long-term plan to work toward our goals.
- Deploy – Put our plans into place through habits and routines (and the Hope equation).
- Debrief – Document how it’s going and what we are learning. Loop back and adjust.
I wonder what would happen if we planned our career and life with as much intentionality as we apply to products and services we launch onto the market.
This simple process could help keep us on track and provide structure for personal development.
Your Turn
What do you think of this 5-step process?
Which steps do you currently take, and which ones do you skip over?
Is there a step you could take today to start to work on this process?