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Make Mid-Career Decisions with More Ease and Less Angst

4.3 (11)

·

Cohort-based Course

Facing a professional crossroads? Apply an evidence-based framework to get unstuck and move forward with confidence.

Featured in

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FORTUNE
Financial Times
Harvard Business Review

Course overview

Go from daunted and overwhelmed to reassured and empowered

Only 5% of human behavior is truly intentional; 95% of our desires, actions, and decisions come from our unconscious mind.


That means all too often, we "slide" into a choice, rather than "decide." Or we get stuck, paralyzed by the possibilities.


Neither sets us up for success, especially when it comes to big life decisions that impact our finances, affect our most important relationships, and change the course of our lives.


What if instead of sliding or getting stuck, you could apply a proven decision-making framework, informed by evidence and experience, to your specific choice (regardless of whether it's a personal one, a professional one, or a combination)?


So that you could get clarity about what you want and make progress towards your goals while avoiding the pitfalls that lead to regret.


For example, you could finally answer the question that's been nagging you (whether it’s moving, making a career pivot, marrying your person, or something else) and feel a sense of peace, even if you don’t know how the decision will turn out in the end.


And that's not all. You could tackle it in a structured way over four weeks, in partnership with a trusted guide who wrote the book on making big life decisions AND a supportive community of others who can offer valuable outside perspective (because they have no stake in your choice).


In this course, you’ll learn the five-step framework that Annie Duke, bestselling author of Thinking in Bets, called "brilliant" and Nir Eyal, bestselling author of Indistractable, called "life-changing." I’ve personally relied on it to make my own life-altering decisions (including making the leap from corporate leader to author and entrepreneur), and now I'm excited to be your guide as you apply it yourself.


Together, we’ll work through the 5Cs decision-making framework in the book I co-authored, Money and Love: An Intelligent Roadmap for Life's Biggest Decisions, which was named one of the top 5 business books of 2023.


Through short lessons, practical reflection exercises (many of which aren't in the book), personal stories, and interactive conversations, you’ll learn how to:


>> CLARIFY what’s most important to you;

>> COMMUNICATE with those most affected by the decision;

>> Consider a broad range of CHOICES;

>> CHECK-IN with trusted resources; and

>> Explore likely CONSEQUENCES across different time horizons.


In five weeks, you'll gain confidence in your decision-making process and develop a clear plan for making the choice that's right for you.


You'll also get lifetime access to the course materials, so you can apply them to big life decisions you'll face in the future.

This course is for you if:

01

You're facing a big choice that feels scary, daunting, and exciting (a career pivot, a move, investing in a relationship or leaving one)

02

You're seeking time, space, and thought partnership to help you make an informed decision about something you care deeply about

03

You're looking to feel more confident and at ease about making a big decision, especially when the outcome is uncertain or unclear

In this course, you will:

Analyze a complex choice using a trusted, evidence-based framework

Break down a complicated decision into manageable pieces by utilizing a proven, research-backed process. You'll walk away with a clear roadmap detailing the five steps needed to make a sound decision, customized to your specific situation.

Clarify what matters most to you in order to make values-aligned decisions

Prioritizing your core values leads to better decisions, but it can be challenging to identify them. Through worksheets and self-assessments, you'll identify your values, decision-making tendencies, and mindsets that can serve as useful guides on your decision-making journey.

Craft an approach that honors your constraints and avoids common pitfalls

No one makes big life decisions in a vaccuum, but few approaches acknowledge this reality. You'll create an action plan that takes your particular circumstances and constraints into account and minimizes stumbling blocks that can lead to regret.

Gain perspective, accountability, and community through other ambitious professionals

A cohort-based model can help you make progress when other methods haven't worked. Beyond the live sessions and self-paced material, you'll get benefits from others facing their own big life decisions (including perspective from those who have no stake in your decision).

Get lifetime access to resources you can apply to your decision-making forever

You'll inevitably face big decisions again; the resources from this course can be applied to future decisions. You can even join a future cohort for free if you wish!

This course includes

8 interactive live sessions

Lifetime access to course materials

23 in-depth lessons

Direct access to instructor

6 projects to apply learnings

Guided feedback & reflection

Private community of peers

Course certificate upon completion

Maven Satisfaction Guarantee

This course is backed by Maven’s guarantee. You can receive a full refund within 14 days after the course ends, provided you meet the completion criteria in our refund policy.

Course syllabus

Week 1

Feb 26—Mar 2

    Apr

    29

    Optional Q&A Session 1

    Mon 4/294:30 PM—5:00 PM (UTC)
    Optional

Week 2

Mar 3—Mar 9

    May

    6

    Optional Q&A Session 2

    Mon 5/64:30 PM—5:00 PM (UTC)
    Optional

Week 3

Mar 10—Mar 16

    May

    10

    Live Session 3

    Fri 5/104:00 PM—5:30 PM (UTC)

    May

    13

    Optional Q&A Session 3

    Mon 5/134:30 PM—5:00 PM (UTC)
    Optional

Week 4

Mar 17—Mar 23

    May

    17

    Live Session 4

    Fri 5/174:00 PM—5:30 PM (UTC)

    May

    20

    Optional Q&A Session 4

    Mon 5/204:30 PM—5:00 PM (UTC)
    Optional

Week 5

Mar 24—Mar 26
    Nothing scheduled for this week

Post-course

    Apr

    26

    Live Session 1

    Fri 4/264:00 PM—5:30 PM (UTC)

    May

    3

    Live Session 2

    Fri 5/34:00 PM—5:30 PM (UTC)

    Context and Framework

    7 items

    Clarify and Communicate

    9 items

    Choices and Check-in

    7 items

    Consequences and Conclusion

    6 items

4.3 (11 ratings)

What students are saying

Course schedule

~3 hours per week

  • Module 1: Context and Framework

    We start with background on why these decisions are so tough; how a framework can be useful; and the importance of framing the right question. You'll clarify the question you'll focus on during the course (even if you're facing several).


    *All live sessions will be recorded.

  • Module 2: Clarify and Communicate

    The first two steps of the framework are all about getting clear on what's most important to you and communicating that to those most affected. You'll come away with a sense of your values and priorities and a gameplan for sharing with your most important stakeholders.

  • Module 3: Choices and Check-in

    Steps three and four are about broadening your consideration set and getting outside perspective. You'll brainstorm expansive choices and get valuable input from peers. You'll come away with potential paths that avoid binary thinking and take your constraints into account.

  • Module 4: Consequences and Conclusion

    We end with a deep dive into how to forecast the outcomes of your decision before actually making it. You'll come away with ideas for experiments to test your hypotheses and develop a document that pulls the pieces together and serves as an important decision touchstone.

  • Additional exercises and projects

    ~1 hour/week

    Extend your learning through asynchronous lessons, which include reflection exercises and worksheets that help you apply the concepts to your own specific situation.

  • Weekly office hours

    Mondays from 9:30-10 am PT

    Live Q&A with Abby to ask questions (optional). I've grapped with and helped others with questions like:

    • What if my values conflict? How do I decide which to prioritize?
    • How do I weigh my own wishes alongside my family's needs?
    • How much information is "enough" to take a big leap?

Meet your instructor

Abby Davisson

Abby Davisson

Abby is an author, Fortune 200 leader-turned-entrepreneur, and expert on holistic decision-making (the kind that takes multiple bottom lines into account).


She is the co-author of the top-rated business book, Money and Love: An Intelligent Roadmap for Life’s Biggest Decisions, and the founder and CEO of the Money and Love Institute.


Prior to launching the Institute, Abby spent nearly a decade driving social impact at global retailer Gap Inc., where she served as president of the Gap Foundation and co-founded the company’s employee resource group for working parents. 


Abby’s experience also includes serving as an alumni career advisor and coach at Stanford's Graduate School of Business.


Her writing has appeared in Harvard Business Review and Fast Company, and she currently writes the popular Substack newsletter, Practically Deliberate.


Abby holds a BA from Yale University and an MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University. She lives with her husband and their two sons in San Francisco, where she remains in relentless pursuit of the best dark chocolate.

What people are saying

        I highly recommend this course for anyone looking to get unstuck about a big life decision. Abby is a skilled instructor whose mix of evidence-based research and personal stories made the topic accessible. The insightful lessons, practical exercises, and group interaction combined to help me make significant progress in only one month."
Ellen Kim

Ellen Kim

Operating Partner, Private Equity Firm
        Abby is the real deal: for more than two decades, I've witnessed Abby set ambitious goals and achieve them over and over again. And she does it all with such grace, integrity, and warmth, while juggling a busy household with two kids. Anyone who wants to pursue bold dreams should jump at the chance to be in her orbit."
Julie Finn

Julie Finn

CEO, The Working Mother's Mentor
        Abby and the Money and Love Institute are doing pioneering work. Their research-backed framework and materials are impactful tools that empower people to make more informed decisions about money and love."
Mark Johnsen

Mark Johnsen

Founder and CEO, Wealth Architects
        I have learned so much from Abby that I now use in my teaching and consulting work. It’s rare to find someone who is courageous enough to advocate for change. It’s rarer still to find someone who has the determination, grit, and influence to deliver on that change."
Kellie McElhaney

Kellie McElhaney

Founding Director, Center for Equity, Gender and Leadership
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Free resource

Mistakes to Avoid When Making Big Life Decisions

Part of making better big life decisions is knowing what NOT to do. Learn five common pitfalls that can lead to decision-making regret.

Download the free one-pager

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning is better with cohorts

Learning is better with cohorts

Active hands-on learning

Live workshops and practical exercises make this course high impact

Interactive and reflection-based

You’ll gain valuable peer insights through structured breakout sessions

Learn with a cohort of peers

Gain accountability and support through a community of ambitious professionals

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Make Mid-Career Decisions with More Ease and Less Angst