by Jay 

Work, Play, Family: How Kevin Dalstrom Balances It All

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Kevin Dalstrom isn’t just a successful businessman—he’s mastered the art of living well.

He has started four companies, worked as a Chief Marketing Officer three times, and invested in over 55 businesses.

That’s pretty impressive!

But what really makes Kevin special is how he balances his work, hobbies, and family.

Besides running businesses, Kevin is also a top-level rock climber.

This sport is tough because it needs both strong muscles and a lot of focus.

Even though he’s super busy, Kevin always makes time for his family, showing that success isn’t just about work—it’s also about having good relationships.

So, what’s his secret? 

According to Michael Karnjanaprakorn, the former founder of Skillshare who interviewed Kevin, it’s all thanks to a simple but powerful exercise called The Ideal End State Exercise.

The Ideal End State Exercise: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Visualize Your Ideal Life

  • Ask yourself: If I could design my life from scratch, what would it look like?
  • Don’t overthink—imagine freely without limits.

Step 2: Make a Bullet Point List

Write down specific details about your ideal life:

  • Daily Routine: What does a typical day look like?
  • Relationships: Who are you spending time with?
  • Activities: What do you do for work, fun, health, and personal growth?
  • Feelings: How do you want to feel throughout the day?

Step 3: Be Specific

Go beyond broad goals like “be happy” or “be successful.”

Include details such as:

  • Your work environment (remote, office, creative space)
  • Hobbies (music, sports, writing)
  • Travel preferences, family dynamics, lifestyle choices

Step 4: Identify Misalignments

Compare your current life with your ideal end state.

Look for inconsistencies:

  • Are you pursuing things you don’t actually value?
  • Example: Owning a fancy car but realizing it’s not part of your dream life.

Step 5: Adjust Actions or Goals

If your current actions don’t align with your vision:

  • Change the actions to match your goals, or
  • Re-evaluate if the goal truly reflects your desires.

Step 6: Revisit Regularly

  • Life evolves, so should your vision.
  • Reassess every few months to ensure your actions and goals stay aligned.

This exercise is simple but powerful, helping you create a life you don’t need to escape from—just like Kevin Dalstrom’s well-balanced, intentional lifestyle.

This post was inspired by Ali Abdaal's video, How to Design Your Dream Life (in 7 Minutes).

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