The LEVELL Framework

Enrique Bay -

A good while ago, during a post-graduation crisis, I started to get anxious about what I would do with my life. I always thought I wanted to have my own business, but I also wanted to have the experience of working in a multinational company. I wanted to have a master's degree, but I realized that it was for the wrong reasons. I was not sure where I wanted to live or how I was going to manage to learn to kitesurf at some point in my life.

So I started to map out a diagram. On the X-axis, I had a 100-year time-horizon. But on the Y axis, I began categorizing my life into different buckets. Those buckets eventually became what I now call the LEVELL buckets. They stand for:

  • Love: focusing on relationships and connections with friends and family
  • Exploration: broadening horizons through curiosity, risk-taking, and venturing into the unknown
  • Vitality: maintaining physical and mental well-being through healthy habits, fitness, and fun activities
  • Education: continuous learning and self-improvement
  • Legacy: leaving a positive impact on the world and future generations.
  • Livelihood: pursuing income-generating opportunities and financial stability

Back then, I laid out a plan to accomplish certain things at specific points in my life in each of those areas. I did so as not to overwhelm myself with how much I wanted to do as a 20-something-year-old but rather during and throughout my life.

That list has changed over time, but just having it made it much simpler for me to make certain decisions and try to optimize towards things that help me achieve certain milestones.

In the following post, I will expand on the Framework and how to make the best use of it.