Let’s get a bit weird today.

I want you to imagine there are 1,000 versions of you living across 1,000 parallel universes.

In one, you’re a musician in a cliffside cabin. In another, you run a vineyard in Italy. In a third, you never left your hometown — but you built the perfect home from scratch with your bare hands.

Each of these versions of you made different choices. Took different risks. Chased different wants.

But across all those timelines, I’d bet some things are always there.

Maybe it’s stability. Maybe freedom. Maybe a creative outlet. Maybe simply being the one who says, “I did this.”

That’s the point of the exercise.​
The consistent threads across those 1,000 imagined lives?
They’re your real values. Your Why.

And they’re probably the reason you’re drawn to self-build in the first place — whether you realise it or not.

Here’s a simple thought exercise to help you uncover those patterns:

1. Close your eyes (or grab a notepad – but obviously read this through first 😂) and ask:
   ​“If I could live 1,000 different lives, what would they look like?”
2. Don’t censor yourself. Go wild.
   Big lives, small lives, quiet ones, loud ones.
   What would you build, own, change, or create?
3. Now look for the overlaps.
   What themes keep showing up?
   Is it ownership? Legacy? Security? Adventure? Pride?
4. Finally — ask yourself:
   ​How could a self-build help me live more like that ideal in this real universe?

In the image above the common themes show Stability, Financial Freedom, Legacy, Autonomy, Social Connection and Just For the Challenge. This would highlight the key things that matter to the individual who created it.

This isn’t about manifesting magic from the multiverse. It’s about permission. Permission to dream. To steer. To live with intention.

Most people plan their homes by budget and postcode. You? You get to plan based on what actually matters to you.

If you try this exercise, hit reply and tell me what came up. I’d love to hear what your other 999 selves are up to — and how we can bring a bit of that into your life now.

Don’t throw away the list of crazy ideas. We can use it later for creating your Self-Build Specification 😉

– Brendan
​Measure Twice, Build Once

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