--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your life runs on a design – often one…" description: "\"“Your life runs on a design – often one you didn’t choose.”\" — Kevin L. Michel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/kevin-l-michel-43181_agency_your-life-runs-on-a-design-often-one-you_772682.jpg" --- # Your life runs on a design – often one you didn’t choose. ![“Your life runs on a design – often one you didn’t choose.” quote by Kevin L. Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/kevin-l-michel-43181_agency_your-life-runs-on-a-design-often-one-you_772682.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/kevin-l-michel-43181_agency_your-life-runs-on-a-design-often-one-you_772682.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/kevin-l-michel-43181_agency_your-life-runs-on-a-design-often-one-you_772682.jpg) > ““Your life runs on a design – often one you didn’t choose.”” [Kevin L. Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-l-michel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s path is often shaped by choices beyond our control, yet we navigate it anyway. **In simple terms:** Life’s path often isn’t chosen. Key Takeaway Accept limited control, keep moving forward. Themes existential design agency Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - relationship building - self‑development Key Concepts determinism personal agency Questions to Reflect On - How do you find agency in constraints? - What choices can you make despite uncertainty? A Different Perspective Feeling powerless can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autonomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomy/) [Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) [Clarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clarity/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mindset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindset/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Reflection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflection/) [Self -awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-awareness/) ## Related quotes > [Why would you design something if it didn't improve the human condition?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-diffrient/why-would-you-design-something-if-it-didn-t-improve-the-human/) [Niels Diffrient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-diffrient/) > [“As part of humanity, each of us is called to develop and share the unique gifts we are given.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-marti/as-part-of-humanity-each-of-us-is-called-to-develop-and-share-the/) [Mollie Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-marti/) > [“Your value lies not in status or title, but in the roots of your character and depth of your compassion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-marti/your-value-lies-not-in-status-or-title-but-in-the-roots-of-your/) [Mollie Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-marti/) > [“Your greatest responsibility is to live a life that nourishes your highest truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-marti/your-greatest-responsibility-is-to-live-a-life-that-nourishes-your/) [Mollie Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-marti/) > [“Your truest spiritual path will lead you to yourself for it is devoted to becoming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-marti/your-truest-spiritual-path-will-lead-you-to-yourself-for-it-is/) [Mollie Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-marti/) > [“Our power lies in our small daily choices, one after another, to create eternal ripples of a life well lived.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-marti/our-power-lies-in-our-small-daily-choices-one-after-another-to-create/) [Mollie Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-marti/) > [“Listen for the call of your destiny, and when it comes, release your plans and follow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-marti/listen-for-the-call-of-your-destiny-and-when-it-comes-release-your/) [Mollie Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-marti/) > [“Your past is not your destiny. You can change your future at any moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/your-past-is-not-your-destiny-you-can-change-your-future-at-any-moment/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [Until you accept responsibility for your life, someone else runs your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/until-you-accept-responsibility-for-your-life-someone-else-runs-your/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [I don't think I have segments in my life; it runs all together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-rowe/i-don-t-think-i-have-segments-in-my-life-it-runs-all-together/) [Debbie Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-rowe/) > [The same stream of life that runs through the world runs through my veins night and day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/the-same-stream-of-life-that-runs-through-the-world-runs-through-my/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Our life runs down in sending up the clock. The brook runs down in sending up our life. The sun runs down in sending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/our-life-runs-down-in-sending-up-the-clock-the-brook-runs-down-in-2/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Life runs to death as its goal, and we should go towards that next stage of experience either carelessly as to what must be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stephens/life-runs-to-death-as-its-goal-and-we-should-go-towards-that-next/) [James Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stephens/) > [Life doesn't run away from nobody. Life runs at people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-frazier/life-doesn-t-run-away-from-nobody-life-runs-at-people/) [Joe Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-frazier/) > [The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/the-same-stream-of-life-that-runs-through-my-veins-night-and-day-runs/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) ## More by Kevin L. Michel > [“One must be present, fully and deeply, in the garden of the now. In this state of presence, the ego’s chatter can be heard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-l-michel/one-must-be-present-fully-and-deeply-in-the-garden-of-the-now-in-this/) [Kevin L. Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-l-michel/) > [“The world might rage around, yet within the Stoic’s mind, a tranquil sea prevails. The Stoic remains anchored, not carried away by the torrents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-l-michel/the-world-might-rage-around-yet-within-the-stoic-s-mind-a-tranquil/) [Kevin L. Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-l-michel/) > [“In this world, where the strong prey upon the weak, and the cunning manipulate the naive, it is imperative that you become the master…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-l-michel/in-this-world-where-the-strong-prey-upon-the-weak-and-the-cunning/) [Kevin L. Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-l-michel/) > [“The soul, is that which propagates across the cosmic field and is connected to all of existence. And let me tell you, your soul,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-l-michel/the-soul-is-that-which-propagates-across-the-cosmic-field-and-is/) [Kevin L. Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-l-michel/) > [“Perseverance, the unwavering resolve that fuels our journey. It is the echo of our footsteps on the path of purpose, never ceasing, always pressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-l-michel/perseverance-the-unwavering-resolve-that-fuels-our-journey-it-is-the/) [Kevin L. Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-l-michel/) > [“Now picture that one day, a single prisoner is somehow freed … The familiar wall with its comforting shadows suddenly feels safer and saner than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-l-michel/now-picture-that-one-day-a-single-prisoner-is-somehow-freed-the/) [Kevin L. Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-l-michel/) > [“Embarking on this journey is an act of courage and curiosity. It is a decision to step into the role of the hero in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-l-michel/embarking-on-this-journey-is-an-act-of-courage-and-curiosity-it-is-a/) [Kevin L. Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-l-michel/) > [“Just as the sun is forever pursued by shadows, so too is our purpose chased by an unending flurry of distractions. They are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-l-michel/just-as-the-sun-is-forever-pursued-by-shadows-so-too-is-our-purpose/) [Kevin L. Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-l-michel/) [Explore all 9 Kevin L. Michel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-l-michel/) ## More Agency quotes > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/the-work-the-work-the-work-this-is-what-the-business-is-all-about/) [Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/) > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [In 1949 there was a new thing called Television, to which my agency and advisers opposed as a performance medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/in-1949-there-was-a-new-thing-called-television-to-which-my-agency/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [I know that God loves us. He allows us to exercise our moral agency even when we misuse it. He permits us to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-know-that-god-loves-us-he-allows-us-to-exercise-our-moral-agency/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [I was taking all prints and I brought them to the Magnum meetings, trying the old Josef Koudelka trick: Give them to photographers, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-van-agtmael/i-was-taking-all-prints-and-i-brought-them-to-the-magnum-meetings/) [Peter van Agtmael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-van-agtmael/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [In most agencies, account executives outnumber the copywriters two to one. If you were a dairy farmer, would you employ twice as many milkers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/in-most-agencies-account-executives-outnumber-the-copywriters-two-to/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [Free agency is a gift of God…The world does not comprehend the significance of that divine gift to the individual. It is as inherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/free-agency-is-a-gift-of-god-the-world-does-not-comprehend-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [You are also asked to take an oath, and that's the oath of service. The oath of service is not to secrecy, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-are-also-asked-to-take-an-oath-and-that-s-the-oath-of-service-the/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [You cannot have 300-some million Americans - and really, right, the global citizenry be at risk of having their phone conversations intercepted with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/you-cannot-have-300-some-million-americans-and-really-right-the/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [I do a lot of writing in my capacity as the creative director for a marketing agency. These days, though, I'm trying to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/i-do-a-lot-of-writing-in-my-capacity-as-the-creative-director-for-a/) [Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/) > [Unfortunately, corruption is widespread in government agencies and public enterprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/unfortunately-corruption-is-widespread-in-government-agencies-and/) [George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/) Browse all 1,225 Agency quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Your life runs on a design – often one you didn’t choose.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kevin L. Michel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-l-michel/your-life-runs-on-a-design-often-one-you-didn-t-choose/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Agency" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-l-michel/your-life-runs-on-a-design-often-one-you-didn-t-choose/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/kevin-l-michel-43181_agency_your-life-runs-on-a-design-often-one-you_772682.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/kevin-l-michel-43181_agency_your-life-runs-on-a-design-often-one-you_772682.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/kevin-l-michel-43181_agency_your-life-runs-on-a-design-often-one-you_772682.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Your life runs on a design – often one you didn’t choose.” — Kevin L. Michel", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kevin L. Michel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-l-michel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Your life runs on a design...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-l-michel/your-life-runs-on-a-design-often-one-you-didn-t-choose/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-l-michel/your-life-runs-on-a-design-often-one-you-didn-t-choose/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```