Design Your Next Chapter: How to realize your dreams and reinvent your life

by Debbie Travis

If you feel stuck with no idea what you should do next, lifestyle celebrity and TV pioneer Debbie Travis's bestseller is for you. Drawing on the lessons she learned in her own leap into a new way of living, along with a multitude of stories, tips and ideas to jumpstart your dreams, Debbie's created an inspiring roadmap for change.

A few years ago, Debbie Travis realized that she was no longer challenged by her wildly successful TV career, yet she was so busy she was missing out on the people and things that made her happy. She dared to dream about a whole new direction in life--a plan to turn a 13th-century farmhouse in Tuscany into a unique hotel and retreat for people who need a change as much as she did. And now she is not only living that dream but sharing it with others.
Her new book draws directly on her own experiences (when she started, Debbie could barely make a bed, let alone run a hotel in a foreign county) and the uplifting stories of personal u-turns shared by women who have come to her retreats. Debbie's "commandments" will inspire women (and men) who have lost track of who they are or what they want to be; who are going through the motions of a career that doesn't satisfy them anymore; who are wondering what to do with themselves now that their kids are gone or their marriage is over. On every page, Debbie shares the tools that helped her transform her life. Her common-sense advice, often delivered with her trademark humour, will help motivate anyone who finds themselves standing at a crossroads wondering "What's next for me?"

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development, Audiobook

256 pages, Paperback

First published November 20, 2018

About the author

Home designer, television host and producer, best-selling author, sought-after public speaker, and host of Tuscan getaways at her personal villa.

Reviews

[Minette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a tough call on the star ratings...it is a solid 3.5 in my opinion. I love Debbie and her writing style is honest and from the heart. I really enjoyed the individual stories of people who embarked on next chapters. I would lovvvvve to visit one of her Tuscan retreats someday!

[Lex · Rating 3 out of 5]

A practical book to help people overcome their own fears and excuses to following their dreams.

*Gifted Penguin Random House Canada in exchange*

[Amy Rhoda Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually consumed this book in one sitting (although I had insomnia). It's a lovely, light, encouraging read on how to take the plunge into a different life.

The audience is women in the middle of life, at that pivot point where you take a look around, realize you're halfway through and it's time to really do those things that you always figured you'd do someday — to be the person that twelve-year-old you dreamed of being.

As a coach I can say that Debbie's advice is pretty solid, but it's always the execution that's the hard part. If you're looking for a change, or you're in the middle of a change and in need of company, this is as good a companion as any: Debbie's tone is reassuring but realistic. (She's from the north of England, so she's not going to lay down any bullshit unless she's fertilizing tomatoes with it.)

[Laural Griffen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read...3.5

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A disposable read. Dream it, make a list and hope you have a few million to make it come true.

[Andrea Buchfink · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seemed aimed at an older demographic, not that much tangible advice to follow other than a few pages.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was way better than I expected. I typically stay away from ‘self help’ books written by celebrities with no formal education in human psychology etc, but Debbie somehow knocked this one right out of the park for me. Her story intrigued me, and the book reads more like a memoir about her transition to her new life in Italy than it does a ‘you can do it, too!’ book. Which I appreciated, because the reality is, no, not everyone CAN (or should!) drop everything and move to Italy to follow their dreams.

I will also say, this book is generally written for women (namely mothers) in their 50s(ish) whose main role as a mother is receding as their children move out of the house. These women are now feeling a bit lost and looking for a new purpose. I am a 27 year old child-free-and-planning-to-stay-that-way woman and I still gleaned loads of information from this book.

Debbie carefully selects stories from other people who have changed their lives for the better, and shares those, too. Some of them are grandiose and some of them are subtle, and I really liked that. I roll my eyes endlessly at books that constantly tout ‘the power of positive thinking’ or ‘just ask for help’ etc etc (I’m looking at you, Girl Wash Your Face) when it comes to real, painful, difficult issues.

Never once did Debbie tell me WHAT to do. Her book is full of gentle suggestions for self exploration aimed towards women who are in transition to the next phase of their life and don’t know where to begin. I enjoyed this book immensely, and I’ll be gifting it to many women in my life.

[Shilpa · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Please write in this book", Debbie Travis advises. "This is your handbook, both practical and personal. Fill in the blanks, tick the boxes, circle the words and write the truth to yourself."

And "the truth" is exactly what Debbie Travis wants you to find in your own life. She shares lessons she's learned along the way, sprinkled with uplifting stories others have shared with her.

If you are looking for decorating ideas from this book, please turn the page. This is definitely not what Design your Next Chapter is about. Debbie Travis insists that it's a book for those who have reached a point in their life where they are unhappy, and are looking to change the course of their current journey. It's supposed to inspire those who are stuck or feel blocked in their daily routine. Who feel uninspired in how they are living day in and day out. What if you have the courage to come to a full stop, take a look around, and then map out the journey to a completely new path?

Design Your Next Chapter is about stories. Some of those Debbie Travis draws from her own life, and others from people she's met along the way. I was very curious to know where the spark came from for her Tuscan adventure, and how she got about putting a plan into action in making her dreams a reality. Full disclosure: when I heard about this year's ago when she was on the Marilyn Denis Show, I was so intrigued about the possibility of someday venturing out to do something like that myself. A pipe dream? Or something that was achievable? I wanted Design Your Next Chapter to give me all the answers.

But it didn't give me all the answers. It gave me nuggets of inspiration. Nothing new that I had not come across on my own before. Follow your Dreams. Don't be afraid. For those who are interested, at the end of this post are Debbie Travis' Ten Commandments.

Many people just don't have the time or the luxury to just quit their jobs and follow their hearts. There are bills to be paid and people counting on you. We are generally just "too busy" looking after our families, and reacting to life's daily doses of reality. When do we really have the time to pause and think about what makes us happy?

Like every other self help guru, Debbie Travis says that we do have to do just that. Pause. Reflect. Identify what makes us truly happy. Then, figure out some way to make it happen.

What makes you happy doesn't have to be restoring a villa in Tuscany (although that would be absolutely amazing in my case). It can be something as simple as I want to paint more, or spend time more time with my loved ones.

It's been said before, and Debbie Travis is saying it again. We just don't take the time to invest in ourselves. We don't make time for things we don't want to do. Sometimes we know what that is. Sometimes we don't.

Design Your Next Chapter helps give you a nudge, reminding you to focus on what's really important: your happiness.

Whether it's picking up a paintbrush, or figuring out how to make that dream of being an astronaut come true, the answer is not just to go ahead and do it. It's about how you grow the seed of an idea in your head and make that dream your reality.

My favourite moment in the book was the advice that the monk on the plane gave Debbie Travis, when she was reflecting upon her happiest moments –spending time with her husband and her kids – but noted that she was just too busy to do more of that.

The monk's advice:
"Then don't be so busy. Change your priorities, change your attitude – focus on what makes you happy before you run out of time."

So simple. Yet, the idea is so profound designed to shift your mindset. It's one of the life lessons every entrepreneur, or CEO of a company, talks about. How does one find the time to for other things that are mindful and keep you grounded in the race up the corporate ladder?

Another idea that Debbie Travis explores in Design Your Next Chapter is an exercise for people on how to find that one thing that will makes them happy. Her suggestion is to remember what made you happiest as a child. Once you transport yourself back in time, it will trigger you to moments that truly made you happy, and ignite an idea of the dream you are destined to pursue.

If you are a fan of Debbie Travis, the book starts off on an upward swing, with snippets on Debbie's own life, interspersed with stories from people she has met. Some of her personal stories were new and refreshing to me. The other stories (testimonials of sorts) from people she'd met along the way, fell a bit flat. Personally, not a fan of a book that's mostly filled with testimonials and case studies. Some people are inspired by these; but I find them laborious and repetitive. I prefer a "how to" approach.

I absolutely love Debbie Travis, so as a fellow creativepreneur, I was aching for more insights into how I can something work towards living my best life in a villa in Tuscany. I didn't really have the answer after reading Design Your Next Chapter, but perhaps it's reminded me of that dream.

Entrepreneurship is part of my genetic makeup. I have reinvented myself into new spaces and adapted to change. I actively seek out creative zen. So, it goes without saying that I have read a lot of entrepreneurship-type books. Which is why the content in Design Your Next Chapter wasn't as revolutionary for me. But that doesn't mean it won't be for someone else. One thing for sure, that the title of the book is sassy and inspiring, and that may just be enough to get one's creative juices flowing.

Debbie Travis' 10 Commandments
1. Lose the Fear
2. I Mean It! Dump the Excuses.
3. Get Unstuck.
4. Take the Right Amount of Risk.
5. Be Mindful of Your Mindset.
6. Embrace your Mistakes.
7. Hang on to your sense of Humour.
8. Get connected.
9. Never curb your enthusiasm.
10. Don't lose your balance.

[Jaclyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some nice, inspiring stories about women who pursued their dreams (their "next chapter"), some nice advice about pursuing your own.

Unfortunately, I couldn't connect at all to this book, and while her advice was mostly unobjectionable, the disconnect between the book's apparent intended audience and my own life circumstances left me just dreaming of a Tuscan vacation.

Travis' message is inspiring and inoffensive enough: pursue your dreams, even when it scares you. To Travis' credit, she also admits it's not easy, and gives some good advice on being practical about it, e.g. keeping your day job if you can't afford to live without a steady income, putting together a solid business plan to get a bank to loan you money for your passion project, deferring/modifying your dream if you need to care for a sick spouse, etc. But for the most part, the examples she gives are those of women whose experiences were similar to her own: middle / upper middle class women who've built successful careers, achieved financial stability, and raised children to adulthood, and are now feeling empty and wondering what else there is to life.

In Travis' case, after years of career success with decorating shows, she falls in love with Frances Mayes' writing and dreams of opening her own Tuscan villa. So she and her husband combine savings, take out a loan and now operate a women's retreat in Tuscany. Good for her, and to be honest, her Tuscan retreat sounds like a fun time. The thing is, many of her stories about other women came from women she met at her retreat, which means these are often women who can already afford a Tuscany retreat in the first place. Often, they have a strong support system in place -- a supportive spouse, a healthy savings account, money already saved for a large purchase like a house, a large and supportive community of friends, and so on.

I don't mean to minimize Travis' accomplishments, nor the accomplishments of the women whose stories she told. Regardless of your life situation, it does take courage to pursue your passion and embark on a "next chapter." But such a life situation feels so far out of the realm of my own possibilities that I couldn't quite get inspired.

Again, to Travis' credit, she acknowledges finances can be a barrier. But she also often glosses over these barriers. She may say that having no savings can be a detriment, but then immediately follows up with how it shouldn't be a deterrent because it's a solveable problem. You just need to beg, borrow or barter with your friends, or create a business plan to take to the bank. And fair, you can certainly do that, but because Travis glosses over these barriers so smoothly, I wonder how much of a consideration they actually are / were in how she envisioned this book. It almost felt like an afterthought, a pro forma acknowledgement that there are some legitimate difficulties to pursuing one's dreams, which is immediately followed up by a fairly simplistic solution. The result is that the book felt like a very Pollyanna -- and yes, privileged -- approach to pursuing one's dreams.

The other reason I found it hard to connect with the book is that many of the examples Travis uses involves starting an entrepreneurial business, which isn't and has never been something that interests me. I wish she'd included examples of people who pursued next chapters that didn't have to do with going freelance or starting a business.

Overall, the book isn't bad; it just didn't resonate at all with me.

+

Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Christie (The Ludic Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a longtime fan of Debbie Travis. Here in Canada she was on the leading edge of the decorating show craze beginning with Painted House, a show about faux. She went on to develop several other decorating shows, some she starred in, some she produced with her husband Hans.

Life took a turn for her while she was on vacation in Thailand. On her last day, she decided to have a detoxifying sauna. After only eight minutes, she recalls in Design Your Next Chapter, she was “deathly bored with my own company.” In an effort to distract herself, she started reading a paperback someone had left behind. It was about finding personal happiness.

Travis knew she had many things to be grateful for but “The book had asked one simple question: Was I happy? It rocked me to the core.”

Travis couldn’t stop thinking about the question of personal happiness.

I’d realized what made me truly happy were just three things: being with my children, being with my priceless friends, and being with my beloved husband. On the plane home, I had to admit that I was not spending enough time with these precious people.

Serendipitous perhaps, but Travis was seated next to a monk on the flight home from Thailand. Seeing that she was still visibly upset, he asked if he could help and Travis poured out her confusion and distress.

His advice was simple: “Change your priorities, change your attitude – focus on what makes you happy before you run out of time.”

And that, in a nutshell, is what Travis has done, and is offering to help readers do in Design Your Next Chapter.

A spontaneous meal with a family while on holiday in Italy with Hans, had “lit up in [Travis’s] head like a beacon.” You know the rest of the story, but if you don’t, it’s documented in a six-part series called La Dolce Debbie. Although it didn’t happen overnight, she and Hans eventually found a Tuscan property which they renovated over five years. Now she hosts groups of women (mostly) who are looking for a way to redesign their own lives. Read more about that here.

I read Design Your Next Chapter while sitting on my back deck on a beautiful summer afternoon. Although Travis doesn’t profess to be a self-help expert, she is a woman who has been successful at a great many things. Her advice, and she does offer some, is mostly common sense, but I think the best advice often is. We may know what we need to do to fix what’s broken in our lives, but we sometimes lack the impetus to make the necessary changes. Travis offers practical suggestions for taking meaningful steps towards personal happiness. You really can’t argue with that.

I’ve been to Italy twice with my three dearest girlfriends. It’s a magical place. Many of the examples Travis uses in her book come from the retreats she offers at her villa. In the evening, the women gather with their Prosecco and share their stories. There’s a lot of power in that, I think. Although I like my life and my job, I have hit a few bumps along the way and I know that I am sometimes my own worst enemy. I’d give anything to sit under Travis’ olive tree and listen to people share their own stories. This is a bucket list item for sure.

Design Your Next Chapter is not quite the same as what I imagine the experience of being in Italy with Travis herself might be, but it’s definitely worth the virtual visit. So, pour yourself a cold glass of Prosecco and let your journey towards personal happiness begin.

[Atinas Blog I Sanita Belgrave- King · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s back to school 🏫 today. Parents are excited 🤗. Cameras 📸 are out. Photos are being posted. Prayers 🙏🏽 are being uplifted to cover these children. So as we step 👣 into this new chapter with our children, here are some affirmations for the successful family.

These were inspired by the writings of Debbie Travis, a high school graduate who became an international television icon, a bestselling author, a world- renowned public speaker and the owner of a luxury boutique hotel in Tuscany. Her story is an inspiration, a must read, allow me to wet your appetite by sharing her ten commandments:

🔥 1. Lose the fear: make two lists, the first, of everything that is holding you back from creating your next chapter and the second, of everything you feel positive and excited about.

🔥 2. Dump the excuses: don't use this as a reason not to set sail.

🔥 3. Get unstuck: if you want to move on successfully, it is imperative to make a conscious effort to shed the past and embrace what comes next.

🔥 4. Take the right amount of risk: successful risk- taking is all about calculating the risk- weighing what is at stake.

🔥 5. Be mindful of your mindset: a good mindset is open to opportunity, personal growth, new ventures and even criticism, and is able to roll with the ups and downs.

🔥 6. Embrace your mistakes: isn't it simply deluded to think we should never make a mistake?

🔥 7. Hang on to your sense of humour: crappy stuff happens but humour changes the context and mitigates the impact.

🔥 8. Get connected: there is nothing quite like the sound and feel of real, live, human connection.

🔥 9. Never curb your enthusiasm: excitement drives us forward and helps us find ways to seize and hold onto opportunity.

🔥 10. Don't lose your balance: without balance, it is impossible to be comfortable in your skin.
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#DesignYourNextChapter
#FromDreamstoReinventingYourLife
#FailureisaGreatTeacher
#PlanfortheFuture
#TakeSmallSteps
#AWillLeadstoAWay
#LoseTheFear
#DumpTheExcuses
#DontSettleForSafe
#EmbraceYourMistakes
#DebbieTravisInspiration
#MondayMotivation
#AtinasBlog

[Sharon Ouderkirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Debbie Travis' book of inspiring stories and commonsense advice on how to face your personal crossroads. Travis is a woman of incredible spirit and a sense of adventure, and I admire her greatly for all that she has accomplished. She started her career as a model, and now she is a kick ass Role Model, which tells you a lot about her ability to change, and roll with the punches and rise to a challenge. She doesn't hide the foolish mistakes or the bone weary hard work that she endured for her success, but she has a sense of humour that makes it all palatable.
This book has something for everyone. The main targets might be entrepreneurs, or women who are at a significant moment of choice (recently divorced, or widowed, or facing an empty nest, or just so sick of the daily grind that she will do ANYTHING, ANYTHING to save herself). But the stories are inspiring on many levels. Some of the changes that the women made are life-altering; some are more subtle. I loved the Soup Sisters, for example. They are a group of women who make homemade soup for homeless or transient women in their area. They inspired a group of men, who are the Broth Brothers, and do the same for homeless men. This activity is fulfilling, and soul changing, but they have not altered all the details of their lives.
I don't expect the majority of women who read this book to move to a new country for a new adventure like Travis did. But I certainly think that this book might inspire you to start a project that is right for you and your circumstances. At the very minimum, Debbie Travis is splendid company for a few hours of reading, which should be one of the last times you sit still on the couch!

[Torviewtoronto · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories and advice on the Design Your Next Chapter by Debbie Travis will give ideas to those who feel they have lost track of who they are and what they want to be. Those going through jobs that no longer satisfy them or feel they have reached the end of a learning curve will find the stories in this book inspiring. There were a lot of reminders and important points shared in this book - here is a summary.

When we are living lives full of obligations, sometimes we lack happiness and forget there is more to life than daily routine. This is the time to remember that dreams belong purely to us, and are not locked by demands of careers, marriage, and parenting. Accumulating money and power should not be the definition of a successful life and the book reminds us how important balance is to our overall happiness.

Passion has peaks and lows, which changes with age and simplest ideas bring the most happiness. So make time to have fun and play to rekindle what you like doing.
Writing down gives clarity.
Pin up things that inspire you and see it everyday so you can see how it overlaps each other.
If social media bothers you and makes you depressed stop using it, and spend time seeking out and getting inspiration in real stories.
Uncomfortable emotions help create energy, so we need to calculate the risks by weighing in what is at stake, time, effort, and money.
Imbalance in mind, emotions, and body should not dominate life, we have to do new adventures outside our comfort zone to reignite joy.

[Catherine Wan · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my new year's resolution is finish at least one book each month . Now it's end of March when I finished my first book .
I remember the day I bought this book . There are a lot of interesting books in Indigo , I picked a long time . Then I was attracted by this book which has a pink cover with letters : design your next chapter . I just started my new life in a country several months , it's the right time to meet the right book.
But until recently I really start reading this book . Then I found maybe it proper for people around their 50, 60 not for me . It says about the empty nester and retirement . But after reading several chapters , I was so touched by the stories . How brave they are .To be changed , never ever be easy . But if you really want, you will find a way to do it and never ever late to do it .
I'm preparing my IELTS recently , and try to immerse as much as possible in English . It's a great chance to me to learn English and know more about the culture . I learned a lot easy-understanding , native expression from the book .
It's a joyful journal reading it .
I'm expecting my next book . Welcome April, welcome spring , welcome change .

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book give you some ideas on how to make changes to your life. Some good sound advice with examples of people who took the plunge and changed their lives by taking risks. She has some good advice like: stop being afraid, get unstuck by writing a letter to yourself about your past and future, take the right amount of risk, watch your mindset, accept your mistakes, stay enthusiastic, and keep a balance. She gives examples how she changed her life by renovating and offering retreats in Tuscany.
Probably a fun place to hang out for a week on a retreat.
She talks about how their vines produce ok drinkable wine which may be due to the type of grape or the person making the wine.

[Cathleen Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was skeptical and there are still some things about the book that I find a bit difficult, but as Debbie's exact target audience- I'm a middle aged Canadian woman just in a life transition- this book asks and answers some questions I've been working through. What is a little difficult to swallow is Debbie's lack of acknowledgement of the privilege she enjoys. This is not to say she has not had a challenging start to life, but opportunities are more forthcoming for the famous and well off. Yes she has had the guts to try (and sometimes fail) and has been very creative and dreadfully hardworking, so overall I liked the book and I did find her fairly humble. Read it and decide for yourself on this one.

[Wolfenstein · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book is written for a select few. The author appears out of touch with the majority's reality and the texts are hyper focused on working mothers. The suggestions as well as "commandments" in this book come across as a collection of someone's favourite pinterest quotes. Overall, this strikes me as a collection of diary entries rather than a self-actualization read. The only thing keeping me from writing this purchase off as a complete waste of money is my appreciation for the book design by Lisa Jager.

[Aili Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

It had a catchy jacket, promising to get someone who feels "stuck", unstuck. While it did have a few rah-rah moments, I couldn't bond with this book. It kept referring to her move to Tuscany, to which I have zero desire to jump countries (thus I couldn't relate). Not much else in this book to sink my teeth into. I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 because I like Debbie's writing style and sense of humour...

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this, I have come to the conclusion that I am already in the middle of my next chapter. Nothing new, and a bit too much on start your own B&B, which I considered at one point many long years ago, until I came to the realization that breakfast is my least favourite meal to cook and I'd rather someone else did the housework.
That being said, it was a good review of things to consider as you go forward in a new direction.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only thing I think I could pick apart about this book was that it seemed to be more geared towards older women and single mothers. There was some good information in between those moments but other things within the book were Not relatable because I myself am 24 and not a single mom. It was a good read , had more to do with her life story & others that she met along the way rather than it being an immersive self-discovery book which was a bit of a bumper.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed Ms Travis when she was on tv and having recently retired and thinking what's next, I knew I had to read her book when I heard about it. This is the first self help book I actually finished. Although it didn't offer any earth shaking revelations it gave me a lot to think about. Debbie wrote an easy to read book

[Priya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing is good, but it is definitely not applicable to everyone. You kinda just have to take what you can from the book. She provides lots of advice, support and addresses the anxieties of starting your next chapter but directs the book at an older audience. Not much can be said to younger readers.

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a very inspiring book. However, I think it was geared more towards the older crowd. I'm not quite there yet but it was comforting to read that life doesn't have to end after my 40s. I could start a new chapter.

[Daria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Underwhelming. I like Debbie Travis, followed several of her shows, however I zoomed through this very quickly. While I enjoyed hearing about her journey, as well as some of the stories... the material lacks depth and many ideas in this book have been better developed by other authors.

[Natali · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Debbie’s story was interesting as were some of the other examples of “next chapters” (albeit too brief). Enjoyable writing but little new practical advice in the realm of self-help/exploration.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book. Took a break from it and had to start over. Travis gives a lot of good advice - things to think about - when moving into a different phase of life. Inspiration is easy to find, it’s having the guidance in thought process that this book delivers.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

While a lot of the material in the book seems geared more towards an older demographic, there are some takeaways for younger people as well. Also love reading all the inspiring stories!

[Lorrie Puchala · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as it is very timely for me. I'm desperately in need of a change. Unfortunately it ended way too quickly.

[Barb Wiseberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Underwhelming, to say the least

[Shimista · Rating 2 out of 5]

definitely not the right audience for this, but it was a good enough read for seeing what sparked my interest (or didn't) for transitioning/settling into a new chapter