Ep. 11: I Know What I Want, Featuring Dr. Graham Norris

Futurist and leadership expert Dr. Graham Norris joins host Lilo Armandie explore how to make better decisions under uncertainty. Learn practical ways to overcome perfectionism, overachievement, and feeling overwhelmed. Drawing on research, global experience, and his own pivots, Graham shows how imagination (not prediction) helps us navigate uncertainty, make better decisions, and design futures that actually fit who we are. If you’ve ever climbed a ladder only to wonder why it feels empty, this conversation will help you step forward with curiosity instead of fear.

Q: Who is the guest?
Dr. Graham Norris is an award-winning futurist, keynote speaker, and leadership expert. He’s advised leaders at Intel, Microsoft, and Adidas on how to think clearly about tomorrow.

Q: What’s the “lie” explored in this episode?
The belief that you must know exactly what you want—or predict every outcome—before you can move forward. Graham calls this the “lie of certainty.”

Q: What topics are discussed?

• Why perfectionism, overachievement, and overwhelm keep high performers stuck
• How to use imagination (not prediction) to navigate uncertainty
• Decision-making traps: analysis paralysis, arrival fallacy, and too many choices
• Lessons from aviation, medicine, and psychology about learning from mistakes
• Balancing planning and flexibility when life or work goes off the rails
• Aligning goals with personal values as they evolve over time

Q: What will listeners learn?
You’ll learn practical tools to:

• Build “future confidence” instead of chasing impossible certainty
• Ask what’s truly important to you and design steps toward it
• Replace fear of being wrong with curiosity, experimentation, and growth

Q: Who should listen?
Leaders, professionals, and anyone rethinking success or feeling stuck between options will benefit from Graham’s insights.

Call to Action
Subscribe to Lies My Ego Told Me wherever you get your podcasts, leave a review, and visit liesmyego.com for more resources. Explore Graham’s newsletter, The DIY Futurist, at grahamnorris.me.



For more resources: liesmyego.com