Challenge:

I’m a 23 years old economics student who cares for two elderly parents. My parents suffer from several  diseases that really needs some physical effort and exercises in order to stay on the safe side. The  problem of our problem is that, my parents and as I recognized almost all elderly people, are  unmotivated to do just anything about it. They have raised seven children who grew up got married  have kids and a very busy life. Now they feel like they are left behind nothing more to do in life and just  indirectly waiting to die. So I decided to do something about it, and so I got my level 5 personal trainer  certificate that has been lying in my drawer for a year now till I started learning about design thinking.

Selection:

The learning launch tool as I have learnt is the tool of experimenting and testing a hypothesis in order to  know whether the idea I have is good or bad. So I had a problem, an idea, and a real sample to  experiment it on which was my parents.

Application:

To begin with, I have tried the traditional way before; learned personal training and tried a workout out  with my mom, but instead she preferred having coffee with her elderly sister, smoke her cigarettes  while talking about the TV show they are watching together. So, I started by inviting her sister to our P.T.  sessions, but they got bored and started making excuses to bail on me just after our third session. So, I  decided to add a spice of competition by inviting our neighbor who my mom hates for no reason and  two of my friend’s grandmothers. By that I was aiming to benefit more people, adding some competition  so that they would feel motivated. Moreover, I used my judgmental siblings as a multi- functional/skeptical team. While I was discussing my next week plan with my team, my sister suggested  that since now they are several people, why don’t I charge them with a nominal amount of money,  because you know, when people pay for something they will automatically think that it is more valuable  than if it was free.

During the first session, I have noticed a spark of competition where my mom and my aunt were trying  to correct some exercises for the new members. During the second session, I shared Netflix accounts  with the members where I added a TV show to MY LIST and suggested they start watching it before our  next session. During the third session, AND YES they have made it to the third session and they all have  started watching and are enjoying the series, because when I brought up the subject they all started a  conversation that ended with my mom spoiling the whole show.  I wanted them to watch the same  series, because I wanted to use it as an ice breaker to end up with them actually talking about mutual

things and to feel socially involved in something. Because I believed that at their age they all are facing  the same challenges; being unmotivated, weak, helpless...

Insight:

I have learned that the problem is not that the elderly is unmotivated.  The question is why are they  unmotivated. So they feel left behind because after a lifetime of work and sacrifice, now they feel like  nobody need them. Moreover, we put same situation people to work out together so that, first, they  realize that they are not alone. Second, they feel engaged and involved in something new. And third,  they get socially active again. I see it as, creating some kind of support group who not only share similar  problems but also are part of something beneficial and effective.

Approach:

Now that I have learned that there’s a difference between solving a problem and creating a cause that  ignites people and unite people. Next time I would use storytelling as my tool to convince my audience  that the current state is more dangerous than any other possibility out there. I have my reflection; I  know my audience, where they come from, and what they need. I can present a compelling story, by  asking the right questions to create suspense, and then reducing it by answering the questions.

