ABOUT DOMAINS
ABOUT DOMAINS - A STRATEGIC LIFE
Well-being has been a central theme of philosophical and intellectual exploration for over 2,500 years. From ancient thinkers to contemporary researchers, the question of how to live well has been considered across cultures and centuries. It is a universal contemplation, as we all seek clarity and direction in the face of life’s complexities. Domains – A Strategic Life introduces a powerful framework that helps us think and act with informed certainty in all areas of our lives. Greg DeLaval (54) and Dr. Shawn Northfield (61), drawing on their expertise in leadership, high-performance sport, education, and qualitative research, present a compelling approach to living well—firmly rooted in principles. Their ten-session course brings to life the most celebrated thinkers from past and present, delivering clear explanations, practical examples, contextual strategies, and step-by-step implementation.
ABOUT THE CONTEMPORARY CRISIS
Developing an effective approach to all areas of our lives has always been a significant undertaking. It requires a considerable commitment to self-examination, reading, researching, reflecting, planning, organizing, and executing. Today, this already complex and laborious journey is accompanied by a myriad of distractions. Many of us are sidetracked by a perpetual stream of information, notifications, entertainment, and messaging. Digital interruptions and fixations have become major obstacles to personal fulfillment. Hyper-connectivity not only derails us consistently throughout the day, but it also often leads to information and opinion overload, or what the Mayo Clinic refers to as "cognitive overload." Technological platforms subtly fragment our focus, making it difficult to maintain prolonged concentration on a single task or goal. On a deeper and more disturbing level—and according to Nir Eyal, author of Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life—we embrace these digital distractions due to discomfort, boredom, pain, or negative feelings.
Complicating the crisis further is what Dr. Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard professor, describes as "miswanting." Miswanting is an error we make about what we will like and how much we will like it in the future. Dr. Gilbert, known for his research on affective forecasting, calls this "mispredicting." Mispredicting refers to the tendency of people to overestimate their future emotions. This tendency is likely why many value external validation over authenticity, consumerism, various addictions, or remain in toxic physical and social environments. Consequently, we are often pursuing things we believe will make us happy but ultimately do not. This pursuit prevents us from addressing the crisis and ultimately interferes with our efforts to live a good life.
ABOUT THE COURSE
The course consists of 10 sessions and three phases. In the first phase, we define all core life domains and introduce key principles, strategies, and systems derived from a comprehensive review of the literature and cross-referenced with our own successes and challenges in sport, education, business, and life. Greg applies individual principles to each domain in the second phase. The third phase represents an opportunity for you to demonstrate what you have learned. You will be asked to articulate your domains and principles to solidify your identity as someone who executes across all areas.
ABOUT STRATEGISTS
Strategists are like consultants. This means you can expect answers, examples, explanations, and hands-on implementation grounded in research and experience. Greg will walk alongside you step-by-step, integrating principles, philosophies, and systems into all areas of your life. In the sessions, you’ll find Greg to be honest, empathetic, and knowledgeable. Register for the free session with Greg to explore whether it’s a good fit.
ABOUT GREG DELAVAL, M.ED, B.SC. PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Greg has a long history of getting the best out of people. He is a former university head football coach, educator, lecturer, researcher, and director of athletics. He's been part of thirteen championships as an athlete and coach at various levels. He's developed professional athletes, major award-winners at the university level, guest-coached in multiple Canadian Football League (CFL) training camps, and presented at various coaching clinics across Canada. Greg is perhaps best known for his work as the head football coach at University of Toronto (U of T). In 2008, U of T hired Greg to turn around its historic but distressed Varsity Blues football program, which had amassed the longest losing streak in Canadian university football history. The losing streak reached forty-nine games and spanned six and a half years. This was not only a massive challenge, but also Greg's first head coaching job. The steak ended in Greg's first game as head coach and put U of T football in the North American spotlight, drawing coverage from Canadian, U.S., and Toronto sports media for the next two weeks. Greg went on to finish second in voting for coach of the year, earning multiple first-place votes from his coaching peers. David Shibatani captured the win and the season in his book Turning the Corner: The Story of the 2008 University of Toronto Varsity Blues Football Team.
Although universities hired Greg primarily for his coaching expertise, he also collaborated with professors and Olympic coaches, conducted qualitative research, lectured on coaching theory and ethics in sport, and developed teachers. Over his fifteen-year teaching career at St. Francis Xavier University, University of Toronto, and University of Calgary, his classes were filled with aspiring educators, coaches, doctors, nurses, athletic therapists, and strength and conditioning specialists. For three decades, Greg has supported a diverse group of students, athletes, staff, alumni, and parents—helping them navigate challenges as diverse as the individuals themselves. Having successfully overcome personal and professional obstacles, Greg developed an empathetic approach that allows him to connect with others on a meaningful level, offering support that is both practical and deeply human. Over the years, he has refined his ability to listen deeply, communicate effectively, think critically, and plan proactively. With well-developed cognitive, emotional, and strategic skills, Greg analyzes, adapts, and implements solutions to help individuals overcome obstacles and perform at a high level. His body of work includes successfully supporting individuals through performance and confidence issues, disappointment, mental and physical health concerns, academic and financial pressures, career uncertainty, divorce, legal issues, gang involvement, addiction, self-harm, suicide, and loss. "I am grateful to have worked with and learned from so many exceptional individuals across Canada. I loved coaching teams, but I've realized that my true calling is mentorship."
ABOUT DR. SHAWN NORTHFIELD, PhD
Dr. Shawn Northfield is a retired educator and award-winning scholar with a PhD in Educational Leadership from the University of Nottingham. Recognized as a top emerging scholar in Canada, he has over 50 peer-reviewed publications and presentations globally, with a focus on multidimensional trust and new leadership (Published Articles). He taught at St. Francis Xavier University and as a guest professor at the Royal University of Bhutan. With 20+ years of teaching and coaching experience, including coaching quarterbacks at St. Francis Xavier University and the University of Calgary, Dr. Northfield's academic, leadership and research expertise, combined with his analytical and strategic approach, make him an invaluable asset to Domains - A Strategic Life. "I'm retired now, but I love the concept of Domains. I enjoy contributing to the research and auditing some of Greg's sessions. The framework Greg developed is both practical and grounded in principles. Greg's not looking to scale a business. He conducts all the sessions himself , he enjoys it, and it’s meaningful to him."
Greg and Shawn's association began in 1986 at St. Mary's High School in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where they won a city championship in football together, with Shawn serving as Greg's quarterback coach and teacher. Over the next 35 years, they reconnected many times, eventually coaching and teaching together at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Their shared passions for coaching, teaching, leadership, research, and philosophy have continued to strengthen their connection. Domains – A Strategic Life was developed because their most meaningful and transformative experiences have come through one-on-one interactions, where trust is built and real change happens. Their expertise in curriculum design inspired them to structure this program as a course, offering a comprehensive and strategic approach to organizing your thoughts and actions.
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SERVICES
THE COURSE:
THE WELL-BEING FRAMEWORK
FORMAT: One on One - Couples - Small Group
FOCUS: All Areas of Life
10 In-person or On-line Sessions
$3000.00 (CAN)