You know… I’m a pretty visual person. If I can see it… I’m pretty sure I can make it happen.
Unless we’re talking about body building. That ain’t happen’. Nope
But when it comes to goals and getting things done, visual mapping and dreaming is a powerful way for me to clarify goals and focus my efforts.
[Enter stage left] The Vision Board
I don’t use this tool enough so my skills feel so rusty. But I recently dusted off those skills to see what they might produce. Recently I shared about my journey through career change and a vision board is one of my first steps toward wrapping my arms around an enormous task. Vision boards are not easy to do. Which is why so many don’t do it. But if you’re in to…
Investing your energy intentionally…
Giving focus to your plans…
Taking action that produces results…
…then a vision board might be a great resource for you.
The key to a good vision board boils down to patience. It’s not about copy/paste images on a digital board. It’s about honing in on what you want, what that looks like and what it might take to see it materialize. And it can be as simple as exploring 3 questions to unlock a better year ahead:
First, ask: “What do I want?”
Now… the Covey–Hyatt–Allen experts would ask a slightly different question. Something more like, “What do I want to achieve?” And, let me be clear, those guys are the gurus. Not me. And I won’t pretend to be. I’m simply sharing the question that works best for me. You see, the goal of the question is to prompt some dreaming. But for my crazy, over-thinking mind… asking the question “What do I want to achieve?” can prompt me to play it safe. I view my answer through the lens of what is possible… what is achievable. And (if I’m honest) often what is easier.
Asking, “What do I want?” opens things up a little. And I’m willing to dream more. I consider what is happening now and what I want to happen in 90 days, 180 days, 9 months, a year from today. In fact, I’ve begun writing them as small stories that are only a few sentences. The key is that each response to the question is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. (i.e. SMART goals).
Second, dream: “What does it look like to me?”
We all want different things. For me, when I consider what I want… it looks like leveraging resources to buy back time in small ways like paying someone else to deep clean my home, hiring someone to provide coaching & mentorship, having the influence to impact felt-needs in the community and funding my odd attraction to white tennis shoes. Success means different things to different people. The key is to get specific with this question. Because the answers help me identify images and phrases that are meaningful and motivating. [Copy/paste enter stage right…] Now, we can start capturing pictures.
I’m a fan of photography. So my vision board has candid shots to represent what I want. I’m learning to fill in the gaps with quotes but that’s a new step for me. I have a bad habit of skipping over that step in the past. Mostly because I’m impatient. (And this should surprise no one.)
Third, explore: “What do I need to do to make it a reality?”
This is where you see your time and energy pay off. Using my vision board, I can focus my attention and energy in the right direction. Time is the one commodity we can spend and never get it back. So, let’s not waste it. With such specified imagery, I’ve found that shaping strategic goals from this imagery takes a new level. With imagery attached, the goal feels a little more personal… a little more compelling. What kind of goals should you set? Great question.
I have a bad habit of breaking off WAY more than I can chew. For whatever reason, I’m still convinced you can row the boat while building it at the same time… while cascading down the waterfall. But let’s not get stuck on that.
When I set goals, I have to remember that I trend toward lofty thinking. My counter-strategy to this superpower is to invest a little more time breaking each step down to its irreducible minimum. By the time I reach that point, I have a very clear picture of critical things like…
What skills or resources do I need to acquire?
Who can I ask for help or support?
What obstacles do I need to overcome?
It’s not rocket science. But it can be magical. Especially when you see the image on the board become reality.
I don’t want to wait another year to see what I really want to see in life. If I’ve learned anything from the past few years, it’s that…
…time is precious…
…life is short…
…and there is more in me to offer the world.
🙂
Bonus Content
I’m the kinda’ gal that like the time and space to craft something like this on my own. I may need input… but I’ll grab it along the way. Yet I know people that feel this activity is better as a collaborative process. So, if you’re looking for ways to make it a little more fun… consider these ideas:
- Invite friends or family to join. Order the pizza, put a bottle of wine on the table and give the voices you lean on the most to give feedback and support.
- Make it a party. Invite friends over, play some music, and provide all the supplies you need and craft your own visions boards corporately. Imagine the laughter.
- Go 2-D. For many of us, a digital vision board is too easily forgotten. Make a physical vision board using markers, stickers, glitter, or whatever else you like to add some personality and creativity.
- Make it interactive. Instead of just pasting images onto a board, consider adding elements that you can move or change. Like… a vision board jar where you write your goals on slips of paper and add them to the jar. You could also create a vision board calendar where you can mark off the days as you work towards your goals.
The reality is… if you can’t see it in your mind, you’re not likely to see it in reality. So, set yourself up to see it clearly… then enjoy the process as you bring your goals into existence.
