Every year you set out to make resolutions and before you know it you’ve blown it and feel rubbish. So many of us do that.
I quit making resolutions a few years back, replacing them with a much simpler approach that has brought me the results I wanted – without the dread of breaking a resolution or two in the process!
It all started when I realised the point in my life where I had actually made life happen was back in my corporate HR days setting the five-year vision and strategic plans. I always knew what the business needed, the team knew what we were working towards and we all knew what to do to make our company a success.
Once I started coaching and working on my own, I realised that a vision was even more important as my collaborators, suppliers and everyone else needed to both understand and work to a common point – the vision.
What’s in it for you spending time creating your vision?
Creating your vision has so many wonderful benefits, among them:
- Vision gives you a clear sense of purpose and direction.
- Not only does your vision keep you accountable for reaching your chosen destination, it is also motivating and inspiring, keeping you on track when you are feeling low.
- Having a clear vision focuses and aligns efforts so everyone is working towards the same understood goal.
- Your vision provides the guidance your support team need to make the right decisions and ensure you are getting what you asked for.
- Your vision will provide clarity and help save time and money.
For me, having a vision to focus on for life, my business and each big step I take, has made not only my work so much more rewarding, the results have arrived so much sooner than I expected.
How exactly do you create a vision of note?
Here are seven simple steps to creating clear success path for yourself:
- Whether it’s a vision for your health, happiness, wealth or life in general, know your destination. What is it you want to achieve?
- Set a comfortable timeframe for your vision of between one to ten years (or more if you feel comfortable going beyond that). Gou out in time as far as feels comfortable for you.
- Ask yourself “What do I really want?” Spend some time thinking about what you’ll see, hear, feel and do. Visualise what you want – be as big and bold as you like… no limits here!
- Pick a specific timeframe and stick to it (a five-year vision is easily managed and achievable). How does that affect your comfort levels? Here you are aiming for feeling excited and ready to rock your life.
- Brainstorm the first draft of your vision and be prepared to write more than one draft! Get all your thoughts in one place and then write a vision that encapsulates your list and makes you feel good. Hint: a lot of editing and rewriting needs to happen!
- Share your draft-vision with others, get as much feedback as possible, tweak and amend as needed – keep sharing until it feels spot on for you. Your vision sweet-spot is when you hear the feedback and your heart sings. That’s when you’ll know it’s spot on.
- Set your boundaries around what you do and don’t want for your vision, then get clear on what your definition of success is. Now marry the draft vision and your definition of success into one awesome vision statement. Hint: keep it short and sweet.
What next?
Keep your vision statement where you can see it every day. Remember to make sure your daily actions are aligned with your vision – you’ll see your success path clearly that way!
Enjoy and have fun with your vision and the new way of being, after all, who needs resolutions we don’t actually stick with?
Get in touch and let me know what your vision is for the coming year…
Cheryl-lya is a Transition Strategist: helping women around the globe plan launch and grow successful sustainable businesses & careers. She runs workshops alongside one-to-one coaching. Contact her: Book a call, or visit her website soulscompass.net Say ‘hello’ or share your joys via email: hello@soulscompass.net