There is a very good reason why I place vision at the very beginning of my work with clients and why a good achievement system rests on vision as the cornerstone. The reason is this: The ability to use our imagination to envision a future as you want it to be is the key to daily focus. When you allow yourself to use your imagination to picture a future as you want it to be, you create clarity, and future clarity creates focus for the moment.
Over the years, I have experienced all types of resistance to the process of vision, but the beneficial effects of using the imagination in the creation of a long-term vision is a significant factor in the system of achievement. The real value of vision is that it puts the WHY behind what you do!
So where should you begin?
First, you may need to get past some negative conditioning you received as a child. Ever heard the words, “Stop daydreaming and pay attention” from a well-intentioned teacher? From a very young age, many of us have been conditioned by culture and education to believe that the use of our imaginations is an inferior and wasteful form of thinking.
Here’s the good news: I want you to use your God-given imagination and think big! Put your feet up, take a deep breath, and really think about what you would like your future to look like. Use the guidelines below to get started.
STEP # 1 – Pick a date in the future
The best way to get started building your own vision statement is to pick a future date (many people choose their birthday) five years into the future. Now, with that date in mind, write down all the facts that would relate to your life at that time, such as your age, ages of the members of your family, home, location, or activities.
STEP # 2 – Define your future
Next, think about the future facts and relate those facts to fit exactly what you want your life to look like in five years. You are defining your future as you want it to be.
STEP #3 — Write it out
Once you have your thoughts in place, write a narrative description of a day in your life, five years into your future. Here is the key: Write your narrative in the present tense as if you are already there. Your vision statement should be no more than one page long and should evoke strong feelings and emotions when you read it. There is something about building your vision statement into a description of a day in your life that brings your vision to life with all the sights, sounds, and feelings of reality.
STEP #4 — Post it so you can read it often
When you have your vision statement ready, type it up on your computer and put it into a format that you want. Then frame it and place it in a location where you will see it often. Remember that your vision statement is never about reality. It is about designing life by your dreams.
A well-prepared vision statement will inspire both your feelings and your emotions and will bring sharper focus to your daily and monthly planning and activities. In closing, you only have two choices regarding your future: you can plan it the way you want it to be, or you can wait for the situations and circumstances of life to design it for you. Don’t allow inaction to dictate your potential. Take the time now to create a passionate vision statement for your future.
Inspiring genuine growth and achievement in leaders, David Byrd has 30 years of experience working with top business executives and their organizations. He is a master of effective leadership and works closely with leaders worldwide to maximize their leadership potential. For more information about The Next-Level Achievement System® or David’s book, Achievement – A Proven System For Next Level Growth, visit http://www.authorsup.com/David-Byrd.
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