How to Craft a Compelling Vision Statement
English essayist James Allen wrote, “You will become as great as your dominant aspiration … If you cherish a vision, a lofty ideal in your heart, you will realize it.” Every Creative Professional needs a compelling vision that moves him in the direction he wants to go. With a compelling vision, an extraordinary lifestyle awaits.
Stretch your mind and envision how you want your business or career to look like. Articulate your aspirations and clarify your far-reaching goals and dreams. Think short term. Think long term.
Start by answering a deceptively simple yet ultra-powerful question, What do you want? Try asking this question to most people and you’ll get that “deer-in-the-headlights” look. Most people know what they don’t want, but few souls ever pinpoint their objectives. (Could this be one of the reasons 95 percent of all businesses fail and why few people are satisfied wit their careers?)
What do you really want to create and achieve in your business or career? Answer the following questions without holding anything back. This is just an exercise. Allow yourself to peer into your potential future:
- What will your career or business look like when it’s done? (If you don’t know what it’s supposed to look like, you won’t know when you’ve achieved your objective or how to navigate your course. Clarify the end picture.)
- What will you be a leader in? What will you be the best at? What do you love doing? (In order to create massive value for your customers, employees and associates, determine what you will do better than anyone else.)
- Whom do you want to impact? Who are you committed to best serving? (The more clearly you can define whom you plan to serve, the more effective you’ll become at fulfilling their needs.)
- How will your work positively impact the planet? (Without sounding grandiose, what contribution will your work make to your customers, community and/or society-at-large?)
A note to all perfectionists: Don’t be a perfectionist. Trying to be perfect will only hinder your ability to craft your vision. Simply answer the questions as honestly as you can without over-thinking or over-analyzing.
After you answer all of the above questions, review your answers and combine the most important elements into a concise Vision Statement.
Get into a centered and enthusiastic state and decide on your vision. Capture all your thoughts on paper without any restrictions—let go and have fun!
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