According to Merriam-Webster it’s;
“Something seen in a dream, trance, or ecstasy
A manifestation to the senses of something immaterial
A thought, concept, or object formed by the imagination”
If I had to describe “vision” in my own words it would be the ability to imagine a state, object, or experience that is not yet existing. Which is why crafting a vision statement isn’t just a corporate exercise reserved for boardrooms and zoom meetings; it’s a vital step for individuals to define their purpose and direction in life.
Building Teams
Great leaders create more leaders, not followers. Great leaders have vision, share vision, and inspire others to create their own. – Roy T Bennett
Couldn’t have said it better myself, Pablo! Despite the wild imagination, I never considered myself good at drawing. But, I do have a vision! It’s changed over the years, but there have always been some common threads. Fascination with business, my love for people, and a burning curiosity!
My vision is to impact people around world by building incredible teams that solve complex problems and create meaningful experiences.
I see myself traveling the world helping people improve their business and do unlock the potential for them to do meaningful work by building dynamic teams. In this vision I have built businesses in different industries, ranging from real estate, coaching, events, art, entertainment, and technology.
I can see it now…
How it Drives Me
“If I paint a wild horse, you might not see the horse… but surely you will see the wildness!” ― Pablo Picasso
I believe that I’ve always had a vision. I can remember when I was younger I would tell my dad all the time, “I want to be an inventor.” We all know you can go out and apply for jobs as an inventor, but I knew I wanted to be creative, explore the nuances of the world and build something.
I have felt the presence of my vision evolving throughout my life and my career. Whether it was early in my career seeking leadership opportunities or in my personal life joining various development, professional and philanthropic networking groups.
A vision puts substance behind your goals. Think of your vision as that destination. It’s your end goal. If you’re just creating goals without a larger destination in mind, it’s fruitless labor. More than anything having a vision sets the stage for the standard you’ll hold yourself to.
Why does vision matter
The benefits of having a vision extend far beyond mere wishful thinking; they permeate every aspect of your personal and professional life. Imagine having a deeper sense of Purpose and Direction; Motivation and Inspiration; Focus; & Resilience and Adaptability. (BetterUp Article)
- Purpose and Direction: A compelling vision infuses your endeavors with purpose, giving meaning to your actions and decisions. It provides a sense of direction, guiding you towards your ultimate goals amidst the myriad distractions of modern life.
- Motivation and Inspiration: When faced with obstacles or setbacks, it’s easy to lose sight of your goals. However, a vivid vision acts as a motivational powerhouse, fueling your determination and resilience. It reminds you of the bigger picture, inspiring you to persevere in the pursuit of your dreams.
- Alignment and Focus: In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, clarity is paramount. A well-crafted vision statement aligns your efforts, ensuring that every action contributes to your overarching goals. It serves as a filter, helping you prioritize tasks and allocate resources effectively.
- Attracting Opportunities: Like a magnet, a compelling vision attracts opportunities, resources, and like-minded individuals to your orbit. Whether it’s investors, collaborators, or customers, people are drawn to clarity and purpose. Your vision becomes a rallying cry, uniting stakeholders in pursuit of a common cause.
I can see clearly now
I want you to have a vision for yourself. No matter what it may be. Start small, I’ll give you the steps here, but if you’re up to the challenge, below I have an exercise you can do to build a crystal clear vision.
- Reflect and Define Your Values: Begin by identifying your core values and beliefs. What matters most to you? What legacy do you wish to leave behind?
- Envision Your Ideal Future: Close your eyes and visualize your ideal future in vivid detail. What does success look, feel, and sound like to you? Incorporate all aspects of your life, from career to relationships and personal growth.
- Create Your Vision Statement: Clearly write your vision into a concise statement that is simple to understand and fully represents all that you wish to become. Keep it simple, yet inspiring, ensuring that it aligns with your heart and soul – a mantra, guiding your decisions and actions.
Tip: Review and Revise Regularly – Your vision is not set in stone; it’s a living, breathing entity that evolves over time. Celebrate your progress, but also embrace change and adaptation as necessary.
Creating a Crystal Clear Vision in 4 steps
(This was an amazing article from BetterUp on creating your own vision in 4 easy steps. See below)
Step 1: Letter from the future you (15 minutes)
Imagine yourself living the perfect life of your dreams. How old are you? Where are you sitting down to write this letter? Are you on vacation or a work trip or are you even working anymore, so now you live on vacation? Now begin to write a letter to the “you” of today from “yourself” in this perfect future. Describe everything you have accomplished in your life and how these accomplishments make you feel. What you are most proud of?
Step 2: Keeping Receipts (10 minutes)
What do you define as success? Take time to think of 3-5 successes in your life. They can be personal (get married, travel the world) or professional (get promoted, find a new job). They can be large (close major client, build a book of work) or small (Speak out again a bad decision, help a friend). Ideally, you’ll want to include all. Why are they meaningful to you.
Step 3: Building the Vision (5 minutes)
In this step, we want to collect both elements from the letter from the future and the list of successes. Read both again and circle keywords related to the following fields: environment, skills, emotions, beliefs, values, and purpose.
- Environment: This refers to everything that has to do with the environment you envisioned (warm, supportive, etc.).
- Skills: They refer to competencies such as problem-solving, decision-making, creativity, and so on.
- Emotions: They relate to the emotional context. You can likely find some emotions described in your letter (joy, satisfaction, etc.).
- Beliefs: These are your thoughts expressed in a general way. For example, “When I work hard, I achieve what I want” or “When I ask people for help, they support me.”
- Values: They are universal driving values such as love, kindness, justice, and so on.
- Purpose: It relates to your mission. You may find it expressed as an answer to the question: how do you want to make a difference in the world?
Step 4: Write your vision statement (5 minutes)
- Now you have all the keywords to write down your personal vision statement. If you are a visual person, you can even create a drawing with these keywords, but it is recommended to have it in a written form too. In order for the vision statement to be effective, it should be as detailed as you can make it.
In the journey of entrepreneurship and personal growth, one of the most potent tools at your disposal is often the most intangible: vision. Vision is not merely a fanciful dream or a lofty goal; it’s the North Star guiding your every decision, the beacon illuminating your path amidst uncertainty.