“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. I’m not sure who said it originally but these are words to live by. In general life and in business you need a plan.
I am a firm believer in setting objectives and goals, all things are possible and for some reason putting pen to paper to write them down seems to make the whole process more legit and real.
When setting plans for life, why not draft a vision board? This exercise is particularly enjoyable because not only are you able to use visual aids to capture your goals but it also serves as a time capsule when looking back years from now to realize you have achieved everything you thought may have been impossible at one time.
When I created my vision board several years ago, I used the great words of Brian Dyson, former CEO of Coca Cola. via Sir Richard Branson as my guide. https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/juggling-life
His idea is that life is a game in which you are juggling 5 balls in the air. These are categorized as: work, family, health, friends, and spirit.
Now let’s get started:
- Divide your vision board into these 5 categories and envision a short term or long term goal you wish to set with each.
- Find visual aids to support the vision of the goal being accomplished.
Here are some ideas for each:
- Work: Find a photo of a powerful executive and add a text box overlay with the number of the salary target or award you wish to achieve.
- Family: find a photo of a happy and healthy family vacationing somewhere you could only dream of.
- Health: find a photo of a body image you identify with or admire and an exercise or eating plan you would like to start. Or alternatively, use a picture of fresh fruits and vegetables and a blood pressure or weight target. Don’t forget this also applies to mental health where you can use journal writing or experiences involving serenity.
- Friends: A photo of an experience or activities you can share with friends. Showing appreciation for your friends, or networking ideas to find more great people you can call friends.
- Spirit: What can you do to nurture your spirit or enhance your spirituality? A commitment to a spiritual practice, giving back etc.
- Review your vision board each week (I usually review it during my journal writing ritual each Sunday).
- When you have accomplished items on your vision board, simply replace the images that reflect new goals. This is an everlasting and ever evolving exercise that can work miracles in your life.
The idea behind any goal is to make them simple, measurable, attainable, realistic and tangible (SMART).
I can’t wait to hear how this exercise has made positive changes in your life. Please be sure to share your success stories with me. Good luck and have fun!
-Paolina
