How can you create a vision for your life that is aligned with your values?

You hear it all the time... Mission, Vision, Purpose... Some organizations pick one or two or even mix each statement. However, they are each independent driving forces working cohesively to achieve a greater unified future. The meaning of the vision is to guide your future focus and decision-making. Without vision, your mission and purpose shall falter. A mission is the foundational non-negotiable standard. The purpose is the motivation and vision, the guide to what you are working to achieve.

The bigger picture needs to be clear to be able to define the smaller goals and steps towards that step in achieving your vision. There are people who are all about the bigger picture, clearly seeing the vision of where they want to go, whether in life generally or when it comes to driving their company towards the success they envision. One question that has helped support me in creating that vision, is asking myself where I see myself (or company) in 5,10, 15 years. What does that look like for me, what does that feel like, and what does that sound like. Write down everything that describes that vision, who is around you, how you're feeling, and where are you when envisioning yourself being in that state.

A vision is like a seed that you plant in your head to drive your success. It is the thing that is going to determine your every move and motivate you to carry on. It is important to have a vision because when things get tough, that vision will remind you what the end goal is going to be like. It will motivate you to carry on. As for me no matter what is going on around me, my vision keeps me motivated. When obstacles and distractions come my way, I keep focused because I know what my bigger picture looks like and I am determined to get there.

A vision provides direction and purpose, guiding individuals or organizations toward a desired future state. It serves as a motivational force, helping to align efforts and make strategic decisions in pursuit of common goals.

Your vision leads to vision statement and vision board. The vision board acts as an umbrella within which all the thoughts start getting cooked. It acts as a fuel keep the desire burning to achieve our mission of life.

In both personal and professional settings it is incredibly important to self-reflect. Experiencing different cultures, working environments, and forms of engagement with our colleagues, business partners, and customers allows us to better understand what is the golden standard we pursue to achieve. As we go through those experiences, it is inevitable to reject some motions. At the same time, it is only natural that some practices will be easy to adopt and/or reinvent. In the end, it becomes clear which values we subscribe to. As a result, we are more inclined to join a company or a project that reflects our professional beliefs; and we are more likely to follow a leader who represents our personal values.

Acknowledging, accepting and honouring our natural, human feelings as we navigate unfolding experiences can give invaluable insight into our values and what holds deep meaning for us. This can connect us to greater understanding of what is prompting our choices and actions in each moment. And enable us to be more conscious of how we can continue to live in alignment with our values through our own empowered choices.

Reflect on experiences that brought you joy or fulfillment, consider what qualities you admire in others, and identify moments when you felt most authentic. Ask yourself what principles are truly important to you and what you want to prioritize in life. This introspection can help reveal your core values.

Discovering and understanding personal values has been a cornerstone of my growth: I regularly reflect on what brings me joy and fulfillment, as well as the qualities I admire in others. This helps me identify my own core values. I also consider what I cannot tolerate or compromise on, which further clarifies my principles. Engaging with various tools like value cards and exercises enhances this exploration, allowing me to prioritize my values effectively. This process has been essential in shaping my decisions and actions, aligning them with what truly matters to me.

Discovering your values is a journey into understanding what drives and fulfills you: Self-Reflection: I regularly take time for introspection, asking myself what truly brings me joy, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose. Observation and Admiration: Observing qualities I admire in others helps me identify values that resonate with me. It's about recognizing traits in others that align with my aspirations. Passions and Deal-Breakers: I assess what I'm passionate about and what I cannot tolerate. This helps in defining what I stand for and what I strive towards in both my personal and professional life.

Im a big believer of vision boards! They work, because they keep you focused consciously and subconsciously on your goals and what you want to achieve. We have thousands of pieces of information and data processing in a second. As a filtration within the brain we get to decide what we want to focus on, and let go of all the rest, usually its 7-8 pieces of information at once. The more probability you give to your vision from your vision board, the higher the probability you will set it as a priority to seek and work on, because you are giving it the attention it needs. It's setting the attention on what matters and what's important to you.

Crafting a vision for acceptance involves envisioning a future where diversity, understanding, and inclusion thrive. Consider expressing a commitment to embracing differences, fostering empathy, and creating an environment where everyone feels valued. Use language that promotes openness, respect, and a shared sense of belonging.

Crafting a vision is an inspiring process of mapping out your aspirations: Utilize Creative Methods: I often use a combination of writing and visualization. This blend allows me to articulate my vision both verbally and visually, making it more tangible and vivid. Incorporate Structured Frameworks: I leverage frameworks like SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to give my vision both clarity and feasibility. Embrace Ambition and Emotion: My vision is not just a statement; it's a beacon that guides me. I ensure it's ambitious enough to push my limits and resonates emotionally to keep me motivated and driven.

As a vision board expert, visualizing YOUR dreams is the most important thing. You should research the steps, be specific about your goals and evoke emotion in your vision. If you want to travel to Africa to lay on the beach, make sure you pick a picture on the exact beach you want to be on and include yourself in the picture. Most people forget to include themselves in their visions which is why they struggle to achieve them. Your mind does not know the difference between visualizing your dreams vs living them. It's great practice to train your brain to recognize the pattern for what you desire. There are may ways to create your vision, but whatever method you choose, make sure you keep your vision close, review it often and take action.

Once you know your values, you will also understand what you truly desire from life. When crafting a vision, it is important that you are authentic because only then you will be motivated to achieve it in the long term. Visualizing, writing and vision boards have been personally very useful to me. More importantly think of creating a vision like a craft project, because then you would not be afraid to experiment a little. This way the process becomes fun and you would explore many new things as creating a vision becomes a fun activity instead of black-and-white-CV seriousness it usually is attached to.

I’ve become a convert to visualization. For years, the idea of the old Vision Boards turned me off. But after learning more about how our brains work, about abundant mindset, and other neuroscience findings, I now embrace communicating my vision through visuals and Action Boards. They can convey so much more about the feelings and behaviors you seek than traditional strategic planning tools can.

Communicate your vision clearly and compellingly through various channels. Use written messages, speeches, or visual materials to articulate the vision's key points. Tailor your communication to your audience, emphasizing the positive impact and shared values. Encourage feedback and engagement to ensure understanding and alignment with the vision.

It's important to understand that your vision may not always align with others. When communicating the vision, people will interpret it based on their own perspective. To effectively convey the path forward, it's crucial to use multiple methods of communication, such as verbal, visual, and action-oriented reinforcement. Consistency is key in ensuring that everyone is on the same page.

Even the best communicators fail if the message is not well-tailored to the audience. It is crucial to map out our stakeholders to make sure we're efficient whilst managing our communications. First of all, different stakeholders have different decision-making power, which enables us to understand: who is the priority and who is possibly less important, hence needs less information or less frequent communication. Secondly, it is important to determine the level of vested interest - what information flow is required and how frequently should the updates be provided. Lastly, we must understand the stakeholder needs. How do they communicate? Do they require written, spoken, formal, or informal updates? Understanding these aspects is key.

Communicating a vision effectively is about making a connection: Know Your Audience: I tailor my message to resonate with my listeners, using language and stories that are meaningful to them. Clarity and Enthusiasm: I focus on being clear and concise, using simple words to convey my message. My enthusiasm for the vision is evident in my communication, as passion is infectious. Openness to Dialogue: I always welcome feedback, questions, and suggestions. Engaging in a two-way conversation about the vision invites collaboration and support.

1. Leadership Alignment:Ensure leaders are aligned and committed to the vision, serving as role models. 2. Clear Communication 3. Inclusive Involvement:Involve diverse perspectives in the vision's development and implementation, fostering a sense of ownership among stakeholders. 4. Training and Development:Provide training that aligns with the vision, empowering individuals to contribute effectively. 5. Recognition and Rewards:reward behaviors that align with the vision, reinforcing a positive culture. 6. Iterative Evaluation:Regularly assess progress, gather feedback, and be willing to adjust strategies to enhance alignment and effectiveness. 7. Cultural Integration 8. Empowerment:Empower individuals to contribute to the vision.

Implementing a vision requires dedication and a methodical approach: Breaking Down into Smaller Goals: I translate my vision into achievable objectives. This involves creating a detailed action plan with clear resources, strategies, and timelines. Monitoring and Adjusting: Regularly tracking progress is crucial. I stay flexible, adjusting plans as needed to stay aligned with my overarching vision. Celebration and Gratitude: Acknowledging and celebrating each milestone keeps me motivated. I also express gratitude to those who support me, recognizing that success is a collective effort.

1. Define Your Vision Clearly: Articulate a vision aligned values 2. Set Achievable Goals: Break down to realistic goals 3. Create an Action Plan: Develop steps, resources & timelines 4. Monitor and Adjust: Regularly assess progress 5. Express Gratitude: Acknowledge & appreciate 6. Celebrate Milestones: Celebrate achievements-stay motivated 7. Reflect and Refine: Periodically revisit and refine goals 8. Effective Communication: Share your vision for support/collaboration. 9. Consistent Action Implement your plan consistently 10. Be Kind to Yourself Don't be too hard on yourself. Stick to values but reassess and adapt in this fast-changing world, staying true to principles while embracing necessary adjustments.

Be consistent. Effort over force. When you put in daily effort towards your vision it may feel like it's going nowhere to begin with. Consistency is what will make it come to life. Don't give up after a few weeks thinking it won't work, give it time. Have as many conversations as you can to get your vision out into the world. Direction review - are your daily efforts creating traction towards your vision?

An example I’ve seen is when starting a business, if you keep planning and procrastinating, you won’t get it done. If you think of it and decide to start, the little steps taken, one day at a time, one tiny bit at a time until you get to achieve your goals. Also patting yourself on the back for the small wins is motivating. Self reflection and self awareness

A vision without an action plan is just a dream. The steps to implement the vision and the action plan are as important in defining your vision. Make sure that what you do is adding up towards the vision you have for yourself and/or your company. Small steps make up the journey to the big vision you have. Another important point to highlight is the importance of consistency towards your goals to achieve your vision. Its not about working when you feel inspired and/or motivated, but doing the work despite of those feelings, and that's what builds up the right mindset to keep going, and achieving your goals

The biggest erosion of enterprise value today is leadership hubris. What get you here might not get you there in today's complex environment. Teamwork is critical. We have too many ultracrepidarians in the working world today

Very often we are led to believe that our vision should be something set in stone - it's a goal we wish to achieve, and thus should continue working hard for. I beg to differ. In the business world, we constantly monitor the market as well as our competitors. More often than not, the markets are volatile, sometimes a new player penetrates the segment and as a result, all the incumbents are forced to step up their game: reviewing their budgets, strategic planning as well as adopting new methods and changing behaviour. It's fine to adjust our vision as we work towards our goals. Be consistent, and seek progress, but at the same time be flexible and accommodate any changes that are necessary to achieve the major things that you work for.