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Welcome to my Newsletter - Monday Morning Motivations (yes, I've rebranded the name of the Newsletter) - Article #6:

Why writing personal vision is the most important thing you can do

January 16, 2023

Having a personal vision of where you want to end up is the single most important thing to have when you are striving to reach your goals in your career.

According to 'statistics', only 8% of people have a vision of where they want their lives and careers to go. And only 3% have actually written it down.

An analogy for this is imagine you are starting on a car trip, but you don’t know where your destination is. Chances are you are going to spend a lot of time on the road driving, but not actually getting anywhere. Why it’s even more important in reaching your goals is that, there is a relatively short window from when you first set out, to when you arrive at your destination. And if that vision is not clear of where you are headed, then more often than not, you will never reach your goal.

Here’s one of my favourite quotes around not having a vision of where you want to end up from Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carrol:

[Alice asks] “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”

“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.

“I don’t much care where—” said Alice.

“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.

“—so long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as an explanation.

“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.” —Chapter 6, Pig and Pepper

The context is that Alice has followed a white rabbit (don’t ask me why - curiosity killed the cat?) into a magical world called Wonderland and (I suppose) she is looking for a way out. Along the way, she meets a magical cat and they have the conversation above. As Alice doesn’t really know (or care) where she is trying to get to, the Cheshire cat responds with a flippant “then it doesn’t matter which way you go”. In life and your career, this couldn't be more true. If you don’t know where you are going, then it doesn’t matter which way you go.

My personal vision comes from an account in the bible of a Roman Centurion (a General who commanded 100 soldiers) called Cornelius: “He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God.” Acts 10:2. This account of Cornelius is the vision of who I aspire to be and I lead my life accordingly. Why does this particular passage speak to me? Cornelius managed to be “devout [and] God-fearing” and also a soldier and a leader (as opposed to a priest).

So how do you find your vision for yourself or your company? It’s a little bit morbid, but the process I use is that of a eulogy. Imagine that you are at your own funeral. And at your funeral, all the people that you have impacted come up one by one and make a short speech about you, your partner, your kids, your family, your colleagues, and anyone else you may have spent time on this earth with. What would you want them to say?

Another less morbid way would be to imagine yourself reading an AFR (Australian Financial Review - one of the pre-eminent financial publications in Australia) article about yourself, what would that article say?

In both of the cases above, write down in as much detail as possible what the 'end-state' looks like.

And if these two methods don't help, then here is a 6 step guide on how to create your own personal vision for your life and/or career:

Step 1. Reflect on your values and passions. Think about what drives you and gives your life meaning.

Reflecting on my values and passions is a key step in discovering my personal vision for life and career. To do this, I start by taking some time to really think about what matters to me and what gives my life meaning. I ask myself questions like 'What do I believe in?', 'What brings me joy and fulfillment?', 'What do I need to feel fulfilled?', and 'What kind of impact do I want to have?'. I also look for clues in my past experiences and successes, and I pay attention to the activities and people that bring out the best in me. With this awareness, I'm better able to make decisions that align with my values and passions, and stay focused on achieving my vision.

Step 2. Consider your dreams, ambitions, and goals. Make a list of what you would like to achieve.

Making a list of what I would like to achieve is a great way to get clear on my personal vision for life and career. I start by brainstorming a list of goals that I would like to achieve in the short, medium, and long term. I try to be as specific as possible, and include both tangible goals (e.g. getting a degree, starting a business) and intangible goals (e.g. becoming a better listener, managing my stress). Once I have my list, I prioritize it and break it down into smaller steps so I can start taking action on it right away.

Step 3. Develop a plan of action. Break down the steps you need to take to realize your vision.

I start by taking the list of goals I made and breaking them down into smaller, achievable steps. I then prioritize these steps and set a timeline for when I want to complete them. I also create mini-milestones and rewards, so I can celebrate my progress and stay motivated. Having a plan of action helps me to stay on track and take action on my vision. For example, if I want to lost 5KG in 3 months, some mini milestones could be going to the gym 3 times a week.

Step 4. Visualize the future. Imagine what your life would look like if you were to achieve your vision.

I start by taking some time to really visualize what I want my life to look like. I think about my goals and the types of experiences I want to have. I try to be as specific as possible and use all of my senses to really bring the vision to life. Sometimes I will go to a quiet place to do this or a long walk with my headphones on.

Step 5. Reach out for support. Talk to mentors and seek advice from people who have achieved success in the areas that interest you.

I start by seeking out mentors who can provide advice and guidance. I also look for people who have achieved success in the areas that interest me. I ask them questions and listen to their experiences and advice. This helps me to get a better understanding of what it takes to achieve success and stay motivated on my vision.

Step 6. Take risks. Experiment with different paths and be open to new ideas.

I try to be open to new ideas and don't be afraid to make mistakes. This helps me to stay flexible and discover new opportunities. I also remind myself that taking risks is part of the process and that failure is a necessary part of success. Remember that a vision isn't static and it is always evolving as time progresses.

Finally, once your vision is crafted, how do you know that it's what I call a 'blazing-hot' vision?

The first sign that your vision may not be up to par is if it’s not inspiring. A vision should stretch us and push us to become the best version of ourselves. If your vision isn’t exciting, it’s not going to be motivating.

Another sign is if you’re not taking action. Having a vision is useless if you never take the necessary steps to make it a reality. A vision should be an active pursuit, not just a distant dream.

Finally, if your vision isn’t measurable and achievable, it’s not going to lead to success. Having specific, achievable goals is essential for reaching our highest potential. Without them, we’re just spinning our wheels and not getting anywhere.

The fundamental purpose of having a personal vision is to provide direction and focus to your life and career. Having a personal vision helps to create clarity and provide motivation to take action. It allows you to set goals and make decisions that are aligned with your values and passions. Having a personal vision also helps to provide a sense of purpose and meaning and gives you something to strive for.

Hope you've enjoyed this week's "Monday Morning Motivations" Newsletter article. And yes, I'm back to writing on topics to help empower young leaders after a 3 month break.