I’ve already finished my business plan for the year, and now I’m wrapping up a visioning board that corresponds to that. A visioning board helps people create a visual representation of what they want so they can “see” where they’re going. Mine allows me take a look at my lifestyle, business and travel goals and to really set my sights—literally—on what I want to stay focused on.

It’s important to keep your overall focus in mind when planning for the year, and a visioning board can be helpful for creating the clarity you need. My clients have mentioned how advantageous it is to be clear about what they want to accomplish. Establishing this clarity has made a significant difference in their lives.

When you begin the process of creating your board, don’t just focus on your business plan. Be sure that you have a complete vision—one that takes into account what you want for yourself above and beyond your business.

Creating Your Visioning Board

Once you’ve selected a piece of paper or poster board to serve as the backdrop for your vision, follow these steps:

1. Start with the idea of the lifestyle you want. That should influence your board and your business. (Remember, you want your board to influence your business and not the other way around. If you’re not careful, it’s easy to let your business take over. If you’re not in charge of your business, it will be in charge of you. That’s what has happened when you hear someone say, “My business is killing me.” or “My business doesn’t give me any time.”)
2. Next, choose your images. Sit down with a collection of magazines, cutting out what appeals to you. If you want a new house, a new car or a great vacation, include pictures of each. The pictures will remind you to create new opportunities in support of what they depict.
3. While working on #2, watch for words and phrases that represent your goals and dreams, and cut those out as well. Some of the ones I’ve collected include “dream big,” “indulge in the extraordinary,” and “it’s time for the vacation of a lifetime.” (One nice thing about working for yourself is that it’s easier to schedule vacation time.)
4. Look at family dreams as well and create a family vision. Beth and I are working on the visioning board together.
5. Don’t forget to include items representing your spiritual, intellectual, physical and emotional development.
6. Put your board in a high-traffic area so you can look at it often. Remember that you’re doing this exercise to create the kind of life that you want. Seeing these words and images will remind you on a regular basis of what you’re working for. It stimulates you and reinforces what you want, so it should reside in a prominent location.
7. Revise as needed. Your visioning board should a dynamic piece that you add to over the course of the year.
8. Now that you know what you want, create a specific action plan for how you’re going to achieve it.

Sample vision board image courtesy Wikipedia / Cjboertjens

—

I like to collect stories about belief change experiences. If you have any interesting ones, please share them below so I can comment on them in subsequent articles or posts. 

P.S. Do you want to share this post? Please do. Just be sure that it remains intact and includes the following bio.

About Terry: Terry Hickey, M.S., is a Certified NLP Professional Coach, Business Trainer and Consultant, a Certified Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and the co-owner of NLP Advantage Group. Originator of the Belief Breakthrough Method™, Terry specializes in teaching coaches and entrepreneurs how to rapidly resolve limiting beliefs about wealth and success. His tips and strategies can help you launch yourself into the future you want… NOW. http://terryhickey.com/