No Time for Strategic Planning?
Start With a Vision Board Instead
What Is a Vision Board?
A Vision Board is collage of pictures, words and images that represent your goals and ambitions. It's as a way to visualize the future and make dreams become reality.
4 Reasons a Vision Board Can Work For You
1. Uses The Power of Positivity & Law of Attraction
The Law of Attraction uses the power of positivity in your mind to turn thoughts into reality. Basically, what you focus on, is what ends up happening with the help of your subconscious mind. If you tend to focus on the negative, those constant thoughts of what can go wrong, often does. When you focus instead on positive thoughts and have specific goals identified, you'll find a way to achieve them since your mind is primed to do what's necessary to make it happen.
2. Daily Reminder of Dreams & Goals
The key to success with a vision board is displaying it in a clearly visible place where you'll see it regularly. It's important to spend a few minutes, several times a week with your board - focusing on the goals, finding creative inspiration and mapping an action plan.
3. Motivation To Take The Actions Necessary
While the visualization aspect is key, another equally important component is thinking about HOW to make these ideas happen. This is challenging because usually there is no easy answer. It's about coming up with great ideas and working hard to make them happen. Use your vision board for the motivation to define all the steps necessary.
4. More FUN Than Traditional Planning
A vision board is a creative and fun way to address your dreams and goals for the future. It can be a great resource for your overall life - both personal and business, especially if you simply don't have time for more traditional planning.
The Law of Attraction uses the power of positivity in your mind to turn thoughts into reality. Basically, what you focus on, is what ends up happening with the help of your subconscious mind. If you tend to focus on the negative, those constant thoughts of what can go wrong, often does. When you focus instead on positive thoughts and have specific goals identified, you'll find a way to achieve them since your mind is primed to do what's necessary to make it happen.
2. Daily Reminder of Dreams & Goals
The key to success with a vision board is displaying it in a clearly visible place where you'll see it regularly. It's important to spend a few minutes, several times a week with your board - focusing on the goals, finding creative inspiration and mapping an action plan.
3. Motivation To Take The Actions Necessary
While the visualization aspect is key, another equally important component is thinking about HOW to make these ideas happen. This is challenging because usually there is no easy answer. It's about coming up with great ideas and working hard to make them happen. Use your vision board for the motivation to define all the steps necessary.
4. More FUN Than Traditional Planning
A vision board is a creative and fun way to address your dreams and goals for the future. It can be a great resource for your overall life - both personal and business, especially if you simply don't have time for more traditional planning.
Does a Vision Board Take The Place of a Marketing Plan?
Short answer: Maybe. It all depends on what your goals are and if you'll take the time each week to think through these goals and create an action plan. Personally, I have a vision board AND a marketing plan. I've been implementing marketing plans for over 20 years. Having well-defined goals, strategies, audience needs, etc. is crucial to keep the entire team working together and helps guide decision-making. But if you're a business owner with a small team or a soloprenuer/consultant, chances are you have an overwhelming to-do list and little time for a formal plan. Or, if you're looking to make significant lifestyle changes, a vision board can also be right for you.
A vision board makes you think about what you truly want in life and motivates you to live your best life now!
Get Started: How To Create Your Vision Board
1. Set Goals & Find Inspiring Images
Being able to identify what you want out of your life is essential. If you don't know exactly where you're going, how can you possibly get there? Reflect on your dreams and goals. This can be across your entire life or focused on one particular area such as: business, family, lifestyle, travel, etc. Next, find visual representation for the life changes you want. Some people use personal photos, others use words, while some people cut and paste magazine images or look for inspiration online.
2. Arrange Images On a Board Or Digital Document
Whether it's a corkboard, poster, powerpoint slide or dry erase board, there's no right or wrong way to create a vision board.
No matter the format, as long as your vision board inspires you take action that's the real key to success.
3. Display Board In Clear View
Designing a beautiful vision board is not just an arts and craft project. It's essential to display your board in a location where you will see it on a daily basis. The motivation that brings significant life changes does not occur if your vision board is sitting under a pile of papers.
4. Review Several Times a Week
Spend time focusing on your vision board every couple of days. Think through exactly what you need to do in order to accomplish those items. This is the hard part. You can have all the passion and motivation you want but if you don't take any action, your wishes will not come true. Remember you only get what you put into it.
Being able to identify what you want out of your life is essential. If you don't know exactly where you're going, how can you possibly get there? Reflect on your dreams and goals. This can be across your entire life or focused on one particular area such as: business, family, lifestyle, travel, etc. Next, find visual representation for the life changes you want. Some people use personal photos, others use words, while some people cut and paste magazine images or look for inspiration online.
2. Arrange Images On a Board Or Digital Document
Whether it's a corkboard, poster, powerpoint slide or dry erase board, there's no right or wrong way to create a vision board.
No matter the format, as long as your vision board inspires you take action that's the real key to success.
3. Display Board In Clear View
Designing a beautiful vision board is not just an arts and craft project. It's essential to display your board in a location where you will see it on a daily basis. The motivation that brings significant life changes does not occur if your vision board is sitting under a pile of papers.
4. Review Several Times a Week
Spend time focusing on your vision board every couple of days. Think through exactly what you need to do in order to accomplish those items. This is the hard part. You can have all the passion and motivation you want but if you don't take any action, your wishes will not come true. Remember you only get what you put into it.
Use Short-Term Actions To Achieve Long-Term Goals
We like to dream big but the bigger the goals, the more overwhelming it is to get started. This is where working backwards can be a game-changer. Start by defining what you aspects you can accomplish this year, knowing that the truly life-changing dreams may take several years to achieve. Then work backwards again to chunk out the smaller steps into your short-term action plan. Trying to accomplish everything at once is not realistic and sets you up for failure. That's why many people also break down their ideas into steps to do quarterly. This is a more realistic way to make a short-term action plan for long-term success.
Success Only Comes When You Work For It
Whether you're using a vision board or a more traditional planning approach, having a tool that defines your goals lets you be proactive rather than reactive. It's a great way to stay focused and motivated when you're overwhelmed and stressed with daily life. But, simply creating a Vision Board alone will not make it all come true. Success only happens when you're willing to work hard to make your dreams become reality.
DIANA STEM is a virtual marketing director and content strategist with over 20 years of marketing expertise including campaigns for Johnson’s Baby and Band-Aid Brands. Specialized in helping financial firms, Diana takes a strategic planning approach to create a customized marketing roadmap full of enhanced branding and dynamic content that converts. Diana partners with each firm and takes the time to learn their unique business details. This approach brings greater value and sales results than typical marketing agencies..
