I ask my clients to write up their vision statement in the present tense as if they have already achieved it. We imagine meeting up in 5-year's time and I ask them what's happening in their business ...
A little bit on the psychological rationale behind this:
It's about how your brain, in particular, your subconscious brain, works. It doesn't recognise the difference in the past, present and future tenses. It only operates in the here and now. It is also very good at conserving energy so it takes the path of least resistance.
Doing something completely new takes enormous effort. Think about how shattered you were after your first driving lesson. Once you've had a few lessons it became easier and less tiring.
So visualising your future as if you were already living it 'tricks' your brain into thinking you have already done it. It starts to lay down those pathways for you to follow.
However, your brain is part of you and although you may trick yourself up to a point, nothing beats the real thing. So how much stronger will those pathways become when you have really done it?
How many sportspeople have you watched struggle for that first win? Even though they are competing against the same people and have to exert as much physical exercise, they make the second time look easy. Now they have made the strongest pathway "I win the gold" stronger than the old, "I got to the final".
We don't live in our heads, that's called daydreaming; we live in the real world. We need to do all the things that will make us achieve our vision. Living your future helps you test out reality. So it's not what you are going to do next week or next year, but what you are doing now and what results you are getting.
Knowing what you want in the future allows you to measure where you are. You can build on the success factor. Yes, I am this and yes we've achieved that. The other side is what I call the wriggle factor. When writing up your vision statement, which bit was hardest to write because you know you haven't cracked it yet? Where must you put your time and energy?
Jackysherman.com Having left employment and set up as specialist consultants my clients and I live our dream. We all run successful businesses that meet our sense of purpose and support us emotionally as well as financially.
Green Business Network There is a green strategy in every business in our area ( Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire) that reverses the negative impact we have on the environment. .
In the box above, I have shared the overarching vision statements of the two businesses I am involved with. I can say I live these now, however, it is not yet at the level where I can say it's how I want the world to be once I've finished changing it. It does drive everything I do in the business towards that vision.
This brings me to the last point I'd like to share. Living your vision now means that you present that image to others. This increases your credibility and attracts the right people to want to work for and with you.
Here's a nice personal example: In my vision for Jackysherman.com, Jo Pogson, one of my most prolific referral partners said, "What I really like about you is that you role model your services. You don't just teach it, you walk the talk."
If you'd like to learn more about referral marketing then do give me a call on 07970 638857 and let's have a chat and see how I can help you.