Imagine what it would be like if life came with a map. A clear, easy-to-read piece of paper that told you exactly what to do and where to turn to reach your goal. Sounds nice, right?  The truth is life doesn’t come with a map—but you can make one.

Vision boards are a tool I use every day. Creating a vision board is nothing more than intentionally putting your goals and inspirations on paper. When you make one, you clearly state your destination, and only when you are clear on your destination can you see how you are going to get there.

Southwestern Family of Companies CEO Dustin Hillis speaks on the importance of vision.

A vision board will help you focus, provide you with energy and motivation, and also show you how to set boundaries. Let me break it down for you:

• What you focus on is what moves. I cannot overstate the importance of focus when it comes to reaching your destination. Your vision board will help you stay focused by keeping your destination front of mind every day.
• Energy. A great vision board reminds you of the difference you’re making by showing up and giving it your all every day. Being intentional and focused is hard work, and you need to set yourself up to stay motivated and energized to get through the hard days.
• Boundaries. A vision board can keep you from spending time, energy, and money on things that won’t actually move you in the right direction. It reminds you that when you say yes to something that’s not on your vision board, you are actually saying ‘no’ to the things that really matter to you.

Making a vision board isn’t hard. Here’s how you do it:

1. Start with the “be-do-have” framework. This is where you write out 10 characteristics that detail the person you want to be. Then write out 10 things you want to do, and finally, make a list of 10 things you want to have. Go wild on this step, think big, and when you think you’ve stretched your dreams as far as they can go, take them three steps further.
2. Think of images and examples from your be-do-have lists. These things can be anything that reminds you of your list. For example, if you want to be more generous with your money, you could have pictures of money, but you could also have pictures of the causes you would like to support, quotes that inspire you, or images of philanthropists that you admire.
3. Go find those images, and cut and paste them onto a board that you can keep on display. That’s it. No fancy designers required—just you, a pair of scissors, and a glue stick.

Southwestern Family of Companies CEO presents vision boards at Global Summit 2021.

Once your vision board is complete, put it on display somewhere in your home or office where you will see it every day.  Your map will literally be within sight every day, and it will help you to focus, stay energized, and set boundaries between you and the things that can get in the way of reaching your goals.

Be careful not to just hang your board up and call it a day, though. To effectively reach your goals, you need to associate those goals with actions—actions you repeat until they become habit. Over time, your vision board will become a trigger to motivate you into action. And it’s this action that leads you to reach your goals.

To read more about casting your vision, thinking big, and creating vision boards check out “Redefining Possible: Proven Strategies to Break Belief Barriers and Create Your New Normal” by Ron Alford and Dustin Hillis. If you are interested in having Dustin speak at your next event, we’d love to hear from you! Call us at 615-775-7957 or email us at [email protected].