If You Don't Know Where You're Going, You're Going Nowhere Fast

The thing is, if you don't get clear about what success looks like for you, you can never achieve it.

I have a client who started a business. She went about organizing and ensuring that her brand was cohesive and her online presence was polished and setting up systems so that her bills were paid on time; then one day, she realized that while she had created a very tidy and organized business/brand, she was not making any money. And no one goes into business to not make money. Right?

On the surface, it appeared that she was successful, and, in fact, she had done what she intended, which was to create an organized business (with many Instagram followers). What she had neglected to do was to get clear on the BIG PICTURE outcomes she really desired before getting to work on tactical things that should ladder up to her end goal.

Honestly, I'm very much the same. Future thinking or dreaming, if you will, is not something that comes naturally to me. I'm a Doer. Give me a project or a goal, and I will map it out, create an action plan, and it will be achieved in no time. Yet, I find myself asking, to what end? What is the purpose of the doing?... Are these achievements really creating satisfaction for me, or am I just on a hamster wheel, spinning with no direction?

As you are doing your Q3 and end of the year planning, answer these 2 questions: What am I doing any of this for? What is this all leading to?... If you're drawing a blank, don't worry. I gotcha back. Let's get started creating a big-picture life vision to move toward! Complete these sentences to establish a vision for the type of life you want to have 3 years from now.

In 3 years, I will...

Live in the city of ____________.

Go to work at _____________.

Bring in ____________ dollars annually.

Hang out with _____________.

Travel to ______________.

Don't stop there. Add more if you feel so moved! What type of home will you live in? Where will you grocery shop? What types of clothes will you wear? What types of tasks will you be responsible for at work? Will you manage people? The future is yours to create! Dream big!

Protip: Supplement this list with a small vision board reflecting your answers that you keep next to your bed or your desk; really, any place that is highly visible to you daily.

Of course, the next step is to create an action plan that helps you achieve this vision, but we'll save that for another day. Have an amazing rest of your week!