Vision setting your success
I’m a big believer in creating a vision. Visioning, unlike goal setting, is rarely included in a formal education curriculum. Most books barely scratch the surface on vision setting. Unfortunately, this important mind tool is literally skipped over.
Personal experience is my best teacher. When I work with accounting professionals, the individuals who develop a sharp, clear picture of their future success agree that vision setting is more fulfilling than thinking about goals.
Activate your senses
Vision setting works because it engages all the senses.
- Hearing – auditory thinking includes sounds, conversations and melody.
- Seeing – visual thinking uses pictures and colors.
- Feeling – kinesthetic thinking accesses balance, weight, temperature, emotional state, ‘gut’ feeling and intuition.
Lacking a clear vision causes you to stray without purpose or direction. Imagine a ship aimlessly sailing the seas. Even a one degree change in course alters the final destination. Overall, you don’t know if you arrived when you don’t know where you’re heading.
Energy is wasted when a part of you resists while another part of you desires to progress. Defining your vision aligns your actions with your intentions. When you’re in the flow even the most impossible challenges appear possible.
Your personal GPS
Vision setting activates the Reticular Activating System (RAS) of your brain. Your RAS is your inner GPS. Don’t worry about not knowing all the steps to achieve success. Instead vision setting, like your GPS, plugs in the coordinates to your final destination. Then the RAS is on the lookout for the opportunities which lead to success.
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You visualize on a constant basis although you don’t necessarily realize it. That’s because some of it is subconscious.
Some forms of visualization include:
- Dwelling on mistakes
- Replaying a conversation
- Mentally rehearsing a presentation
Your brain is unable to distinguish positive from negative. In other words, what you focus on expands. This is a reason to celebrate your wins more than dwelling on your failures. Consider how many hours in your day where you emphasize the problems instead of the possibilities. Are you ready to turn that around?
Vision a specific outcome
Vision setting helps you consciously direct your mind toward a specific outcome. I encourage you to dream BIG. Take a moment. Allow yourself to dream.
Ask yourself two questions:
- What would you achieve?
- What thought or belief would you need to let go of to achieve that outcome?
Get into action. It’s the only way to transform a vision into reality.
- Commit to your vision
- Count each milestone by acknowledging the actions you’ve taken
- Celebrate the moment you achieve your purpose
Great. Now you possess a vision. Next, let’s set the stage for success. You want to consciously set an intention. Choose the one specific thing you aim to achieve. Describe the outcome in rich detail. This could be physical, personal, professional or a combination of all three.
Vision setting gets results
Lisa, a CPA with an accounting practice, had been flying solo for too long. She was tolerating a practice which was built according to industry standards. Her business, however, wasn’t growing.
As a “lone wolf” she was silently grinding through by working IN her business. This meant her agenda was filled with the day to day tasks. She realized change was necessary, but didn’t know how to fix the problem. If nothing changed, she would close her practice to escape from burnout.
During our first meeting we defined her ideal practice. Her best clients, income, scheduling and her expertise as an accountant were part of her vision. Using this as her blueprint, we compared the reality with the ideal. Next we evaluated what was working and where change was necessary.
The decision to take back control simultaneously excited her and scared her. Courage bolstered her choice to follow through when uncomfortable moments existed. Each step built upon the previous one.
Clarifying her relationship with clients and staff, restructuring her schedule, transforming her practice and adding free time back to her schedule were addressed one by one. Her ideal practice was birthed from her vision. She finally learned what it’s like to work ON her business, strategically preparing for growth and team building.
Short term wins
Like Lisa, vision setting includes short term milestones. Celebrate your smaller achievements as wins. These milestones get tucked into your longer term vision. This strategy is really important to remain engaged through the successes and setbacks for high achievers and perfectionists.
Vision setting brings your objectives to life by accessing strong, intense emotions. The energy created from your story fuels the vision. Instead of seeing obstacles, your focus shifts to the opportunities ahead.
Vision setting speeds up results
A powerful vision delivers results at a faster pace than goal setting alone. Working beyond a sure thing gets you charged up. Passion and purpose ignites your drive. You know you’ve chosen the right vision when you feel a fire in your belly.
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Choose a personally meaningful vision. You see, it’s not about the money or the growth percentage. The meaning you attach to your achievements fuels your drive forward. The long hours and hard work do pay off, even if you fail to achieve your vision.
Vision setting inspires you to excel with laser focused actions. Follow these recommendations for your accounting practice to be successful, and grow while keeping your passion alive. Discover how to increase your income and attract clients who understand your value. Right NOW claim your FREE RESOURCE to earn more while reducing your workload.
