Adebola Alabi
People perish without vision. I firmly believe that it will be tough to move forward in life, create a future that you desire without having a vision of the life you want. A vision statement that will drive you, motivate you, and inspire you to achieve your goals.
It is through visions that great companies were created. Countries that become great achieve their greatness due to visionary leaders that put ideas and plans together to make the countries work. Vision is what makes ordinary people do extraordinary things. Vision is what can make you aim higher and become a better version of yourself.
Below are the components essential for a compelling vision statement:
1. Clarity: Whatever the vision you want for your life. It would help if you were clear about what you want. You cannot be vague about it. For example, if you are looking to start a career or grow in your career, start by being specific about the type of job you want. In the same way, if you plan to start a business, you need to be clear about the kind of business that you want to start. You cannot afford not to be clear about your vision. (Let it be 3D, crystal clear) As I said in the last episode, it is always a good practice to write down your wish lists on a note pad or somewhere where you can see it daily. The purpose of this is so that it can provide the drive for you to work on your plans. So clarity is the foundation of every vision statement.
2. Connect: Now that you are sure of what you want. You need to establish whether you need the help of other people around you to achieve your goals. There is a common saying that your network determines your net worth. As you are seeking to build a future that you desire, you need to watch out and ensure that you are in a company with the right people. Having the right connection can help you win more business; it can help you find your next career move. Your relationship can make or mar you.
Your connection should also be like a board of directors that will help guide you to the fulfillment of your vision. If you are planning to advance in your career, for example, find people you can connect with that will mentor you about how to make an impact and position yourself for career growth. If you are planning to start a business or expand your existing business. Connect with business owners that will share their experiences with you and also guide you on best practices for growing business.
3. Collaborate: A tree does not make a forest. In your mission to fulfill your vision, you need to learn how to work hand in hand with your network to achieve your goals. When I talk about your network, I am not referring to your social media connections. You may have a thousand links on Facebook or even 10,000 on twitter, and that’s okay, but the majority of them are not going to help you. They won’t be there when you need someone to lean on. Collaboration is about tapping into the power of your network. The network of people that I am talking about is s just about 5-7 people that you can have direct access to, that you can pick up the phone and call, or even pay a visit so that you can have a dialog and figure out things together. I agree with the common saying, “if you want to go fast, go alone if you really want to go far in life, you should build a network of people that will be willing to support you, challenge you to bring out the best in you.
4. Commit: Commitment is about your willingness to give your time and energy to something that you believe in and make it work. Everyone around you may have doubts, but you must be the champion of the vision. You must be committed to seeing it to fulfillment. You must do everything you can to ensure that every day, you are making incremental progress towards the attainment of the vision.
“Motivation is what gets you started. Commitment is what keeps you going.” Jim Rohn
If you are not committed to your vision, to your goal, no one else will. And there is a high chance that you will not fulfill your goals.
For a student – It is not enough to say, I want to “ace” my exams, without backing it up with the commitment to study.
For a business owner – It is not enough to say, I want to expand my business and serve more customers, without the commitment to provide great products and/or excellent customer service.
For an employee – It is not enough to say, “I plan to get my next promotion next year,” without the commitment to work hard, be a solution provider, and go above and beyond to impact your organization.
It is not enough for a husband to say, “I want a healthy and happy relationship with my wife” – without the personal commitment to show more care to your wife.
It is not enough to desire more money or generate passive income without committing to doing what it takes to achieve those goals.
It is not enough to say I want to lose weight, without the commitment to eat healthily and exercise.
To create the future you desire, you need to have a vision
To get started towards the life you want, you need clarity
You also need to connect and collaborate with the right people that can help you to achieve your desires.
Most importantly, you need the commitment to ensure you do not lose track of that vision, because things may get tough, circumstances may become difficult, that you may want to give up. Your commitment is what will keep you engage and motivated so that you can achieve your goals.
Create a compelling vision today, and you will see the vision unleash the energy that will drive you to achieve your plans.
