Vision can be defined as “the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be.” As leaders, we understand the importance of casting vision. Our teams, businesses, and ministries, cannot move forward without a vision. In the same way, we need a vision for our lives. When you cast a vision for your life, you are positioning yourself for success. The process of attaining that vision for your life is broken down into daily, weekly, and even monthly goals. This process may seem overwhelming, so I have created a list of steps that will help you get started.
Plan for the Future
- Be honest. Take a realistic appraisal of where you are. You cannot move forward unless you know where you’re moving from.
- Identify. Make your dreams real by first identifying and then focusing on SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Bound) Goals for your life.
- Define the role. Have at least one clearly defined goal for every major role in your life. If you are a parent or a business owner, each role in your life will have its set of goals.
- Align the goal. Set your goals so they are unconditionally aligned with your life’s presence, passion and unique design. If a goal does not align with these things, it will hinder your vision.
- Be inspired. Create goals large enough to ignite and inspire your passion and move you to take action. These goals should be creating momentum and pushing you towards success, which should make you excited!
- Write them down. Write down all your goals in specific, measurable detail. Defining the win is foundational to accomplishing these goals.
- Commit. Absolutely, unconditionally commit to hitting each of your targets.
- Share. Talk through your goals with others for mutual accomplishment and accountability. Invite others on this journey with you.
- Make a schedule. Set a whole series of related daily, weekly and long-term goals, complete with starting times and completion dates. Life is busy and complicated. If you want to accomplish your goals, you must be intentional.
- Imagine. Take 10 minutes every day to imagine how terrific it will feel when your goals are actually realized. Don’t forget why you set these goals in the first place.
- Act! You’ve planned, you’ve shared, you’ve scheduled, and you’ve visualized success; now it’s time to act. Take an action step toward the attainment of at least one goal every day.
