You become what you focus on. This is true for both good and bad outcomes in life.
If you believe you will be poor, chances are that you will, in fact, not have a lot of money in the future. On the other hand, if you convince yourself that you will be rich, you will significantly increase your odds of having a lot of money.
Tony Robbins said it best, “Where focus goes, energy flows. And where energy flows, whatever you’re focusing on grows. In other words, your life is controlled by what you focus on.”
Wake up and take control of your life! From the bestselling author of Inner Strength, Unlimited Power, and MONEY Master the Game, Anthony Robbins, the nation’s leader in the science of peak performance, shows you his most effective strategies and techniques for mastering your emotions, your body, your relationships, your finances, and your life.
This is why having a clear vision is so important in life and business. Having a vivid mental image of something that you’d like to have or do will move you toward the very thing you’re trying to accomplish. Results will come when you focus on your vision.
Do This Before You Focus on Your Vision
Like many others, I’ve always wanted to have a positive impact on the world.
This desire has led me down many paths, and ultimately resulted in the launch of MikevanderPoel.com.
Today, my website is a hub for entrepreneurs who don’t just want to solve problems within their business but are also looking to better their mindset so they can approach their craft with more courage, energy, and passion.
I got to this point because of a moment of deep reflection that I had a couple of years ago. I reflected on my current life, thought about my goals, and envisioned what I wanted my future to look like. It’s an exercise that I still benefit from today.
One of the most important questions you can ask yourself is, “What do I want my life and business to look like in the future?”. It’ll force you to think deeply about your values and compare the life you currently live and the life you desire.
Chances are that your actions currently don’t align with your beliefs. This might be true for some or all areas of your life, such as your work, career, or relationships.
What areas are you currently unsatisfied with? Where would you like to make improvements? And most importantly, what do you want to accomplish in each of those categories?
Focus on Your Vision by Writing This Statement
Now that you know what you’d like to improve, it’s time to put pen to paper and write a vision statement.
Vision statements are often used by businesses to articulate what they would like to achieve in the future. Don’t be afraid to write on, though, if your business isn’t fully established yet. There’s great value in this exercise even if you’re just getting started or own a small business.
Even though every business has a unique vision statement, the process of writing one is the same across the board. It must, quite simply, detail what you want your company to be and look like in 5 to 10 years down the road.
Here are some questions to help you create your very own:
- What are your core values?
- What’s your mission?
- Is there a certain company culture you’d like to establish?
- What are your current strategic goals?
- How would you define your future goals?
There’s no template for writing a vision statement, but it’s common practice to make it clear, challenging, inspiring, time-bound, and future-oriented. Don’t just make it a generic statement; be specific about what you’d like to accomplish.
Some of the largest organizations in the write them like this:
- IKEA: “Our vision is to create a better everyday life for many people”
- Nike: “Bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete.”
- Amazon: “We strive to offer our customers the lowest possible prices, the best available selection and the utmost convenience.”
Focus on Your Vision Through Repetition
The easiest way to remember your vision statement is through repetition. 1
This is not to say that you should mindlessly repeat it until you get tired of saying it.
Instead, repeat it just once per day and visualize what life will be like once you achieve your goals. Picturing an outcome can give you a clear idea of where you’re headed, and will help you think through the steps that will get you there.
Worried you’ll forget to put in your repetitions? Visual reminders, such as sticky notes or phone notifications, can remind you of the bigger picture without you having to put in any effort.
When thinking about your future, it’s important you strike a balance. Don’t compare your current situation to your dream life too often.
If you only think about how great your life will be while also being disappointed with your current life, then you risk manifesting a life where you’re unhappy in the present moment.
If you want to take charge of your life, focus on your vision, but don’t forget to find happiness in what you currently have.
Previous: What Does Courage Look Like in Entrepreneurship? 3 Things to Be Aware Of (6 min. read)
Doing something that frightens you is not easy. When your brain is warning you that there’s danger ahead, it’s natural to to take a step back, slow down, and observe the situation carefully.
References
- White, Ron. “Memory Is Repetition and Reinforcement.” Memorise, memorise.org/brain-articles/memory-repetition-reinforcement.