The Purpose Of A Vision Board And Why You Should Create One

Vision boards are a visualization of where you want your life to go (both personal and professional) in the next 12-18 months.

Often, they are a collage of pictures and words that speak to your aspirations.

Personally, I have seen vision boards work as a very powerful tool for many business owners. Owners will reflect on their vision boards at the end of the year and marvel at how many of much of their New Year vision came true. (In one case, a creator of children’s products had put a picture of Oprah on her board and by the end of the year, her business was featured in “O” magazine!).

I believe that vision boards are effective for a variety of reasons:

• They create a space and time for you to tap into the dreams you have for your future.
• They help in getting these general aspirations into a concrete image.
• They tap into the unconscious and creative parts of your brain. We often spend a lot of time creating budgets, devising marketing forecasts and making many analytical decisions each day. Vision boards are a means of leveraging your intuition about your offering, your customers and market needs. They are bold and limitless.
• Vision boards can keep you focused on the big picture throughout the year.
• They can help you in prioritizing important projects that will help you meet your goals versus non-critical activities.
• They can help you stay energized and motivated, especially when you feel overwhelmed.
• For partners and work teams, vision boards can help you determine the “why” of your business. They also help you see your shared vision (or highlight where there is a disconnect that needs to be worked out).

Gather in advance the following materials:

• Poster Board (at least 2’x3’)
• Assorted magazines, newspapers, calendars with images…not necessarily business-related
• Scissors
• Glue sticks, tape or pins to affix images
• A clear mind
• An open, creative workspace

Set aside one to two hours for yourself or your team

1. Create a calm, open, creative mood of possibilities by listening to a meditation, music or a grounding story. You can also light a candle. Vision boards can also be done in a group with your work team or entrepreneurial group.
2. Create a mindful destination by quietly presenting yourself with the following questions: What opportunities do I want to seize in my work life?What environment do I want in work in?Who do I want to work with?What activities do I want to reduce or avoid?What do I want to change regarding my personal life?What healthy habits do I want to embrace? What destructive habits do I want to leave behind?Where do I want to live? Any changes to my home or community?Where do I want to spend more or less time?
3. Start flipping through the assorted visual materials you have gathered. Cut out phrase or images that “speak” to you. Don’t question yourself. Just allow your intuition to quietly guide your attention.
4. Paste these images on your board with glue sticks, tape or pins. Note: It often helps to first affix larger images for the background and then smaller phrases or images on top.
5. You can further decorate the finished product with stickers, glitter, colorful pens, paint, stamps, ribbons. Anything your creativity desires!
6. Display on a wall in your workspace to keep you focused on the important stuff in the coming year.
7. What opportunities do I want to seize in my work life?
8. What environment do I want in work in?
9. Who do I want to work with?
10. What activities do I want to reduce or avoid?
11. What do I want to change regarding my personal life?
12. What healthy habits do I want to embrace? What destructive habits do I want to leave behind?
13. Where do I want to live? Any changes to my home or community?
14. Where do I want to spend more or less time?

This post Jeanne Rossomme was written by and originally appeared on SCORE.