How
to Write a Personal Vision
Stanford's Michael Ray believes that the key
to accessing deeper sources of creativity can be found in two
questions: "Who is my Self?" and "What is my Work?" When we talk
about "Self," said Ray, "we're talking about your higher self, your
divinity, your highest future potential. And by asking 'What is my
Work?,' we're asking what is the purpose of your existence or what
are you meant to be? (From page 101 of
Presence, by Peter Senge, C. Otto Scharmer,
Joseph Jaworski, and Betty Sue Flowers.)
Who is your Self? What is your Work?
Write your answer
to each question as if it's already happening:
-
VISION: What is your Work? What happens when you
are giving your greatest gift to the world?
How are people different as a consequence of having been in your presence? See it as an image.
Use present tense. Answer these questions from
Bill O'Hanlon:
-
What gives you a sense of aliveness, that feels
"just right"?
-
What do you dream about; what holds you
spellbound?
-
What are blessings you could give back
to the world?
-
Whose work or life inspires you?
-
What would you talk about if given an hour of
prime time TV to influence the nation or the
world?
-
What makes you angry enough to correct in the
world?
-
What contribution of
yours will be
more profound than others doing something
similar?
-
MISSION: What about you
(attributes, experience, skills, knowledge,
passion) makes your
vision possible? Who is your Self? This will also inform your logo/image, marketing/funding, etc.
-
STRATEGIES/GOALS/PARAMETERS: How do you carry out your mission
and vision?
-
What strategies will
accomplish your vision? Identify 4-5 goals
within each strategy.
-
What internal and
external forces surround each goal--those that
encourage and those that may discourage your
vision?
-
What first steps can you
take to accomplish your vision?
-
How can you increase
encouraging forces, both internal and external?
-
How can you overcome
internal/external discouraging forces?
-
When you're uncertain about priorities among strategies, hold them
against your mission and vision, and you'll know which ones are most likely to ensure your
contribution in the world.
As you ponder these questions and your
intention becomes clear, your vision may appear to you
spontaneously, possibly as a metaphor. When thinking about my
true work, I suddenly saw my clients stepping out of a
box. And I "knew" the box was each person's unique
programming or conditioning. In addition, it's a bit of a joke
in my family that I "market" myself by extending my arms in
front of me, palms upward and imagining – without needing to
control the process – my ideal clients finding their way to me.
I've had this quote on my desk for 25 years:
WHEN YOU FIND THE WAY
OTHERS WILL FIND YOU
PASSING BY ON THE ROAD
THEY WILL BE DRAWN TO YOUR DOOR
THE WAY THAT CANNOT BE HEARD
WILL BE ECHOED IN YOUR VOICE
THE WAY THAT CANNOT BE SEEN
WILL BE REFLECTED IN YOUR EYES
Lao Tzu
The Invitation (Oriah Mountain Dreamer)
How to Write a
Business Vision
