A vision is your guide. It provides clarity, direction, and a sense of purpose.

A vision can help you dedicate yourself to long-term success—5 or 10 years from now.

Every time in my life I actually made progress and took large leaps forward, I held a vision in my mind and focused all my energy on making it come true, as if blindfolded.

Your vision will help you enjoy this journey of progress. The HOW you progress doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are aligned with what you truly want to do and that you’re moving in that direction daily.

Let’s say you are a project manager. If in your vision you picture yourself making a difference with animals, how you live out this vision can change over time. You might start as a project manager at a company that helps pets, like the Rover app or a pet hotel. Later, you could get creative and open up your own mobile pet grooming service, run pet shelters, or even start an animal sanctuary.

The time it takes also doesn’t matter. You will wake up every day knowing you are realigning your work with your true passions.

Early in my career, I set goals without aligning them with a broader vision. I took jobs because they seemed like good stepping stones—maybe they allowed me to work with an experienced CEO, enter a new industry, or start something I thought would grow to $1M.

At the time, this strategy worked because I was gaining experience and learning. But looking back, I wish I had a vision that connected these jobs to a deeper purpose. Without a clear vision, I found myself outgrowing roles quickly, feeling restless, and constantly looking for the next opportunity. Now I ask myself: How can I serve others? Where am I truly inspired to make a difference?

When you have a strong vision that you believe in, reading it daily can help you get through any obstacles. I read my vision statement every morning, especially when I feel defeated or uncertain.

Key Considerations When Creating Your Vision

1. Dreams are personal. You have full freedom to choose what your dreams look like. You don’t have to aspire to save the world. Instead, focus on how you can uniquely contribute—big or small.

2. Your vision will change. Think of it as a living document. As you grow, learn more about yourself, and achieve certain dreams, your vision will evolve.

3. Creating a vision is a gradual process. At first, your vision may be blurry, but reflecting on where you want to be in five or ten years will provide clarity.

4. Think broader. A broad vision gives you flexibility. For example, instead of saying, "I want to be a certified acupuncturist," you could say, "I want to apply Eastern medicine teachings in the Western world." This allows you to explore Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and other wellness practices.

5. Don’t worry about the "How." The first step is defining what you want. The "how" comes later.

6. Let go of external judgments and your inner critic. Allow creativity and imagination to flow freely.

7. Unleash your imagination. Dream big and truly envision a life that makes you happy.

    

Setting the Right Environment to Explore Your Vision

1. Allocate dedicated time. Set aside a free weekend or even use your next vacation to work on these questions.

2. Change your physical environment. Removing yourself from your usual surroundings helps you think beyond your current circumstances. I like to go camping, book a cabin in nature, or visit my grandparents in Toronto. If you have kids, ensure someone can watch them so you can fully focus.

3. Make it fun! Consider hosting a "vision board" event with friends or family where everyone visually represents their dream life.

4. Write freely and without judgment. You’ll refine your answers later. For now, permit yourself to think big and beyond societal norms.

    

📝 Exercises

Q1 - Career Vision

1. How can I use my abilities and talents to serve others? Who will benefit from my dreams?

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2. Describe what you would do with your time if you no longer needed to work.

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3. What does career success mean to you?

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4. What role does your career play in your personal life? How do you see the two merging?

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5. What kind of work is interesting to you? Imagine your ideal workday or week.

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6. What kind of impact do you want your work to have?

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Q2 - Life Vision

1. What is something you’ve always dreamed of doing (remove all constraints like money or time)?

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2. When you fast forward to the end of your life and look back, what do you wish to see?

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3. What is the ultimate, maybe slightly unrealistic, goal?

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4. What are some of your non-professional life goals and dreams?

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5. What does your ideal lifestyle look like?

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6. What habits would you like to build to maintain a happy, stable, and fulfilling life?

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