Vision or Vanity?

Every business needs a vision, but not every entrepreneur has to be a visionary.

If you close your eyes and imagine where you would like your life to be in, say, 5 years, what might it look like?

Life in 5 Years

Each time I've done exactly that, what I see, where I imagine myself, is not in the front of my computer in my attic office!

In those daydreams, I've been on the prow of a speedboat, or laying on a bed of fur in a yurt, or cruising along the Amalfi Coast in a vintage convertible,  big bug-eyed sunglasses and a flowery scarf billowing behind me, Audrey Hepburn Style.

Where The Future Takes Us

This is where I imagine my future will take me. But these aren't one-off holidays - a few days hiatus between long spells of air-conditioned offices - No. 

The overwhelming feeling I've had in all these flights of fancy has been that these are high points of everyday life. 

Freedom of self-employment has allowed me to live a nomadic lifestyle.

This is the vision for my business. The vision for our life.

What's stopping this from being my life right now?

Is It Vanity?

This is where I find myself thinking of it as just 'vanity'. 

I can't only think of myself, I have a husband and a mortgage. A husband in a full-time office based job which pays that mortgage!

The thing that stops this being my reality is my responsibility to my life partner, in all things.

The challenge therefore, is to find a way to be true to both.

Is it Vision?

Writing about the 'vision' for my business is the first step to making these changes.

The first steps towards creating a reality that suits both of us.

Being Blogger

Blogging has served me well as a means to an end, doing the thing I'll do anyway... writing.

I started my first blog in 2013, the year I published my first book, when my worlds as an author and business advisor collided in 2015, I started my consultancy business. 

That has since evolved into Learn To Love Your Words and my specialty is as a blogging mentor for business.

Building my marketing around content was the obvious solution. 

The first blog was about becoming an author - I still keep this blog on my author website.

The second blog was to grow my influence as a writing mentor and build a business.

This (third blog!) is about challenging my reality and sharing my love of travelling.

I have an innate curiosity. I love exploring and discovery. I love meeting new people and having new experiences.

I want to discover more of this amazing, diverse and fascinating planet we inhabit.

Life's Little Luxuries

However, I also enjoy a little luxury! 

I don't mean traveling 5-star, I mean not living out of a backpack and sleeping in bug infested hovels.

I mean travelling, but maintaining a comfortable life. Earning enough money to enjoy eating and drinking out, Cafe Culture and sleeping in a comfortable - private - bedroom.

Being able to enjoy the trappings of travel, as well as living with the locals.

I would hate to travel to a once in a lifetime place and not be able to afford the entrance fee!

Perhaps this blog will turn out to be an experiment in vanity? 

Or perhaps I'll achieve the vision of location independence - of being a Wandering Entrepreneur,  a Roaming Entrepreneur? 

In the end, it doesn't matter, as long as the journey is enjoyable!

Vision Boards, Woo Woo or Wow?

I don't buy into the notion that you can 'manifest' what you want, as if by magic. But, I do believe that if you know what you want to achieve, you have a 'vision', it gives you a bigger picture to strive for and something to focus on.

In a funny sort of way, the more you talk about something, think about it and are reminded of it - especially in a visual way - the more likely you are to achieve it.

It's in the forefront of your mind, even if only on a subconscious level, and therefore you're more likey to strive for it.

2017 was the first time I'd ever done a 'Vision Board' for my business, and although everything on there didn't come true, as such, it kept me focused.

What is a Vision Board?

It's a simple, visual way to capture the essence of your future goals. It can be written, it can be motivating words, pictures or a combination.

Personally, I love the experience of channelling my inner child by cutting and sticking a collage!

Here's my 2017 board. I had it stuck to the wall by desk.

Things that stick out for me, still, are...

"I can do this"
"Changing"
"Connection"

On reflection, all of these featured in my life last year. It was a year of change, of connection, of renewed confidence I was on the right path.

This year, feeling more settled in my business and with a clear plan ahead, the vison board I've created for 2018 has a reflective and creative quality to it.

"Discoveries"
"Do"
"Inspirational"
"Go with the flow"
And the giant image of a book stand out the most for me.

Why Do It? 

I saw this great blog on the Watertight Marketing website. It nicely summarises eight reasons why you would want a vision board for your business.

In summary, the 8 things are:

1. Synthesise your business and life goals
2. Create emotional attachment to what you're building
3. Get on the same page with leadership team
4. Activate your selective attention
5. Create a powerful motivation tool
6. Use as part of your recruitment process
7. Hold yourself accountable
8. Create a bring forward list!

 

Personally, my favourite of these is 'activate your selective attention'. 

We're so busy in our lives and businesses we forget to stop, breathe, appreciate how far we've come and what we've achieved. When they are part of your vision you take notice when they happen! 

We can celebrate every small victory.

With that in mind, I was inspired by the suggestion on the Watertight Marketing blog of a 'Happy Memory Jar'. 

Whenever something on the vison board is achieved, make a note, pop it in the jar, then open it at the end of the year.

So here it is...

My jar!

(A great excuse to use some of my jounaling stickers!)

Less than a month into the year and I already have two things in it!

I look forward to opening this jar at the end of 2018 and seeing how far this year will take me!