On this 220th episode of my Monday Morning Pep Talk, I'll l discuss a topic that is, in theory, so easy to do but is also so difficult for most to complete on a daily basis. The 3-year vision you created when you built out your business and life plan needs a daily check in. The absence of full "buy-in" to your goals and vision will slow down your progress and make the entire goal attainment process frustrating. That end goal, the finish line, your vision is what will get you out of bed in the morning, pick your friends, pick what you eat, schedule your day, put you to bed and wake you up each morning. Your 3-year vision and your goals that support it are promises you've made to yourself. A simple daily routine added to your morning and evening rituals will be the difference between you living the way you want to live or not meeting that standard you set for yourself.
Here is a quick test to see if you have moved past being "stuck" in this area. If I was to ask you: "Describe to me the highlights of your 3 year vision,” how would you answer? If it takes more than 5 seconds to catch your breath and confidently launch into a statement that describes your vision and supporting goals, you've got some work to do. If the words easily come to you, you're doing great and are most likely emotionally attached to your desired outcomes.
For those of you who are "stuck" in this area, simply add the following to your daily routines:
- If you haven't already, develop your 3-year vision. For a deeper dive, reference back to MMPT Episode #184: Take Flight - Choose Your Destination.
- Take the results of that visioneering exercise and post them where you can see them throughout the day. Some people have it on the wall in their home office, posted to a mirror, in their planner, within their business planning document or on a vision board.
- Review it once in the morning and once in the evening. Get emotionally involved with it. Use your senses to "feel" it and train your mind and subconscious to believe it is already reality. For enhanced results, add it to a meditation or another mindfulness practice.
- Be consistent. Do it every day. In Think and Grow Rich written by Napoleon Hill in the 1930s, Hill stresses the significance of daily goal review. He said, after interviewing more than 500 self-made and wealthiest people of the time, that this practice reinforces goals in the subconscious mind while increasing commitment and focus. Regular reflection enhances clarity, motivation and creativity by aligning efforts towards successful outcomes.
- Commit to the understanding that "You become what you think about.” Plain and simple. You need to program the most powerful data and information "processor" available to you - your mind. Until you truly understand this, you will be drawn to paths that are much more difficult.
Pro Tip #1: Your vision should not be based on a revenue, production or GCI goal. The answer lies in the "why" behind the reason you want or need that level of income. This is not "woo woo,” this should be looked at as essential "strategy.”
Pro Tip #2: Set the vision. Learn the skills to meet the vision. Many are afraid to create a vision because they know that they don't have the skills. Enter the quarterly business planning process and getting 1% better every day. Just know that there is a formula. Trust it.
Pro Tip #3: "Success Leaves Clues.” I have made this a part of my daily routine since 2010 and I'm now in the midst of my 4th "vision cycle.” Once you understand the power of this concept, you will make it a huge part of your life planning and daily routines. You become addicted. I committed to it after I read Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich and after having listened to The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale.
There is a reason why the gyms are full in January and empty by the end of February. For most people those new year's resolutions get created, posted on social media and forgotten after a few weeks. For those of you who are winning in this area, I applaud you. You are on your way to successfully manifesting "your goals and your vision.” For those of you having a challenge staying focused and continuing to fall back into old routines, it's time to re-train your brain once and for all. Will 2024 be different for you? If you try this exercise for 30 days, the most important habit will be well on its way to being formed and you'll start finding yourself making better decisions. You'll start to see that vision become the ultimate productivity filter that all of your decisions get processed through.
Ask yourself a few questions:
What does a daily routine to review your vision cost me financially?
What will be the impact of reviewing my goals daily?
How easy is it for me to implement this into your daily habits and routines?
Will today be the day you start?
