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I didn't want to start my new year with a vision board party. I had no desire to cut out pictures from old Essence magazines to create a collage that represents the life I want to one day create. While I enjoy socializing and shared experiences with my friends and peers, I took a hard stance on up-leveling the new year vision board process. In lieu of, or perhaps in addition to, the group art project, I would like to present an alternative approach — a planning party. Let’s make these images come to life with a clear goal, strategy and accountability.
Vision boards and new year’s resolutions often fall victim to the “crock pot approach” — we set it and forget it. Both activities are great exercises to jump-start your thinking, but let’s do something different this year that goes beyond excitement and glue sticks. In addition to creating a visual representation of your goals, let’s write out a strategy to get it done, then get into action.
How, you ask? Fear not. Here are three quick tips to turn your vision board into an action plan:
1. Pick One
Even with superhuman strength and discipline, it is highly unlikely that we will revamp every area of our lives in a single calendar year. So, why set yourself up to be overwhelmed, disappointed and ultimately lose before you start? Write out all the goals and things you want to accomplish in this year. Then, pick the one goal that will create the biggest impact on your life. Focus on that impact! If you double-down on that one ideal achievement, the discipline, commitment, time management and organization to achieve that one big goal will have a ripple effect on the rest of your life.
2. Plan Your Process
We often skip this part. After you identify your high impact goal for the year, write out your game plan. Think of it in two ways: What steps do you control? And what are the smallest steps you can take? Break it down into baby steps and then lay them out in logical order. Ideally, try to break it down into daily steps to build momentum towards the goal.
Here’s where it gets fun! Plan to track your daily activity over time. Whether it is using an app, an excel sheet or a good old-fashioned notebook, track your way to success.
3. Prioritize Grace And Space
There is a common myth that it takes 21 days to form a habit, when it takes 33 to 66 days to develop a new habit. Here’s the best part: it takes about 90 days or more to see the results of that new behavior. As with the new year resolutions to lose weight, save more money, start a side hustle or work out more, we need to shift our thinking and actions to allow ourselves enough time to make the new changes a rhythmic part of our lives. This rhythm will lead to results.
90 days is such a sweet spot for planning. It is long enough to develop a new habit, but short enough to not feel like an eternity. Start with the first 90 and recalibrate and fine-tune for the next 90 days. Don’t give up if you don’t see major movements in the first few weeks. Give yourself the grace and space to have good days and less than good days. The important thing is to stay in forward motion towards your goal.
If you’d still like to invite me to a future vision board party, I encourage you to take it a few steps further: draft a plan, work the plan, track your progress and give yourself the grace and space to form the habits along the way.
If you are feeling stuck or not sure how to map out your plan, join the Success Bully team for our weekly goal setting exercise. Check me out on successbully.com and follow me on all the socials @successbully for more details.
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Success Bully is an elite accountability practice dedicated to supporting visionaries in their goal attainment. We offer strategic goal setting and accountability programming for 1:1 clients, small groups, and corporate partners. We are professional butt-kickers.
