What is it that you can do TODAY, that’s going to set you up for success in ten years’ time? That’s both a big question and a small one. The big one is all about having vision. The answer to the small question becomes easy once you know what you’re looking to invite into your life.

First, let’s talk about what it means to have a vision. Think about the future, say the year 2020, and create a vivid mental image about your life, your business, your relationships, whatever is important to you. Make sure that you can get excited about it, remember it easily and do think about the details. Make it SMART – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.

If, for example, in 2020, I want to be as fit as I was when I graduated college, my vision might read something like this: “It’s 2020 and I have the endurance, muscle tone and overall fitness level that I had when I was a senior in college. I’m very comfortable in my own skin and radiate confidence.” Is it achievable? It will take diligence and hard work but there is nothing that I can see today that might prevent it. Is it relevant? Absolutely! Relevance means that it is really going to make a difference in my life – I can’t think of any single thing that affects a person’s quality of life more than their health. Is it measurable? It is to me – it’s relative to how I felt in college and I can clearly articulate what that looked and felt like to me through vivid stories and examples. Another goal might speak to more concrete measurable terms such as, “It’s 2020 and I am retired, wintering in a spacious home with room to entertain in Saint Thomas, USVI, with $5 million in the bank and I am enjoying travel, sailing, volunteering and time with friends and family.” (Who wants to visit me?)

That may all sound great, but how the heck do you make it practical? Simple. Start with the end in mind. Leverage 20/20 vision to create your 2020 Vision. We often say that hindsight is 20/20 – it can be, so use it to your advantage! Take the big goal – the Vision – and think about what you would have needed to do along the way to have gotten it done. There may be a whole lot of distinct strategies, each of which are important to the overall goal. When you begin to get specific regarding what you need to do to achieve your goal, you can more easily see what you can do today and make appropriate choices to put yourself and keep yourself on the right path.

For example, in my fitness goal, I’ll need to not only make healthy eating choices but also have regular doctor’s visits and exercise. We all know that cross training is important so exercise may also have a few branches. I may want to not only continue to practice Pilates with my private instructor but also have a regular home yoga practice and participate in other activities such as bicycling, kayaking, snow skiing and golf. I want to stay injury free, so stretching and massage might also have a place in my plan. While I am not going to do everything every day, I’ll need to create space for each of them in my life to ensure that I am on track to have my desired fitness level.

Here’s a 2020 Vision Milestone Template to work with:

· It’s January 1, 2020 and …state your vision vividly in the present tense as if it’s already true. (Make your Vision, and all the milestones leading to its achievement, SMART!)

· What do I need to do by the end of 2015 to be on track to achieve my 2020 Vision?

· What do I need to do by the end of 2014? 2013? 2012? 2011?

· What do I need to do by the end of this year, 2010? By the end of June, 2010?

· What do I need to complete by the end of next month? This month? This week?

· What can I do today that will move me closer to my 2020 Vision?

Notice how the time intervals today are closer together and grow in length as we move farther out. This is because we can’t plan perfectly for everything that will happen between now and then. We may need to adjust the plan now and again to take into account how events actually play out – reality may be different from our expectations. That’s okay and perfectly normal. What’s important is that you keep your eyes on the prize – the achievement of your Vision. It takes work, for sure, but if it ensures that you get where you want to go, isn’t it worth it?

In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll says so beautifully, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” He’s right. So choose your road. Consult your maps. Know what forks are coming up and consider the pros and cons of taking each one. Enjoy the ride, knowing that the journey – living each day in the present – is just as important and rewarding as getting to your desired destination.

Now, I want to share a few words of warning about obstacles. Let’s assume that we are on our “road” and that we’re driving a car. There are many things that could get in our way. Potholes. Construction. Traffic. Car trouble. Accidents. Weather delays. You name it, it can happen. Trust that something will! That said, just because you’re car is running on fumes doesn’t mean your destination has evaporated. You simply need more gas. Your destination is still there, waiting for you. Don’t forget that even when your timeline is not what you thought it would be.

Take the time before getting in the car and buckling your seatbelt to consider what could get in the way. Choose alternate routes. Learn how to fix a flat or and make sure there is a spare in the trunk. Top off the oil, change the windshield wipers and fill the wiper fluid. And if something happens that you didn’t plan for? Take a deep breath. You may find that you have a solution within you. If not, then pick up the phone and ask for help. I’m not suggesting you obsess about the obstacles but rather acknowledge them and set yourself up for success by identifying the likely challenges and preparing for them so that you can move past them quickly with confidence and grace.

And if along the way you’d like some company and help with navigation, don’t hesitate to call me. I love a good road trip!

http://hoshingroup.com/2010/02/blog/2020-vision/