Do you have the vision for creative success?

A few weeks ago I was reading an article by Martha Beck in “O” magazine. It was about vision boards. Now, I recall hearing about vision boards, but not really knowing what they were.

According to Martha, a vision board is a collage of pictures brought together to “depict (and lead me to) my desired future.” When I read that, I thought wow, that’s profound! It’s similar to what sports psychologists do with athletes. You have to visualize the win to make it happen.

As you consider your career and all that you want or need to accomplish, you may want to consider using this approach to make your dreams a reality. Even though the majority of us in the creative fields are visual learners and have limited difficulty visualizing creative concepts, at times we can get bogged down when it comes to our future.

• What does it look like?
• What is my plan?
• How do I get from A – E?
• What does the journey look like?

A vision board might be just the thing you need. For example, over the next seven years, I will be executing my business plan to go into business for myself—again. I know where I want to be and what I’d like to be doing, but I don’t have it all mapped out; nor do I know what the journey might look like.

Do you know where you’re going and what the journey looks like? If not, maybe you need a vision board. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Represent the Inner Eye: Rather than looking for standard/everyday images of what you want to succeed, look for images that represent the inner thoughts. For example, if you want to have a corner office, you don’t want an image of someone in a corner office, but rather images of the smells of that office, the plants or items you would have in that office, things you’d be working on, etc. Find images that make the heart thump, make you do a double take, or conjure a gasp or similar reaction. According to Beck, “these images resonate in your heart, lungs, and stomach—anywhere but your head.”
2. Now lose it: Once the images are collected and put into a collage, you want to relax your mind. So, put the board away. Recycle it. Stop thinking about it. This will be the hardest part of the process. By doing this, you will stop pushing at something that you’ve already set in motion. Think of it this way, once the image is set in your mind’s eye, you no longer need to stare at it. You’ve got it and will begin setting the other items you need in motion. If you continue to stare at the collage, you will obsess over the images rather than focusing on the next steps. Rather than focusing on the desperation to make it happen, begin to make it happen.
3. Rather than buying fish, look for the fisherman: One of the biggest challenges, I think, for creative professionals and leaders is to seek out those who can help you attain your goals, whether in business or in your career. Remember, in order to reach your goals you may need help from others. So while you’re working on your plan, also be making those connections that will help you attain your goal. As T.S. Elliot said, “be still and still moving”.

As you consider your career and what you “want to be when you grow up” why not map it out in a fun way—a way that we creative’s love—in pictures or words that speak to us?

If you’re a leader of a creative staff, maybe you encourage your staff to represent their corporate goals through the use of vision boards. After all, corporate goals can be a bit boring; so, why not make them more exciting using a creative exercise to demonstrate how the creative team will impact your organization’s bottom line?

Tell us more about your vision, and how you plan to get there. Is a vision board right for you? It just might be.

Ciao!
Becky