Define Your Future—Before the World Does
DECEMBER 16, 2024
Developing a vision and associated goals of where you’re going is necessary to be on the path towards them. Without a defined vision, the world will shape it for you, leading to unfulfilled outcomes. We can take ownership of our future with a vision that has clarity and purpose.
Create a vision for your future.
The other day, I stopped by a local coffee shop. The barista, with the warmest smile, asked, “How would you like your coffee?”
Without skipping a beat, I said, “Just black.”
Simple.
Direct.
No overthinking.
But imagine if I had just stood there in awkward silence. Weird, right? Yet, when it comes to envisioning our future, so many of us do exactly that—we freeze up and leave the question unanswered.
As another year winds down, there’s a bigger question brewing, one even more important than a coffee order: What does your future look like? Not just in the vague sense of “I want to set goals” or “I should make some resolutions.” I mean the real deal—what does writing this next chapter of your life biography look like? What’s the vision?
It’s not enough to just have goals. Goals are great, but they’re like answering, “I want coffee.” Sure, it’s a start, but it doesn’t define what you really want. If you don’t define your vision, much like your brand, the world will define it for you. And trust me, the default version of your future isn’t what you had in mind. It will only be limited by circumstances and challenges.
So, I’ll ask again: What does your future look like?
Do you want to be inspired, fulfilled, and growing? Do you see yourself leading with purpose, achieving meaningful outcomes? Crafting a future demands more than just checking boxes on a to-do list—it demands clarity, imagination, and intention. It demands vision.
I have something special for you to start thinking about your future. A tool that I’ve used for years to develop a vision – for myself, my company and my future. A worksheet to create a life biography around the important areas of life and develop an associated vision and goals for the future. You can download that here:
So as you sip your coffee (black, latte, or otherwise), you now have some things to think about. Better said, you have a question to answer. Not just for the barista, but for yourself. Because the future isn’t something that just happens to you—it’s something you create.
Key Idea
If you don’t define your future, circumstances will define it for you. Developing a vision and associated goals of where you’re going is necessary to be on the path towards them. Without a defined vision, the world will shape it for you, leading to unfulfilled outcomes. We can take ownership of our future with a vision that has clarity and purpose.
Takeaway
Create a vision for your future.
Build your Movement
If you achieve your goals for this year, what does your life look like? How do you think, how do you act, how do you feel?
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