A Goal Without a Plan is Just a Dream

I was honored to speak this week to a group of wedding professionals at the Perfect Wedding Pros luncheon and I was asked to create a topic around New Year, New You.  And as I thought about what I could bring to this group of professionals that would encourage them in this season, I thought, it’s not just a new year, it’s a new decade!  A completely fresh opportunity to cast vision for the next 10 years!

Creating a 10-year goal can feel overwhelming because it’s overwhelming to set a goal so far in the future.  So I would encourage you to instead to consider “What is My 10 Year Vision”? A vision is what you want your life to be like.  What will you spend your time doing? What will you enjoy about your life? What will your job be or will you have your own company?

Still, sound like too much??  I hear ya! I thought so too at first.  But I promise that if you follow just a few simple steps you will have a clear vision set for 2030!  Ira and I have found that we have such a much more directed discernment now that we have cast a vision for where we’re going.  When new projects come our way, we run them through the lens of our 10-year vision and see if it lines up. If it doesn’t, it’s not the right project for us no matter how great it may sound for the short term.

Ready to get started??  

Step 1 is to Define Your Core Values.  Defining your core values not only helps you to determine your focus but it helps you to attract ideal clients, set the tone for your branding and will help you to define what “success” means to you.  Sit on this last one for a second.  What does success look like to you??  It is different for each of us. Knowing what you value at the core of your soul will help you to determine what success is and how you can achieve it for you!

Step 2 is to put yourself in your shoes 10 years from now.  Visualize who you will be in 10 years. How old will you be?  How many kids will you have and what ages will they be? What do you spend your time doing?  What do you enjoy doing? What are you known for? Getting your head in the mindset of your 10 year older self will help you to see what you want your life to feel like at that time.

Step 3 is to create a vision statement.  By the year 2030, I will ________. What is it for you??  Here are a few examples:  

“By the year 2030, I will own my own floral boutique servicing at least 50 clients per year”.  

“By the year 2030, I will own my own photography business.  I will service at least 100 clients per year and will focus solely on weddings and engagements.”

Exciting right??  I love this stuff!  So now we have a vision statement right but remember what I said in the beginning….a goal without a plan is just a what??  A dream! And we don’t want dreams. We want goals with attainable milestones along the way to ensure we’re on the right track to getting to the vision!  So that brings us to our next step.

Step 4 is to set milestone goals along the way.  Set attainable goals at 10 years, 5 years, 3 years and 1 year that all build toward your vision.  To have a floral boutique servicing at least 50 clients per year you need a business name, you need to advertise so you can start getting clients, you need to find a space, you need to network, etc…  All of these things that align up to this vision you have for 2030. Side note: Your 1 and 3-year goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relatable, and Timely. If you aren’t sure what SMART Goals are, go back and read the blog I wrote just on this topic! 

https://weddingproceo.com/setting-smart-goals

Step 5 is to tell everyone you know!!  When you share your vision, amazing things happen!!  Your friends will ask you how it’s going which is a great way for you to be accountable.  You won’t want to keep saying “I haven’t done much about it” so you will stay on top of your tasks to meet your goal.  Additionally, friends will have resources you never even know you needed which will be a HUGE as you build your dream!!  

I can’t wait to hear your 2030 vision statements!  I challenge you to spend some time this week creating at least 1 and share it on your Instagram or Facebook!  Make sure to tag me so I can hold you accountable! I promise I will!!