Why? Poor Vision = Poor decision.
Vision building is about allocating your most precious asset, your time. It only makes sense to start at the beginning, but, as Stephen Covey said, with the end in mind. Living intentionally requires our attention. Which means it involves continual effort. What comes easy won't last long, and what lasts long won't come easy. But wouldn't living a life by your design be worth the effort?
Vision Building is an essential part of the Financial Planning process. The process of Vision Building includes developing a written statement that paints a picture of where you want to go and the direction for your life. How can we allocate our dollars if we don't know how to allocate our days? I am not talking about some new-age daydreaming retreat. I am talking about allocating time dedicated to sincere consideration of where you are now, in multiple aspects of your life, and where you want to Grow. One of my favorite quotes in life goes something like this, "The only true measure of success is the distance between what we are and what we could have become." Yes, money is essential. It is a tool that is necessary in our world today. Beyond putting food on the table and keeping the lights on, money is about doing what you want, when you want, and with who you want.
Vision Building can and should be a practical exercise that is revisited regularly. If you have a "vision" for your future but haven't attached a deadline, it's called a daydream. So why not stop daydreaming and start planning?
If you're a blank slate, start brainstorming, and be bold with what comes out. You can even work with your partner or a friend. Think about all the things you would like to do. You know, that list of "if I only had the time" or "if I only had the money." Those things. Write them down, and post them up. Put them in front of you every day. Most people don't have a completed Vision in a few days. It took me a very long time to develop a 3-5 Vision I could build a plan around. We start working on a simple Vision Building exercise with our Financial Planning clients in the first series of meetings knowing that it takes time and can be an evolving process.
Having a real vision for your future can be a powerful motivator. More importantly, it brings a greater sense of purpose to your actions. The Vision establishes the foundation for the Plan being built. It's the WHY for our actions and recommendations. It also serves as a compass in the GROW phase. It allows us to confirm that we are allocating our dollars in a way that supports our PLAN.
Lastly, your Vision should be shared, and it should be revisited regularly. Vision Building is much like Financial Planning in that the process has significant value. Perfection is unnecessary, but constantly striving for improvement can get you where you want to go. As they say, "You don't have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great."
Share your vision with us and let us know how we can help! Starting with a financial plan or reworking your current plan can help you live intentionally while shaping your future.
Sincerely,
Brian Pitell
BPG Planning