Tuesday, May 2. 2006
The Power of a Vision
by David Krueger, MD
A while ago I spoke at an executive seminar. I had been thinking of an exciting way to present the concept of a vision to these professionals and it turned out very well.
The room was packed with marketing executives who came to hear coaching on how to create the hottest new market tool: their own book. I stepped up to the podium and asked, "Have any of you seen a yellow jeep in the past month?" They registered disbelief and puzzlement as they realized I was waiting for a response to a legitimate question. Finally one person tentatively raised his hand, as though he were still questioning either my seriousness or his memory.
I told them they could see a yellow jeep now, if they wanted to. I asked them to close their eyes and visualize a yellow jeep, the specific detail of how it looked from different angles, how it felt when they touched it, how the interior smelled. Then I told them to open their eyes and to call or email me if they happened to spot a yellow jeep in the coming days. Almost everyone contacted me to report their first sighting in the following week, most in the first two days.
What's my point you ask?
Vision is a Powerful Thing
People see what they look for and want to make sense of what they see. And what they look for what appears on the radar screen is determined by belief and assumption.
For example, the most common reason people don't earn more money and accumulate wealth is that they don't see themselves capable of it. Once someone genuinely sees himself or herself as capable of doing it, all sorts of thing begin to happen. The number of yellow jeeps or wealth existing in the world doesn't change, you just code your radar for possibility.
What is A Vision?
We always here motivational speakers talking about vision how important it is, how we should all have it, and so on. But what is a vision? And how do we actually create one?
Establishing a vision requires both art and science. Vision crystallizes possibility into a fundamental, articulated idea. Constructing a vision gives hope to possibility a shape and form. Essentially, you must inhabit the entire experience of your vision in order to create it. Does that make sense? If not keep reading.
A vision serves as an inspiration that can be used to design a path to your goals. The most successful businesses have a vision that is also ubiquitous for each person in the organization. The most successful people have crystal clear visions as well and they've had it since long before they were successful.
Constructing A Vision
The most important point to make here is this you must construct your own vision. No one else can ghostwrite a successful vision for you.
To start, clearly define the criteria to measure success. Just saying 'I want to change,' I want to start my life over,' or 'I want to be happy,' are all imprecise goals. They might work great in the movies, but they won't serve you any real purpose. So you need to nail out a precise and genuine vision.
Next, create positive terms for success. Develop your criteria in positive terms of what you want and what you will do. For example, don't say that you want to stop doing something that's negative. Instead, say you want to start doing something in place of that. By looking at the positive, you are creating an attractive goal.
Be specific, simple, and concrete. Vague and theoretical criteria are not useful because there is no way to live in a theory. Theory might work great in textbooks, but you can't live in a textbook either.
To test if this vision works for you, visualize your destination, not the series of steps to get there. Picture yourself in the final stage of your objective. How does that feel? Does it make sense? If not, you may want to hone your vision.
Putting Vision to the Test
Now it's time to complete the vision. Picture yourself as though you have just accomplished your goal at a specific time in the future, such as one year from now. Set a specific time and place. Imagine the details of the scene, engaging all senses and thoughts.
For example, if your vision is to make a big sale, picture the values and needs fulfilled, the money you have made, the details of what you are doing, and the feeling of shaking hands and ushering someone out of your office. Feels pretty good, right?
Put the Vision to Action
Carve out a few moments at some point each day to read this vision. You're programming a message for success in your mind by creating the experience of having achieved it.
David Krueger, MDD (www.mentorpath.com) is the former Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine where he practiced and taught Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis. He is author of 12 books and founded and served as CEO of two healthcare corporations. Dr. Krueger is now the Dean of Curriculum and Lead Mentor for Coach Training Alliance where he teaches the Certified Coach Program.
A while ago I spoke at an executive seminar. I had been thinking of an exciting way to present the concept of a vision to these professionals and it turned out very well.
The room was packed with marketing executives who came to hear coaching on how to create the hottest new market tool: their own book. I stepped up to the podium and asked, "Have any of you seen a yellow jeep in the past month?" They registered disbelief and puzzlement as they realized I was waiting for a response to a legitimate question. Finally one person tentatively raised his hand, as though he were still questioning either my seriousness or his memory.
I told them they could see a yellow jeep now, if they wanted to. I asked them to close their eyes and visualize a yellow jeep, the specific detail of how it looked from different angles, how it felt when they touched it, how the interior smelled. Then I told them to open their eyes and to call or email me if they happened to spot a yellow jeep in the coming days. Almost everyone contacted me to report their first sighting in the following week, most in the first two days.
What's my point you ask?
Vision is a Powerful Thing
People see what they look for and want to make sense of what they see. And what they look for what appears on the radar screen is determined by belief and assumption.
For example, the most common reason people don't earn more money and accumulate wealth is that they don't see themselves capable of it. Once someone genuinely sees himself or herself as capable of doing it, all sorts of thing begin to happen. The number of yellow jeeps or wealth existing in the world doesn't change, you just code your radar for possibility.
What is A Vision?
We always here motivational speakers talking about vision how important it is, how we should all have it, and so on. But what is a vision? And how do we actually create one?
Establishing a vision requires both art and science. Vision crystallizes possibility into a fundamental, articulated idea. Constructing a vision gives hope to possibility a shape and form. Essentially, you must inhabit the entire experience of your vision in order to create it. Does that make sense? If not keep reading.
A vision serves as an inspiration that can be used to design a path to your goals. The most successful businesses have a vision that is also ubiquitous for each person in the organization. The most successful people have crystal clear visions as well and they've had it since long before they were successful.
Constructing A Vision
The most important point to make here is this you must construct your own vision. No one else can ghostwrite a successful vision for you.
To start, clearly define the criteria to measure success. Just saying 'I want to change,' I want to start my life over,' or 'I want to be happy,' are all imprecise goals. They might work great in the movies, but they won't serve you any real purpose. So you need to nail out a precise and genuine vision.
Next, create positive terms for success. Develop your criteria in positive terms of what you want and what you will do. For example, don't say that you want to stop doing something that's negative. Instead, say you want to start doing something in place of that. By looking at the positive, you are creating an attractive goal.
Be specific, simple, and concrete. Vague and theoretical criteria are not useful because there is no way to live in a theory. Theory might work great in textbooks, but you can't live in a textbook either.
To test if this vision works for you, visualize your destination, not the series of steps to get there. Picture yourself in the final stage of your objective. How does that feel? Does it make sense? If not, you may want to hone your vision.
Putting Vision to the Test
Now it's time to complete the vision. Picture yourself as though you have just accomplished your goal at a specific time in the future, such as one year from now. Set a specific time and place. Imagine the details of the scene, engaging all senses and thoughts.
For example, if your vision is to make a big sale, picture the values and needs fulfilled, the money you have made, the details of what you are doing, and the feeling of shaking hands and ushering someone out of your office. Feels pretty good, right?
Put the Vision to Action
Carve out a few moments at some point each day to read this vision. You're programming a message for success in your mind by creating the experience of having achieved it.
David Krueger, MDD (www.mentorpath.com) is the former Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine where he practiced and taught Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis. He is author of 12 books and founded and served as CEO of two healthcare corporations. Dr. Krueger is now the Dean of Curriculum and Lead Mentor for Coach Training Alliance where he teaches the Certified Coach Program.
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