Wednesday Wisdom – Aim with conscious intention

It is striking how often clients find themselves at a loss for an answer when asked what their vision is for their business – and personal – future. 

When rephrased to the more simple question of what it is that they ‘want,’ there is most commonly a response detailing all that is not wanted, rather than what is.  This is seldom useful.

Many seem to find themselves at a point in their business life, having done what they have always done, only to find it no longer satisfying or successful; wondering how they got there and somewhat lost in choosing the most suitable path forward.  

I often quote this famous Lewis Carroll extract from Alice in Wonderland: 

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”

“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.

“I don’t much care where –” said Alice.

“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.

“– so long as I get SOMEWHERE,” Alice added as an explanation.

“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.”

Setting aside the impact of the economy, the need to keep up with ever advancing technology, and stay abreast of the evolution of industry as the years pass, the most important ingredient in the recipe for sustained and continued business growth is that of knowing why one is in business, combined with having a picture of the desired longer term outcome.

Although the GPS may require some adjustment from time-to-time due to the influence of various factors, it is probable that the end point will be disappointing in a variety of ways, if one is not sure about where one is headed – or why. 

Creating a vision – a picture – for one’s business is imperative, and is the heart that drives the pulse of success.  It is the picture that creates the visual stimulus, clarity and motivation for what is intended to be achieved; illustrating, highlighting and identifying the necessary co-ordinates in the form of daily, weekly and monthly goals in order to get where one is going.

If you do not have a current vision, then I encourage you to create one by observing others; talking to people; seeking feedback; shadowing or following those who inspire you; paging through magazines; surfing the net and more. These are the simple actions that get one’s creative juices flowing, well within the ability and reach of each and every on one of us, provided one simply takes the first step. 

In the words of Henry David Thoreau: “In the long run men hit only what they aim at.”

Aim with conscious intention.

ELISE

20th of March 2019