Vision

It all starts with Vision. Victor Frankl, in his book Man’s Search For Meaning advises us not to ask what the meaning of life is, but what is the meaning of our lives. What is your purpose?
I struggled with this for a long time, trying to uncover what my purpose was in life. If you, like me, weren’t lucky to be born with a purpose, then I can reassure you. If attempt to define it, then it will evolve over time.
Think of defining your purpose like playing a hole in golf. You wouldn’t expect to hit a hole in one on a par 5, although it could be possible. No, first you would aim in the general direction of the green and as time goes on refining your focus.
So you have to start somewhere and here are a two simple exercises for you to attempt to define your purpose, or at least go in the general direction.

The Eulogy

So first you need to spend some time thinking about what you want your life to look like. Imagine you are at a memorial service of someone special. You are sat the back of the church. The church is packed out. Clearly this was an important person, someone who was well thought of and loved. It was clearly someone who lived a good long life and touched many other people’s lives positively. Then you realise that it is your memorial service. Get a pen and paper and write yourself three eulogies.

1. Write the first eulogy, as if it were written by a family member. Write out the words they will use to describe you and your achievements. How you loved, cared for and provided for them.
2. Next, write your eulogy as spoken by a good friend. As above, what would you want that person to say about you? What did they admire about you and your personal achievements.
3. Finally write a piece from a business associate, describing your achievements in business or your career. How did you treat the people you dealt with? What is the legacy you have left behind. How will people continue to be positively effected by you after you are gone?

Your ideal day

In this exercise , you will now describe your ideal day from getting up in the morning, until going to bed at night. This day will not be a holiday or lazy weekend, but perhaps a working day, during the week.

1. What will your morning routine be? Where are you? Describe your house? What will you wear, who is there?
2. Next walk through your workday, including your ideal working environment. Do you know what you will be doing?
3. Then your evening; again what will you do and with whom? Finally your bedtime routine.

Is there anything else you want? In all likelihood, your vision for the future will be quite abstract. You will have a vague feeling about what you want it to be. This is completely fine, as you can start to get more specific later.
It is also good to start to put together a dream board or scrap book of cuttings from magazines. Although you might not quite be able to describe your vision in words adequately, pictures can convey a sense of it in a more complete way.
This need not be a one off exercise. It should be something that evolves over time. You might spend some time once a month, playing with your long term vision.
Print off both your Eulogies and Ideal Day scripts and put them in a section of your manual entitled Vision.