Experiments in Life and Leadership
Creating Vision Statements with Vision Exercises – Part 2
Vision exercises, as we mentioned in the earlier post, are great tools for creating your vision. Part 1 of this article discussed the four requirements to use vision exercises and two vision exercises. This post present four more vision exercises for discovering your personal vision. Before continuing further it is recommended that you read how to start creating vision and vision statements.
Again, as in the previous post, do the required preparation and get the four important things before you start the vision exercises: If you wish to learn more about these four things and have not read the previous post, please read creating vision statement with vision exercises part 1. Let’s get straight to some more vision exercises. This exercise is a little different from the first two exercises mentioned in the previous post. This vision exercise is very simple and straightforward. To start this exercise, draw a vertical line dividing the piece of paper (or its electronic equivalent) into two parts. Label left side as “Can’t Live Withouts” and the right side as “Want to Get Rid ofs”, and start thinking. Write all the things you can not live without on the left side. Think about what are the essential things you do on a day-to-day basis for your survival. Now think about those things that you would like to get rid of. Start writing them on the right side. After you are done, you would have a list of things you like in your life and would like to continue doing them and another list of things you want to get rid of from your life. Use these two lists to create your vision, the “can’t live without “ list would tell you what are the things that you should consider to include in your vision and “get rid of “ list would give a quick idea of the non-essential things that should be taken off your life to attain your vision. While this exercise is straightforward, I feel it is a little shallower than the exercises mentioned previously. The strength of this exercise is that it will give you a good idea of what you want and what you don’t in your life. Once you identify the vision, remember to formulate the vision statement and use the simple tips to make it compelling and powerful. For those who don’t know Genie is a fictional invisible spirit who has special powers to grant any wish of his master. If you have watched the cartoon movie Aladdin, you know what I am talking about. This exercise uses Genie as the medium to discover your vision. Again, before moving ahead keep in mind the four requirements mentioned above. Imagine this – one weekend you were cleaning your closet and sorting the stuff in it. While you were throwing stuff out of your closet, you found a magic lamp and you rubbed the lamp and a genie appeared. And just like in the movie, the genie asks for your wish. The twist here is that you can ask for only three wishes. Think about this for a moment. What will be the three wishes – one about you, one about your family and/or friends, third for your community . What would be the wishes you would ask the genie? What change would you like to bring in these three areas of your life? This exercise uses drama and creativity to create the ambience and help create your vision in a fun way. Exercise number 5 on this list is related to your work area, though it can be modified to cover broader spectrum of life. Imagine that you have worked for 34 years in several business areas and after so many years of work, the day has come when you retire. That day is today. You are retiring today. As you walk out of your office and look behind at the main entrance door, you remember all those 34 years. You remember all the jobs you have had, all the employees you supervised and the bosses you reported to. You recall the major projects you worked on that changed your career. What would you like to have achieved in all the years you worked? What contributions would you like to have made to your job, your direct reports, your boss and your projects? What character do you want your colleagues to have seen in you? This is similar to “With End in Mind” exercise discussed in part 1 but focuses specifically on work area. To make this exercise more comprehensive, you can add any other area of life. Legacy is defined by Merriam Webster as something that is received from an ancestor. In the context of this exercise, legacy would be your name, your image and your personal brand. Your name and the your reputation is something you earn as you live your life. People inherit the legacy of their parents, grandparents and great grandparents. It is the choices you make and your karma that brings you name and sketches your image. But your children, grandchildren and so on are stuck with that image, that brand – what you earned. Think about the impact your deeds and choices and decisions would make on your coming generations. What legacy would you like to have left for your grandchildren and great grandchildren? What would you want your grandchildren to be proud of? What are the areas you want to leave your legacy in? How do you want your children to look at you and your achievements? Take a moment and answer these questions. The Legacy exercise is very powerful and conveys the message loud and clear – if you want your grandchildren to be proud of you, do something that makes real positive difference in their life. These six exercises are great way to discover your vision and values. However, don’t stop just yet. Once you discover your vision the important thing is to document it some place safe by creating your personal vision statement. Remember the simple tips to make your vision statement powerful and compelling. Once you have a vision statement, then find out your core values and develop your mission statement to create the three ingredients required for recipe of success. Now its your turn again. Tell us which exercise did you like the best? Did these work for you? Share your favorite exercise with us or just tell us how you liked this post in the comments below. 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Before you Begin
Vision Exercise 3 – Can’t live without and want to get rid of
Vision Exercise 4 – Genie exercise
Vision Exercise 5 – The Retirement Day
Vision Exercise 6 – What is Your Legacy
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