Achieving your goals: A step-by-step guide to the ultimate vision board 2024.
By Slavica Zlatar-Banika
Table of contents
Achieving your goals: A step-by-step guide
to the ultimate vision board 2024.
→ Introduction
→ What is a vision board?
→ Benefits.
→ Statistics.
→ The Process.
→ Step 1. Determine your core values.
→ Step 2. Define your goals.
→ Step 3. Assemble. Collect images.
→ Step 4. Edit. Chop chop.
→ Step 5. Curate. Add finishing touches.
→ Step 6. Take action.
Conclusion
Introduction
I have a confession to make.
As a graphic designer, I’ve been creating vision boards for a while now.
People in the industry used to call them mood boards, but I’ve always called them vision boards.
Before vision boards were a manifestation thing — they were a design thing.
So, what is a vision board?
In branding, vision boards show a brand in its perfect form — or how it aspires to be.
Think of the brand as a cake. What ingredients are essential to make it?
On my brand vision boards, I always include these ‘ingredients’: the product, a brand ‘blurb,’ logo, brand colour palette, typography, and art direction.
These work together to create the — ‘cake’.
You can use this same technique to create your personal vision board.
Can it help clarify your goals and dreams — in life or business?
Yes!
Benefits.
Like journaling, getting the ideas out of your head and onto paper — or your computer — is the key.
It’s a strategic approach to building the life you want.
A vision board can help you clarify your goals and values.
Creating a vision board means asking yourself some questions.
Its essential purpose is to make your goals visible — to you.
As a result, abstract ideas become more concrete.
Ideas are brought into the material world and feel more ‘real’ — and possible.
The result is a tangible representation of your aspirations.
And, less confusion.
A vision board can help with inspiration and motivation.
Each time you look at your vision board you should feel inspired.
It should ignite something in you. Try it when you’re in a slump.
A vision board can help you focus.
We have distractions daily. We’re overstimulated and pulled in different directions.
A vision board helps you focus on what matters to you. You don’t need more time — you need more focus.
A vision board can remind you what is important — to you.
In life, we get busy. We can go off on tangents, forgetting the big picture — forgetting our goals.
This causes stress. We’re stressed when our actions don’t align with our goals.
If your goal is a family — and you are focusing on your career — you may feel frustrated.
A vision board can remind you what it is that you want. And to go for it.
A vision board can build confidence.
Creating a vision board can be a therapeutic and introspective process.
It prompts you to articulate your deepest desires and ambitions. Yes, this can stir up some emotions, too.
But self-awareness is crucial for personal and professional growth so — power through it.
The tactile nature of vision boards — especially if using traditional cut-and-paste methods — adds an extra layer of connection.
Feeling the textures, arranging the elements, and placing the finished board where you can touch and see it daily engages your senses, making your goals more tangible and real.
You end up convincing yourself that you can do it and you feel more confident.
Statistics.
Fun fact: It is estimated that only 3% of the population write down their goals.
97% are passive and let life happen. Which group would you prefer to be in?
One popular study by Dr. Gail Matthews at Dominican University in California determined that writing down your goals means a 42% improved chance of achieving them.
“My study provides empirical evidence for the effectiveness of three coaching tools: accountability, commitment, and writing down one’s goals.” — Dr. Matthews
Imagine that. By writing down your goals, you have a better chance of achieving them.
Now, add images to these words. What a powerful combination!
Still not convinced? A recent study by TD Bank and psychologist Dr. Nusbaum revealed that 1 in 5 successful entrepreneurs use vision boards.
“Images connect us more immediately and emotionally to our personal and financial goals, and to our setting and achieving them. And images help us in our thinking and moving toward these goals.” —Dr. Nusbaum
It’s all about training your subconscious and unlocking neural pathways.
What doesn’t start with a vision?
The process.
Below is a simplified recipe to create your vision board. Once finished, a vision board can seem simple enough.
The actual process involves sifting through a lot of ideas, directions and material.
It tends to start fuzzy, and ill-defined and ends with clarity, and direction.
From there, you can take the next steps — because you have clarified where it is that you want to go.
Trust and enjoy the process. Visualize your life the way you want it to be.
Step 1. Determine your core values.
This is the toughest part — but crucial.
Discovering your core values may surprise you and reveal truths about yourself.
What brings you joy, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose?
Once you know, you’ll understand what motivates you — the ‘why’ behind your desires.
These values will then guide you in setting your goals in the next step.
Here’s a list, but feel free to add your own:
family / children
God / religion / faith / spirituality
patriotism
hard work
freedom / independence of thought
truth / justice
achievement / career
creativity
beauty
enlightenment / education / curiosity
wealth / money
materialism / comforts
hedonism / pleasure
adventure
health / wellness
civic engagement / citizen / community
equality
integrity
authenticity
entrepreneurship / innovation
responsibility / accountability
philanthropy / giving back to society
compassion
resilience
power / prestige / admiration
Step 2. Define your goals — your dream life, your legacy.
Now that you are more clear on your values, write an overarching life goal.
This should be your big-picture aspiration — your dream life — your legacy. Remember, you’re the star of this movie.
A concise blurb is ideal. Write a lot, then edit it down to its essence.
Next, let’s get into the specifics.
Use the Goal thought-starters below to guide you.
Write down your goals (for the next year to keep them focused) for each category.
Once the full process is done, you can always refine it.
Set it aside :))
Goal thought-starters:
Personal
• appearance • style • fitness • nutrition • health • wellness • passions • personal growth • spirituality
Describe who you wish to be in 3 words. How do you want to look? What kind of mindset do you want?
How can you maintain your health? Spirituality?
Lifestyle
• home • interior design • decor • experiences • travel • adventure • bucket list • car • commuting • bike
What is your location? What do your surroundings look like? What does a day in this perfect life look like?
Do you travel? What do you do for fun?
Money
• saving • investing • budgeting • independence • career • entrepreneurship • financial freedom • passive income • wealth
How do you make money? What investments or savings do you have? How do you achieve financial security and abundance?
What entrepreneurial endeavours do you pursue?
Social
• close family • traditions • friends • marriage • connections • love • romance • community • social
Who is with you? Who are your closest family members and friends? What is your romantic or social life like?
What community or social activities are you involved in?
Step 3. Assemble. Collect images.
Now, the fun part can begin! Here, you should pay attention to your emotions.
This step will involve selecting images — and words— that evoke a strong response in you.
Decide if you prefer a digital vision board (Pinterest) or an ‘analog’ one — using physical materials like magazines, scissors, double-sided tape and sturdy foam core.
Pro tip: ‘Analog’ Vision Board
The sense of touch is not used enough in the digital world. Creating something with your hands helps nurture your sensitivity and aesthetic sense. In this case, it also helps you remember your goals and inspirations more vividly. Plus, we’re all big kids after all — and this takes you back to ‘play.’ Have some fun. Go ahead and cut out images — and headlines or words — from magazines or print out images that inspire you. Remember yourself as a kid? What did you love to do and what did you dream about? Tap into it!
Pro tip: Digital Vision Board
If you choose the digital route, Pinterest is the way to go. Start by creating one board. Pinterest will ask you about your interests, and you’ll get relevant images in your feed. Select the ones that speak to you — that stop you in your tracks — and start adding to your board.
Whatever option you choose, let your instincts — your emotions — guide you.
Let beauty guide you also. It signals something deeper in us — and we are “starved” for it.
Love at first sight may be a thing for a reason.
3. Edit. Chop chop.
Remember, to think like a designer here — less is often more. Keep all the great and delete the ‘meh’.
Start arranging and rearranging your images on your vision board. Decide what to include, and what to leave out.
Refer to your goals and the categories we discussed earlier— personal, lifestyle, money and relationships — to guide you.
Have you covered all the bases? Do your images reflect the goals you identified earlier? And even help to define them further?
Make sure they are in alignment and you will start to see a theme emerge.
4. Curate. Add finishing touches.
In this step, pay attention to your emotions.
Finalize your boards — images and words should be assembled, and categorized to reflect your goals.
How do you know when the vision board — your design — is finished?
When you look at your boards, you should feel enlightened, motivated, inspired, uplifted, calm and content.
It is the same process as with graphic design. When your design is complete and done well — you can’t take your eyes off it.
It feels magical. Now, commit — paste the images to your board.
5. Take action.
You’re done! But not quite. It’s time to implement your vision board into your day-to-day. Remember to:
Review daily.
Interact with your vision board daily. Visualize your goals. The boards should have a positive effect on you.
Baby steps.
Break your goals into manageable steps. Yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily steps — that you plan to take to achieve your goals. Add these to your calendars as prompts.
Share your goals?
Some think this adds accountability. My opinion is that you should keep the ideas to yourself and work at achieving them.
Update.
Keep your board fresh as things start to happen. Add real-time imagery to the boards. Celebrate wins. Be grateful.
Conclusion.
Creating a vision board isn’t a magic pill to achieve your goals — but it can feel that way.
It’s a tactile way to clarify your values and goals — and inspire you to work towards achieving them.
Your goals feel real and achievable. You reinforce your belief in yourself.
Statistics show that writing down your goals increases your chance of success by 42%.
Adding a vision board increases that.
Your dreams start to become real.
Commit, trust and enjoy the process!