You’ve probably had those weeks where you’re flat out busy but can’t quite explain what you achieved. Endless emails, back-to-back meetings, tasks ticked off… yet when Friday rolls around, you wonder, “Did any of this move me forward?” That’s the danger of drifting without a clear vision—you mistake motion for progress.
The truth is, success doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you deliberately decide where you’re going and then chart a course to get there. That’s why creating a vision for your future isn’t just nice—it’s necessary.
But here’s the catch: vision can’t live only in your head. It has to be real enough to pull you forward when things get tough. And trust me, things will get tough. So let’s talk about how you can create a vision that doesn’t just look good on paper but actually works in your life.
Step 1: Start with the “Why”
A vision without purpose is just wallpaper—pretty but useless. Why are you doing what you’re doing?
Ask yourself:
- What impact do I want to make?
- Who do I want to serve or help?
- What kind of life do I want to look back on?
Take Sarah, a manager I once worked with. She thought her vision was about “hitting targets.” But when she slowed down and asked why, she realised it was actually about building a team culture where people loved coming to work. Targets mattered, but they were fuel for her real goal: creating a place where people thrived. That deeper “why” gave her team a reason to push harder and stick together when challenges hit.
What about you? If you stripped away the numbers and the titles, what’s left that actually matters?
Step 2: Picture It Clearly
Here’s the thing—your brain likes specifics. Vague visions create vague results.
Saying “I want to be successful” is like telling Google Maps “take me somewhere nice.” You’ll end up somewhere random, and it may not be what you had in mind.
Instead, describe it. What does success look like in three years? What are you working on? Where are you living? Who’s alongside you?
One exercise I use: write a “future diary entry.” Pretend it’s a day three years from now. Walk through your morning. Who do you meet? What kind of work are you doing? How do you feel about it? The clearer the picture, the stronger the pull to make it real.
Step 3: Break It Down
Big visions can be intimidating. They look exciting on a slide deck but overwhelming in real life. That’s where most people stall.
The fix? Break it into chunks.
Let’s say your vision is to run a successful consultancy. Don’t just stare at that mountain. Start with smaller peaks: build your skills, sign your first client, create a system that works. Each step builds momentum.
Think of it like a game—you don’t go straight to the final boss. You level up gradually, learning skills and collecting wins that prepare you for the bigger challenge.
Step 4: Share the Vision
Here’s where many leaders slip. They keep the vision locked in their own head. Then they wonder why no one else feels motivated.
People can’t follow a vision they can’t see. Share it—clearly, repeatedly, and in ways that connect with your team or family. Paint the picture. Explain why it matters. Most importantly, show them where they fit into the story.
I remember working with a small start-up where the founder finally explained his vision to the team in plain English instead of jargon. Overnight, people stopped just “doing tasks” and started acting like co-owners of the mission. All it took was clarity.
Step 5: Keep It Alive
A vision isn’t a one-off exercise. It’s not something you scribble on a napkin and forget. It needs revisiting. Circumstances change, teams grow, priorities shift. If your vision feels outdated, it won’t inspire anyone.
World-class leaders review their vision regularly—not to reinvent the wheel every time, but to check if it still fits. Are we on track? Does this still reflect who we want to be? Do we need to adjust the path?
And here’s the fun part: every time you revisit it, you’ll see progress. Even if you’re not “there” yet, you’ll notice how far you’ve already come. That’s rocket fuel for motivation.
Step 6: Make It Enjoyable
This might be the most overlooked part. Vision isn’t just about grinding until you collapse. If you don’t enjoy the process, you won’t stick with it.
Clive Woodward, who coached England to their 2003 Rugby World Cup win, famously made enjoyment part of the team’s vision. Training was tough, yes, but it was also designed to be engaging. The players weren’t just chasing a trophy; they were thriving in the journey.
What about your vision? Can you make the process more fun? Maybe it’s working with people you like, turning goals into challenges, or celebrating small wins along the way. Joy keeps momentum alive long after grit runs out.
Bringing It Back to You
So let’s flip the script to you.
- Do you know your “why”?
- Can you picture it clearly enough to describe it?
- Have you broken it into steps?
- Who have you shared it with?
- When was the last time you revisited it?
- And—crucially—are you enjoying the ride?
If you can answer those, you’re not drifting anymore. You’re steering.
That’s the heart of creating a vision: it pulls you forward, keeps you aligned, and turns busywork into meaningful progress.
This idea of charting your course is straight out of Winning The Game. The book delves deeper, providing a comprehensive framework to transform your vision into a strategy and your strategy into action. No fluff, no buzzwords—just tools that work in real life.
Because the best path forward isn’t the one you stumble into. It’s the one you pave yourself.