I always thought I'd die young.

For three years I thought I'd die on March 29th of 2021.

I'd written my eulogy at 18. Every semester of college I'd be reminded of this idea because of Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Chapter 2: Begin with the End in Mind.

I knew what I wanted my best friend, my sister, co workers, and community to say about me at my funeral. It may be morbid, but it was very helpful. By knowing what I want people to say about me when I die, I know how I need to act while I live.

This will change and evolve. I'm sharing this because I was tired of having a vision board that didn't help me. What I needed was a systematic way to measure (on a daily basis) whether I was moving toward my vision.

You aren't beginning with the end in mind.

If you don't know what you want people to say about you when you die, you don't know your definition of success. Without clarity, you won't be able to create the life you long for. You'll be living out other people’s vision of your life. (which you probably don't want)

Imagine trying to decorate a room without first thinking about the purpose of the room.

Before you decorate a room you go through 9 steps:

Because the feeling and function will effect many choices, if you don't know how the room is supposed to function you can't thoughtfully paint the walls, you can't pick furniture or flooring that fits the purpose of the room.

In the same way, without a vision (even if imperfect) you can't start in the right direction.

You find yourself doing a lot of things, busy, but not sure if what you're doing makes a difference in helping you have the life you want or become the person you want to be. It's really easy to be efficient, without building the life you actually want to live.

You lack priorities: (Where I was)

You've gone through the process of creating a vision board, but there is no systematic or rhythmic feedback that is helping you create this life you've envisioned. Why?

You feel frustrated that you invested this effort to write out your goals and create clarity around what you want in your life. (yet nothing is happening)

The Big Problem:

Without vision things default to destruction. No one "by mistake" ended up in great health. No one has “by mistake” had great relationships with their friends and family. No one by mistake ended up with more than enough to retire on.

Everything worthwhile in life is uphill all the way.

Vision will force you to look at the reality of your life and where you are now, compared with where you'd like to be. This won't be fun or comfortable, but neither is remaining stuck in the place you are.

You move away from discomfort, yet most of the things you want are on the other side of that discomfort.

You either move towards pleasure or away from pain. if the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change, you'll change.

You don't have vision for your life because it isn't urgent. (you don't die tomorrow without vision, but your dreams do.)

Vision without (daily) action is delusion.

Vision without the skill and knowledge required to develop that vision is frustration.

Vision is the first step which leads to discipline.

Vision leads to focus, focus is the fuel of desire, and desire is the fuel of discipline.

Vision -> Focus -> Desire -> Discipline -> Measured action -> Reflection

What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?

Sometimes it takes experiencing the negative side of life, which can create a beautiful thing. (Because it shows you exactly who you don't want to be)

I remember always wanting to sit in the front seat when we'd drive places. I have three three older siblings. And If they were in the car they'd always sit there (which was their right). I remember how much it would have meant to me if they would have let me sit in the front seat, especially because they didn't have to.

So when I was the older sibling with the right to sit in the front seat, I'd let my younger sister have that privilege, because it was a small way to let her know she was important to me. (and it was something I'd thought of and hoped for, but never received)

I'm not sure how to explain why I did this at such a young age, except for my relationship with God. But developing this thought process of taking what I didn't want to experience, writing a new story that says: because I wasn't given this gift, I'm going to offer it to her because I knew it would have meant the world to me.

I gave what I'd wished I'd been given as a gift to the next person. (even though I didn’t receive it myself)

Vision compels action.

Action without vision is a treadmill. trying to keep up without going anywhere.

Focus is the fuel of Desire, desire is the fuel of discipline. Creating a compelling vision will pull you when you don't feel like doing things.

As I write this I'm staring at my vision board, and for the first time, because of The 12 Week Year, I have daily tasks and priorities and goals that I need to accomplish by March 31st. So even though it's a whole year board, I only have until March 31st, and the tension of that being only about a month a way is why I'm doing these things on a daily basis. Because December 31st seems far away (even though it isn't), but March 31st is coming up, and so I need to take action today.

It informs my (daily) actions. It was a part of why I said yes to speak at an event with 3 days notice. (part of that presentation is linked below)

It compelled me to have 20 conversations about my business yesterday, even when I didn’t feel like it. (because I know I’ll be measured at the end of the week by the actions I took, NOT how I felt)

Without a mood board, you'll never create the right feeling inside of a room you're decorating.

Without a vision for your life, your ability to create that life is zero. You don't have to have a "perfect" vision; you have to create something, and start taking daily action towards what you think you want.

Take Action, Then Adjust. You'll learn more about what you do and don't want in your life.

It is so easy to stay stuck, distracted, or self-medicate your frustration at the life. Instead of looking at who you want to be and what you want to create and doing the hard work of doing those things on a daily basis.

"It's easier to go numb to your dreams than admit you have them and not know how to get them." - Keith Kochner

Vision is the first step; its ultimate value is in creating the daily discipline to be the person you say you want to be. By zooming out wide enough, it helps you do what you said you'd do, long after the feeling you said it in is gone.

How I break down my long-term vision into daily tasks.

Bonus Action: Take a picture of it and put it as your lock screen/background. Share your board with a close friend or family member or ask them to create one with you. (I've almost always done this with a group or with a friend)

Free Resources:

12 Week Year 10 minute video Summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wQhRRWPqFE&ab_channel=TimHill

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