The Good News “But the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior — yes, the Messiah, the Lord — has been born tonight
BY PLANNING YOUR VERY OWN ‘VISION DAY’
When was the last time you took an entire day for yourself? I don’t mean a vacation to spend time with your family or friends. I mean a full 24-hour period all alone with your thoughts, when you could breathe deeply and sit quietly in a place you love. It sounds like bliss, right? That sort of alone time is really important for business owners. Just look at Bill Gates! Two times a year, he takes a week to reflect on what was and was not accomplished in the last 12 months and then sets goals for the coming year and/or reviews goals for the current year. I’m not saying that this ritual is why he’s a billionaire, but it might have something to do with it. The most successful people are the ones who commit time and energy to envisioning the future. Most people can’t take a full week off work, so I thought I would introduce you to a program developed by Rob Berkley in the late 1990s. He called it Vision Day. I learned about it from the former marketing director of GKIC, Dave Dee. His description of the process and its impact on his own life convinced me I needed to do this exercise each year. It may sound a bit “cheesy,” but the practice really has given me greater clarity and direction — and I think it could change your life too. WHAT IS A VISION DAY? A Vision Day is a 24-hour period where you put yourself in a place that is relaxing and inspiring. It is time away from your phone and other interruptions, so your undivided attention is spent reflecting, evaluating, and creating the best year ever. Vision Day is a time to envision the life you want to live and to bring clarity to your personal and professional goals. Remember, we each have only 1,440 minutes each day. Too many people try to cram too many things into those minutes, which makes their lives life stressful. Keep this in mind and avoid this predisposition as you work on your plan. To develop a “vision” that brings happiness and success into your life, consider only a few important areas in your life to focus on in the upcoming year. For me, the areas I focus on are my faith, my family, my health, my fitness, “other,” and my business. The areas you focus on will be personalized for your situation. Title each area based on what is important to you. It could be traveling, bettering a relationship with your spouse or significant other, securing your
financials, completing an Ironman, remodeling your home, losing weight, planning a wedding, etc. (Next month, we will talk about incorporating your business goals into this process.) SO YOU KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES — NOWWHAT? Once I have my priorities nailed down (family, health, travel, etc.), I ask myself, “Where am I now?” and “Where do I want to be in one year, in 10 years, and in 20 years?” Breaking things down this way makes it easy to see the good, the bad, and the ugly and set realistic goals for the future. Next, I identify and list each action needed to reach each priority goal in those stated
in Bethlehem.’” –Luke 2:10–11
Take a Break!
time frames. Then each action step is assigned a specific achievement date. This helps me come out of Vision Day feeling inspired and recharged because I have so much more clarity and direction.
It’s the ultimate reset, and we can all use a reset this year!
HERE’S YOUR DECEMBER CHALLENGE: SCHEDULE A DAY AT THE END OF JANUARY 2021 TO BE
YOUR VISION DAY. Clear your calendar and commit to following through. In next month’s newsletter, I’ll lay out how to address your business plan and what to do on Vision Day. I’ll even share how you can
get a template to get started. If you follow my guidance, you’ll come out of the day with a clear life plan that
DLJ Wealth Services, LLC is a registered investment advisor. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial advisor and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Advisory services are provided by DLJ Wealth Services, LLC. DLJ Wealth Services, LLC is a registered investment advisor. Tax advice is provided through DLJ Tax Services, LLC, a separate legal entity, but both companies are owned by Deb Matz.
is congruent with your values and goals. In the meantime, do some deep thinking. Figure out which areas of your life you want to prioritize and get ready to explore them. Together, we can make 2021 your best year yet!
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