We are living in uncertain times.
Things have been changing so quickly that it may feel like you have whiplash.
As a business owner or entrepreneur, I’m willing to bet you have faced uncertainty before if you’ve been working for yourself for more than a hot minute.
I was on a Zoom call recently in a Mindset Membership Community.
The organizer, Linda Perry, created a safe space to dig into fear surrounding COVID-19, plus how it is impacting mindset and business.
Near the end of the call, Linda was speaking about the importance of staying focused on the vision. The vision for our businesses.
I love analogies, and this is what came to me at that moment. It helped make the idea of vision and its importance more clear for people on the call.
So I decided to share it here and hope it is helpful to you.
Goals vs vision
First, it’s important to distinguish between goals and vision.
Goals
We entrepreneurs and business owners love goals. Income goals, for example, are a big one.
Think of a goal being akin to getting the mail. It’s tangible, can be visualized, and broken down into steps from where you are to a successful outcome.
You know where the mailbox is, what you need to do to get there, and aside from any unforeseen obstacles, like the dog eating your mail key, your goal to get the mail is achievable.
Right now, for many of us, COVID-19 ate our mail key.
Some of us are unsure about how we’re going to make ends meet, let alone worry about our BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goals).
Are you feeling a little tightness in your chest?
Take a breath.
No really.
Close your eyes and breathe deeply.
Keep breathing until you feel some of that tension release.
Better? Good.
Vision
Now let’s look at vision.
Remember the stories of explorers and sailors that would set out on a voyage without clear directions or GPS?
They had a destination they were sailing toward.
That is your vision.
Where were you going when you started this business journey?
Were you sailing to the land of time flexibility and impact?
Were you navigating to the place where you would retire your spouse and donate to the charities that lift your soul?
Maybe you were on your way to a country populated with people who are financially independent and free to be present with their families on their terms.
Each of those is an example of a vision.
Is the difference between a vision and a goal becoming clear?
Goals are the steps that take us in the direction of the vision.
Now you might be thinking, “Okay. I had a vision. So what? How does that help me now?”
Good question.
Be the explorer.
What?
Stay With Me.
Just like our explorer friends, you probably shoved off on this adventure when the journey seemed somewhat calm and safe.
However, just like the explorer, the likelihood that you’d reach your destination without hitting some sort of adversity was rather low.
At some point, there will be storms, rough seas, illness or any other number of obstacles.
The truth is that we can visualize the route, but we can’t predict exactly how the journey will unfold.
There it is.
Uncertainty is part of the journey.
Like the explorers of old, we’ve been hit with dark skies and rough seas.
Join me and imagine the experience of being on a rickety wooden ship pounded by rain and waves, faced with a wall of water.
The sun is nowhere to be seen, and everything is dark.
It feels like all the elements are conspiring against you.
What do you do?
You do what any good explorer would do.
You steer the ship and weather the storm.
You focus on where you’re going, not the storm that you’re currently caught in.
This is not where you intended to go, so you can’t stop here.
This is something you need to get through.
You let the rain pound at your face and stare into the darkness with the vision of your final destination ablaze in your mind.
This vision is the spark that keeps you from being consumed by the storm.
We are in a storm of uncertainty.
We must keep sailing.
Sunshine and smooth seas are waiting for us, even if we can’t see it right now.
Remember, unlike the explorers of long ago, you’ve got more than a hope and a wish to get you where you’re trying to go.
Gather strength from the fact that you are part of a fleet of ships sharing this journey and navigating this storm together.
How?
- Remember your vision
- Hold that vision and the image of the destination firmly in your mind
- Acknowledge the storm
- Brace yourself
- Find your fleet
- Face the storm head-on
- Keep going and bring others through with you
- Make it through to the light and smoother seas
- Be grateful
- Keep going
You are stronger than you think.
You. Are. Not. Alone.
There is light beyond this uncertainty.
Stay the course.
Be the explorer.
PS. I’ve started a Facebook Group because we all need a little extra support and community right now. Come check it out.
