Every entrepreneur starts a business for a reason. Each had a personal plan of how they wanted their business to impact their personal life, and the lives of their loved ones. To run a successful business, we believe that an entrepreneur's personal goals should align with their business plan.
However, many business owners we meet haven’t even defined their personal goals. So how do you create a personal vision statement?
What is a personal vision statement?
Also commonly known as a ‘career mission statement,’ a personal vision statement is a written document that summarises the career motivations and personal desires of an individual. The statement is the long-range vision of what someone wants their life to be like. It is both the beginning and the desired end of their strategic plan for success.
A personal vision statement is first and foremost, about you. Don’t create a vision statement based on someone else’s perception of what your life should be like. It must define your individual passions and what you feel in your heart.
How to create a personal vision statement
To get started with writing a personal vision statement, think about the following questions as they relate to you:
- What economic or material level of success do you need to be happy?
- What was your passion when you first started your business?
- Is your role in your business allowing you to express that passion?
- Are you spending too much time working in your business?
- What psychological factors bring you good feelings and fulfillment?
- Do you dream of retirement of some point? What do you need to do with your business to help you achieve this lifestyle?
- What income will you need to live your retirement dreams?
Example of a personal vision statement
Once you’ve answered the questions above, you should be able to craft the answers into a succinct summary. Here is an example:
My personal vision is to:
- Maintain controlling interest in business while reducing work hours to 25 hours a week
- Take six-figure annual income from business
- Focus my work activities on selling to major clients and developing new technology, which I enjoy and which uses my strengths
- Attend every school production that my girls are in
- Dedicate 1 day a month to support a charity
- Spend a lot of time with my spouse on a boat
You can find even more information about how to write a personal vision statement in our personal vision white paper.
What’s the next step in reaching your personal and business goals?
The next step is to develop a very clear and detailed vision for your business that is led by your personal vision statement. The company vision should be driving the business to support your personal vision and your overall goals and ambitions.
Developing your company vision takes you through the same process you use in developing your personal vision, only it will be strictly oriented on the business. Knowing and using these two aligned visions will create less stress and more happiness, and an overall harmonious fusion of your business and personal life. Here’s our guide for a company vision.
If you’re looking for some guidance on how to better align your personal and company visions, get more time away from your business, and take it to the next level of success, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your local TAB coach. Alternatively, you can enquire about TAB membership.
With The Alternative Board, you’ll be giving your personal and business visions their best chance at success. Our proven solution has empowered business owners from all over the world to improve their leadership, create a successful business and give them what they want from life. We do this through our business owner advisory boards, executive coaching sessions, and our suite of exclusive strategic business tools.
But don’t just take our word for it, here are some thoughts of business owners we work with:
“The support I get from Paul and the other members of the board has been and is invaluable to me. The coaching and mentoring complement the regular TAB Boards superbly and Paul’s style has helped me make real progress; the effects of which are being felt in my business and personal life. I have a clear vision and goals that are driving initiatives which are making a real difference to me and the business.” Stephen Attree, MLP Law Ltd, talking about TAB and his facilitator, Paul Winterbottom.
“My experience as a TAB member has had a very positive impact on my business and on my own personal development. The monthly board meetings provide an opportunity to draw on the experience and fresh perspectives of other business owners and hold me accountable to taking the necessary action required to achieve my goals. The one to one support and using the planning tools has enabled me to stand back and look at what I want in my life and how best to achieve this in my business”. John Seddon, Allied Computer Solutions Ltd
There’s that saying: ‘when you support a small business you support a dream.’ Of course, there’s all sorts of financial connotations behind that but the truth behind it shouldn’t be understated. Every business owner started with a dream or a vision of what their business was going to give them out of life. The Alternative Board exists to help them realise that vision and move forwards in achieving it.
