A clear vision unlocks your unique identity

The beginning of a new year is a great time to reflect on the past and set goals for the future. Most of us have started the year in earnest, developing both personal and corporate / departmental goals for what we wish to achieve. This exercise gives us direction for the year ahead as without having clear goals in place, it’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day tasks, losing sight of the bigger picture

A concept I understand all too clearly thanks to the leisurely attitude I once had around this concept of goal setting. My lack of intentionality towards the future held me hostage to my present that I would spend a lot of time marching on the same spot with little to no movement.

One way to think about planning for the future is through the concept I learnt recently called “the Power of 10”, thanks to Frank Molla, a Senior Business Leader & PayTech Executive. He explains that in every decision you take, you must consider its impact not just 10 years from now, but 10 months, 10 weeks, 10 days, 10 hours, 10 minutes and even 10 seconds from now, (10-10-10). A unique way of thinking ahead I would say.

This simple concept simplifies how we look at the future. Instead of just setting goals with some obscure assessment of how it will be 10 years from now, the power of 10 lets you look at your goals with a short-term (10 seconds, 10 minutes, 10 hours, 10 days) to the long-term (10 months, 10 years) perspective allowing you to critically evaluate the impact of your decisions as well as figure the small steps needed to get you to where you want to be.

Which trickles down to the importance of having a plan to work on alongside your vision. Having a vision is great, but a great vision without an actionable plan is just as useless as having no vision at all. While the vision brings out what you want to achieve in the future, a plan provides the roadmap that outlines how you will achieve it. Together, they provide a powerful combination that can help you focus your efforts to be able to achieve more than you ever thought possible.

Have you set your 2023 goals yet?

Consider incorporating the ‘Power of 10’ today to help you think through the actions necessary to bring your vision to fruition.

The Vision for your Personal Brand

Your vision is not just limited to your life goals. Your Personal Brand too needs to have a proper vision behind it. Now more than ever, having a Personal Brand not only helps build your name, but also helps differentiate you in today’s competitive marketplace.

A good vision for your personal brand helps you focus your efforts and make better decisions about how to present yourself to the world. It allows you to identify opportunities and make strategic choices that align to what your future self seeks to achieve, such as what specific projects you will take on, which individuals you will network with and even what educational or professional development opportunities you will pursue.

This may sound simple, but where do we begin in this journey of mapping your Personal Brand Vision statement? The best way to get started is to consider asking yourself the following questions:

1. What authority would I like to command: This question helps determine the actions and efforts one needs to take to establish themselves as an authority figure in a particular industry. Such actions may include things such as gaining knowledge and expertise in a specific subject matter, developing leadership competencies, or building a reputation through professional accomplishments. Once credibility is established, one can then build authority by actively promoting their expertise through various channels such as networking, social media, public speaking engagements and writing articles or books.
2. What level of responsibility do I seek? Did you know that the responsibility accorded to you is often closely correlated to the personal brand you have? Your personal brand is a reflection of who you are, what you stand for, and how you conduct yourself in the world. Therefore, having a strong sense of personal responsibility is an important aspect of building and maintaining a positive personal brand. When you take responsibility for your actions, words, and decisions, you demonstrate to others that you are trustworthy, reliable, and accountable and this helps build trust and credibility with others.
3. What prestige do I seek? Do you wish to be the one who is called upon when important matters are discussed around the table? When you are seen as an authority, your opinions and ideas are given more weight, and your presence at meetings, events and conferences is highly valued. Further, employers, colleagues, clients and even family members will be more likely to seek out your advice and expertise.
4. What income level / standard of living am I targeting? Did you know that employers and clients are often willing to pay a premium for individuals who are seen as experts or leaders in their field, and this can translate into better negotiated contracts with clients and higher salaries, bonuses and benefits? A strong personal brand helps to increase your earning potential and open up new opportunities for professional growth and advancement.

As you work on your 2023 goals, please do not neglect your Personal Branding goals. Prioritize your Personal Brand by honestly answering the questions above and you will find that you need to plan some actions that will catapult your Personal Brand to the next level.

Develop your Personal Brand Vision Statement today and make 2023 the year you #Standout4growth.