Vision, word and action

The 3 elements of getting things done

Here is a very simple formula for focusing on your truest and highest vision for your life. This exercise can help you start to operate from your core vision rather than continually digging to find it. Create a mandala it’s simple and fun. Draw 3 concentric circles (like a bulls eye) and write or draw your answers within the circles. Use colored markers, pencils, pictures or anything else that will help you get a clear and complete picture of your answers to these questions.

• “What is the highest vision I have for myself and my life” in the center,
• “What actions do I need to take?” in the second circle and
• “What messages do I tell myself about the journey” around the outside ring

This visual representation elegantly shows how the center of us (and our truest spiritual vision) radiates throughout our lives and selves. They are at our core and in a very real sense everything else spins out from them. However, I often notice the feeling that the most sacred vision of myself often gets drowned out by each new to-do list and junk self talk. Yuk! No wonder I feel overwhelmed.  Here is your chance refocus and reconnect with it.

Another reason I like the mandala method is that although the center circle might have fewer written goals the answers are much more highly charged. This area FEELS bigger and more important but often harder to stay focused on. As the circumference grows so does the space available to add things to be done. (Isn’t this usually how life works) It can also show the proportion of our “what we say” and our “what we do” and where they overlap or get lopsided. We almost usually spend more time talking than taking action and even less time pursuing our divine vision.

Step back and look at the mandala, you can see it is quite evident just how hard it can be to dig down thru all the muckity muck of our daily lives and get to the core. So I suggest making some really BIG CIRCLES, get some great colors and letting the fun begin!

Here is a simple and effective way to balance repetitive and long term marketing strategies while running your small business. The purpose of this exercise is to clearly identify what is needed to accomplish each goal in order to make it easier to prioritize them effectively.  This can be very helpful to use daily outline or as a way to look at longer term goals. I have included some questions for each area that are helpful in evaluating how to rate each element.

Use a different color for each area: time energy and money. I like to use big magic markers but anything will do if you like it. (Like colored index cards, pencils, shapes, yarn, pictures from magazines etc) hey – you can organize and make art at the same time!

There are very few activities that require huge amounts of all three resources, however many are higher in just one or two. Understanding what is needed and avoiding any big surprises can make it easier to accomplish the goals in our lives without sacrificing our souls or our sanity!

Time

How much time needs to be allocated to finish this project? How can you take this down in chunks? How much time will you spend on this today? Can it or How can it become more flexible? What is the deadline?

Energy

How much energy do you anticipate expending on this project? How much energy will you actually spend on it? How much energy will you use to avoid it if you choose to? How much energy do you have in your reserve? How do you replenish your energy reserves?

Money

How much of your resources do you need to allocate to this project? How will it impact your other projects? Do you have the resources presently or do you need to save up for it? How long will it take for this to generate money?

Time – energy – money