As one year comes to a close and a new one begins, it’s a time to create your vision for the coming year.

I want to give you a simple guide to help you carve out that vision and set yourself up for success. Grab a journal, head to your favorite cafe or quiet place to dive into these questions.

Why is creating a vision so important?

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Think of all the resolutions made on January 1 that disappear by January 15th. Without a solid plan, it’s easy to lose focus and get off track. By setting aside time to plan now, you will have a road map to guide you towards achieving your goals.

Review the past year
Before you plan for the year ahead it’s important to review the year that is ending. In the past twelve months, what are you most proud of? What were your biggest accomplishments? What worked and what wasn’t so successful?

Get clear on your vision for the coming year

What would you like your life to look like a year from now? What direction would you like to take your business or career?  Be as specific as you can, but don’t get stuck trying to figure out every detail. Your vision should help you identify your most important goals, but they can be fine-tuned as you move forward.

Assign deadlines to your goals

Now that you’re clear on where you want to go, the next step is to attach a deadline for achieving each goal. Why is this so important?

The difference between a dream and a goal is a timeline.

If you don’t have a set deadline, you may find yourself cruising along instead of actively working towards your goals. So pick a date you aim to reach your goal so you can take daily action and achieve it.

Create a vision board
Break out the markers, glue and magazines. It’s time to get crafty! Tear out pictures from magazines that represent your vision – places you’d like to travel, people you’d like to work with, adventures you’d like to have – and glue them to a piece of construction paper or paper plate. Place the completed board where you can see it and review it each day. Having a visual representation of your goals keeps you motivated and will inspire you to take the next step.

Choose a theme for the year

Now that you’ve created your goals it’s time to chose a word that captures your overall vision.

Some words to help you get started:

Success

Adventure

Fun

Creativity

Joy

Balance

Think of this word as your North Star – one guiding force to remind you of where you want to go.

Here’s to a prosperous, successful year. I’d love to know what your theme is for the year? Share your “word” in the comments below.