How to Write a Personal Vision

How to Write a Personal Vision
Stanford's Michael Ray believes that the key to accessing deeper sources of creativity can be found
in two questions: "Who is my Self?" and "What is my Work?" When we talk about "Self," said
Ray, "we're talking about your higher self, your divinity, your highest future potential. And by
asking 'What is my Work?,' we're asking what is the purpose of your existence or what are you
meant to be? (From page 101 of Presence, by Peter Senge, C. Otto Scharmer, Joseph Jaworski,
and Betty Sue Flowers.)
Who is your Self?
What is your Work?
Write your answer to each question as if it's already happening:
• VISION: What is your Work? What happens when you are giving your greatest gift to the
world? How are people different as a consequence of having been in your presence? See it
as an image. Use present tense. Answer these questions from Bill O'Hanlon:
◦ What gives you a sense of aliveness, that feels "just right"?
◦ What do you dream about; what holds you spellbound?
◦ What are blessings you could give back to the world?
◦ Whose work or life inspires you?
◦ What would you talk about if given an hour of prime time TV to influence the
nation or the world?
◦ What makes you angry enough to correct in the world?
◦ What contribution of yours will be more profound than others doing something
similar?

• MISSION: What about you (attributes, experience, skills, knowledge, passion) makes your
vision possible? Who is your Self? This will also inform your logo/image, marketing/
funding, etc.
• STRATEGIES/GOALS/PARAMETERS: How do you carry out your mission and
vision?
◦ What strategies will accomplish your vision? Identify 4-5 goals within each
strategy.
◦ What internal and external forces surround each goal--those that encourage and
those that may discourage your vision?
◦ What first steps can you take to accomplish your vision?
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How can you increase encouraging forces, both internal and external?
How can you overcome internal/external discouraging forces?
◦ When you're uncertain about priorities among strategies, hold them against your
mission and vision, and you'll know which ones are most likely to ensure your
contribution in the world.
As you ponder these questions and your intention becomes clear, your vision may appear to you
spontaneously, possibly as a metaphor. When thinking about my true work, I suddenly saw my
clients stepping out of a box. And I "knew" thebox was each person's unique programming or
conditioning. In addition, it's a bit of a joke in my family that I "market" myself by extending my
arms in front