Vision: Your Blueprint for Transformation (Part 2)

In part 1, we shared the importance of having an expanded vision in getting clarity with our actions. Aligning our vision with our actions and the milestones that we set can help us creators and innovators thrive in our business.

Yet, how to fully expand on our vision is not a practice that most entrepreneurs take. Our assumption is that most entrepreneurs, see the end in mind as one destination as compared to a multi-level stages of milestones enroute to that big goal. What we are proposing is the use of our alignment cycle in expanding one’s vision and along with it taking aligned actions to get to those levels.

Now to continue the alignment cycle…

Level 2: Initiate

Going from a pleasurable walk in the clouds with your imagination, the next step brings you back to reality. This level is about grounding yourself and looking at what the current reality is.

Picture it in your mind as you ask yourself the following questions:

What is it that you have now?

What is within reach?

What is it that you can do in a daily or weekly or monthly basis to be in alignment to your vision?

In this starting phase, you are also now getting in touch with your circles of connection. You are now mobilizing your community to your cause.

What is your call to action?

What is your rallying cry?

What is your theory of change?

What pathways of change do you provide for your community?

Your goal: Is to practice effectuation. This is based from the work of University of Virginia Darden professor Saras Sarasvathy. In her groundbreaking 2001 paper “What Makes Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurial” she emphasized on the difference between causal and effectual thinkers.

Sarasvathy argues casual thinkers start with an End in mind and try to find the best Means to achieve it. These thinkers are followers of the adage “If I can predict the future, I can control it.” Her reasoning is effect trumps the casual view of the world. These are entrepreneurs who believe that “the future is neither found nor predicted, but made — so I focus on what I can control.”

Level 3: Enhance

Going to the next level of alignment requires that you ask yourself, how will my business look like if all the necessities are set-up and working?

Think of this level as the stage where all the systems, structures and strategies you are using are now working for you. Having all of these in place, you are now fully utilizing your competitive advantage and gearing up for efficiency.

How will that look like?

What do you see?

How do you hear yourself talking?

Who are you with?

Try to envision what activities you might be doing as these tasks of working in the business are now finally getting settled.

When thinking of this level, try to ask yourself, what do I need to do to get my systems, structures and strategies in order?

What systems are in place?

What structures are attended to?

What strategies need crystallizing?

In this level, you also have ardent followers who. are spreading your message.

How do you continue the community engagement?

How do you create a culture of belonging for your community?

How are you growing your followers?

Your goal: To efficiently scale up your processes and ensure not only continuous client-product market fit but also stability on profitability, and increase contribution and impact.

*** Stay tuned for the last part of this series on Vision: Your Blueprint for Transformation (part 3)