Anand Patel

By Anand Patel

With 2011 coming to a close it seems everyone is talking, blogging, and tweeting about setting new goals for 2012.

Well, let’s not jump the gun! What about the goals you already set for yourself that you haven’t accomplished? Whatever you do, if they are worthy goals you truly wish to achieve, don’t abandon them just yet!

Before giving up and setting new goals, why not seriously look at what you have already set for yourself. Do you know what these goals of yours look like? I mean, deep down inside, can you visualize, feel, smell, and even taste these goals? If not, maybe your vision is getting bored, and it’s time to get your goals down on a VISION BOARD.

A vision board is just that — a board that helps you visualize your goals. I put my first vision board together this past August to help me really ingrain some of my short-term and long-term goals. If you’re a visual person like me, there is something very powerful and moving about having real pictures of what you hope to achieve laid out right in front of you to look at every day.

If this sounds like something you want to give a shot as we prepare for 2012, it’s very simple to get started:

• Get a poster board. I went to Staples and purchased a 20″ x 30″ sturdy board. Get whatever size you think will work best for you.
• Get away from any distractions. Find some quiet time, either late in the evening or early morning with a notepad and  “brain dump”  your current goals and all that you want to have, do, become over the next three, five, 10 or even 20 years. Think BIG and don’t hold yourself back. Don’t let your mind tell you that it’s too crazy if it’s something you REALLY want to achieve.

Here are some questions to ask yourself to help get the juices flowing:

1. How much money do I want to make per year? $250,000? $800,000? $2 million? (Why Not! Think BIG!)
2. What kind of clients do I want to work with? First-time home buyers?  Investors? Retirees? Celebrities?
3. What places do I want to visit? Paris for Christmas with my spouse? Summer visiting the pyramids of Egypt with my family?
4. Who are my mentors?  Who do I want to emulate? Steve Jobs? Gandhi?
5. Who do I want to be friends with? Who will I associate with? (If you want to be the best, you have to surround yourself with the best)
6. What clubs, groups and organizations do I want to belong to? How do I want to get involved? Want to get involved with YPN? Join a committee? Toastmasters?
7. Are there certain causes or charities that I hold near and dear to my heart? How do I want to get involved? Volunteer my time, donate money, join the board?
8. Are there any certifications, designations, awards, or recognition that I hope to achieve? Have I been putting off getting my GRI or CDPE?
9. What type of house do I want to live in? Where is it located? Want a penthouse on the harbor? Farmhouse away from the city?
10. What kind of car do I want to own? Do I want a boat? Gulfstream? (Again, why not?!)
11. What kind of physical shape do I want to be in? Like Lance Armstrong? Jillian Michaels?
12. What am I passionate about? Music? Hockey? Writing?
13. What are some of my favorite quotes, inspirational sayings, and affirmations? (such as “I close 60 transactions a year,” or “I am organized and manage my time wisely.”)

Next is the fun part:

• Google your visuals. Search online (or in magazines) for some really vivid images that you feel will represent your goals well and inspire you. You could find a picture of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia in Barcelona that you plan to visit, the logos of the non-profits you want to assist, the beach front condo you will own one day, and the athlete you want to model your physique after. Want to attend the NAR convention in Orlando in 2012? How about pictures of the nice hotel you plan to book for the trip and images of Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, and Universal Studios you will visit after the convention? I think you’re starting to get the idea!  For any affirmations, quotes or non-visual goals, just type it out.  Now, print everything out in color.
• Glue your goals. Cut the images out and paste them to your board. I’d put your primary goals, your purpose, and passion in the center or top surrounding them with your other visuals. When it all comes together you will be amazed at the feelings it evokes and the energy you begin to feel.

WARNING: This isn’t some magical law of attraction mumbo jumbo that will mysteriously make all your desires come true just by gluing random pictures onto a piece of cardboard. This is just one tool to help you ignite your drive to achieve your goals in a visual way that inspires you every morning.

Motivational speaker Jim Rohn had said, “Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion.” Well, the same can apply to vision boards – Visualization without discipline is merely an illusion. If you’re not disciplined in taking steps to make these dreams real, you won’t get anywhere. BUT, if you are willing to do the work to achieve the goals, a vision board is a powerful tool to give you daily fuel and keep going after them. Don’t abandon your current hopes, dreams and aspirations because you feel they’re out of reach! It may have been your current visions were merely…bored.

If you do decide to put a vision board together please message, tweet, email or call me as I would really love to hear about it. Let me know if it helps!

Happy Holidays and I wish an exciting, prosperous, fulfilling New Year to all in the YPN family!

Anand Patel is a broker licensed in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi with Elite REO Services and Elite Premier Properties. You can connect with Anand on Twitter: @anand_tampa; Facebook: www.facebook.com/livingelite; LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anandpatel1 or on the Web at www.anandsblog.com.