You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you are going because you might not get there.  – Yogi Berra

It’s a new month, a new year, a new decade. How much have you thought about what you want to accomplish this month? this year? this decade? We’ve all heard that having a vision is critical to leading yourself and others, but how do you craft a vision that you (and others) can buy into – one that draws your heart and drives your actions?

Here are a few tips on dreaming up a vision that will serve you and the people you lead:

1. Cast off constraints. Start by silencing the practical part of your brain that worries about time and money and what other people will think. Channel that inner five-year-old and dream big – what do you really want to be and do? Don’t worry about obstacles right now; paint the picture first, then figure out how to make it happen.

2. Pursue what’s important to you. Life is too short to waste time chasing the wrong goals, or checking blocks, or collecting things you don’t really want. Search your soul, take a good hard look at your life, find out what matters to you – then go for it!

3. See the details. Good vision is defined by your ability to see details. Your vision shouldn’t be vague or ethereal, it should be detailed and precise. Take the time to clarify your vision. When life gets foggy – and it will – you’ll be glad to have a clearly defined vision.

So, don’t just choose your New Year’s resolutions haphazardly. The first step in achieving them is crafting a captivating vision!

What vision will captivate you this year?