Do you know where you are taking your business? Have you determined a destination? Let me put it this way, if you want to go on a vacation, you first have to decide where want to end up (on the slopes in Tahoe, or sipping a tasty cocktail by the beach or pool). Only after making that decision, can you set out. Otherwise, you wouldn’t know what to pack, and whether to head to the airport, train station, or just hop in the minivan.

The business “journey” you are on requires the same simple determination. If you don’t know where you want to head (which will become your current reality when you get “there”), how will you know what decisions to make in the meantime? “There” is coming, whether you like it or not — it’s the year 2010, 2015, or 2050 for that matter. Do YOU want to decide what the destination will look like, or do you prefer surprises?

Check out the quick exercise below to take control!

Set a “Vision” for Your Business
Creating a vision statement will focus your thinking and guide your decisions. Sharing it, printing it, and posting it will help you keep it at the forefront of your mind, and therefore your actions. It is important to keep in mind that a vision that leaves out your customers/clients, staff, and your own personal ambitions will quickly become just another empty statement.

Creating a Vision is Simple. The tough part is setting aside the time to do it. Save your self some anxiety — don’t overthink it. It is o.k. to alter your vision over time. The important thing is to have one, and to keep it around and visible in your daily activities. Be sure to write the statement in the present tense. If you write that your business “…will be…” then that will forever be the case. You will always be reaching toward that vision, instead of actually arriving. Here is a hypothetical example:

“XYZ Plumbing is the recognized leader in residential plumbing services in the Tri-State area through an unparalleled on-time record, quality practices that ensure problems are ALWAYS fixed on the first visit, and a commitment to employee development that makes XYZ the most desirable place to work in the industry.”

Try writing several statements for a couple different points in time — 1 year, 3 years, 5 years from now, etc. If you are struggling, that’s good! That means you haven’t thought about this yet, and the exercise will provide you with dramatic benefits!

Here are some questions to ask yourself that may get you un-blocked:

• Imagine you are one of your customers X years from now. Describe your experience in doing business with you (in your customer’s words).
• Imagine you are one of your employees X years from now. Describe your experience in working for you (in your employee’s words).
• Now imagine a spouse, significant other, or anyone else who is close to you. Describe his or her perspective on you and your business X years from now.

Good luck!