THE VISION THING

If you are like most people who read this newsletter, you have big goals and dreams. You may also feel that your vision is not becoming reality as fast as you would like. If so, this newsletter may give you an idea why that is so...

Last summer I created a brand new workshop called The Success Blueprint. In it I take participants through a step-by-step goal achieving methodology I have used successfully with thousands of small business clients. Over 500 entrepreneurs have attended the Success Blueprint Workshop in the past six months and I have noticed a disturbing similarity among all those who are struggling to build momentum and success.

The workshop begins with an exercise in which participants clarify their long term visions. There is a surprising degree of consistency in their visions. Most of them imagine that ten years from now they will be enjoying an excellent income, financial freedom, their dream home, an abundant lifestyle, and plenty of free time for travel, vacations and other interests.

This is all good. After fifteen years of coaching I know that an average person can achieve all of these things in ten years - often much faster.

What concerns me is that most workshop attendees have no idea how to go about making their dreams a reality. Financial freedom, home ownership, travel etc - these are not so much goals as they are outcomes made possible by an abundance of money and free time. Yet few participants can give me a realistic explanation of what they are going to do to generate the income and freedom required. They wrongly assume that the passage of time will automatically result in financial success. It is as if the money to fund their dreams is going to magically materialize regardless of their income, debt and spending habits.

At this point they confront an uncomfortable truth, something you must keep in mind as well. The money you need to finance your future must come from somewhere, and unless you are counting on the lottery or inheritance, you need to earn it.

Coaching Point: A vision without a practical plan for attaining it is just a fantasy.

The focus of the workshop now switches to a more practical level; developing strategies for earning the money. I point out that in order to create a business that will finance their dream life ten years from now, they need to start taking steps immediately. As an example, I ask them to think about the athletes that will compete in this summer's Olympics. Most of them have invested at least ten years of their lives in pursuit of this goal. They have trained countless hours, worked with dozens of coaches and competed at a local, regional, national and international level. Week after week, year after year they have taken the steps necessary to move ahead until they earned the right to represent their country in the Olympics.

The same is true of building any income generating, freedom producing business. Like getting to the Olympics, building your business requires a series of small steps taken consistently over many years.

Coaching Point: All goals are actually outcomes, the result of a series of small steps taken over a period of time.

Next I walk our workshop participants through a process to identify the major projects they need to accomplish within the next three years; building blocks which will ensure they achieve their vision ("outcome") within ten years.

At first even those who have a clear vision of their desired business struggle to identify the specific components necessary to make their vision a reality. Most people have simply never thought at this level before. As the group works together, a few of them begin to grasp the concept. Within minutes everyone begins seeing the key building blocks they need to put in place. The energy and excitement in the room suddenly rises; it is as if the fog has cleared and a long lost sense of hope and possibility has been restored. Not only is it obvious that the vision is possible, but a plan has emerged.

Coaching Point: What major initiatives or projects must you complete in the next three years in order for your ten year vision to become reality?

The final element of the workshop involves breaking the three year objectives into much shorter strategic plans and action goals. We ask our participants to evaluate how much progress they have made towards their three year projects during the past three months. Inevitably the ratings are low. This emphasizes the most crucial element of all - prioritizing and taking action. Here we go over the tools provided in the ProCoach Success System and show how they keep our members moving forward on quarterly goals and weekly actions.

Coaching Point: No matter how big your vision or how well prepared your strategic plan, the only thing that moves you towards your goals is taking action.

If you want to significantly increase your chances of achieving your long term goals, apply this process. You may also wish to forward these steps to other entrepreneurs who have a desire to achieve their goals faster.

We cover all of this material and more in our Success Blueprint Workshops which are held from time to time in BC and Alberta. Check our website for details.

Your Coach,

Andrew Barber-Starkey
Master Certified Coach

Upcoming Events

The Success Blueprint Workshop
Langley, B.C. - Monday, May 26
Burnaby, B.C. - Tuesday, May 27
Hors D'Oeuvres and networking at 6:30
Workshop from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Registration and details

Join Master Certified Coach Andrew Barber-Starkey as he facilitates his newest business building workshop. This three hour workshop is limited to 30 attendees. Andrew will walk you step-by-step through the process of creating a clear and compelling vision for your business and ideal life. He will then guide you through a structured process you can use to consistently achieve your goals, no matter how daunting they may be. Andrew has developed this groundbreaking material through coaching over 5,000 small business people in the past 14 years.
Admission: $29 for one, $39 for two includes hors d'oeuvres and networking

Attention Alberta - the Success Blueprint Workshop will be coming to Alberta in the fall of 2008.


ProCoach Quarterly Seminars (Members Only)
Red Deer, Alberta - Thursday, July 3
Vancouver, BC - Tuesday, July 8
Registration at 9:00 a.m.
Seminar from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.


Arrange for Andrew to speak to your group
Do you know of a group of 10 or more self-employed people or entrepreneurs in BC or Alberta who would be interested in having Andrew speak free of charge at a their team meeting, conference or networking event? If so, please contact our office by email or phone.