So, You've Created a Vision Board... Now What?

I LOVE vision boards. No seriously, I really love vision boards.

I created my first vision board 3 years ago, when I was heartbroken, broke, and unemployed (Yes, I said broke + unemployed. NOT living paycheck to paycheck. NOT barely scraping by. Broke + Unemployed). Hopefully, you can only imagine what that felt like (and if you've ever experienced it first hand and lived to tell the story, let's grab a drink mmm-kay?).

That vision board took me down a path of rebuilding myself from rock bottom, starting a successful freelancing business, going back to school to get a master's and ultimately starting Thrive Lounge. 

How do you effectively use your vision board to give you the most value? In short, how does this little board translate into wins, success, fame and fortune? (Okay, I might be exaggerating a bit with the fame and fortune part... but maybe not! 😃)

1. Find THE BEST place for your board. 

All locations are not equal. Your impeccably designed, totally IG-able reading nook might look like the perfect place for your vision board... But if you only go in there once a month, think twice before you start carving out a space for your big vision. 

The reality is, your big goals are accomplished by the tiny things you do daily. So, the best place for your board is a high traffic area where you will see it every day to remind you to take those tiny steps towards your goals. This year, I placed my vision board above my bed so I can see it every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to sleep.

Last year, when I was in grad school and working freelance online, I pretty much lived on my computer. I put my vision board right above my computer desk so through all of my late nights, I could always look up and remind myself of my big goals.

Pro Tip: No place is off limits. I have my student loan debt payoff chart in my bathroom. #Goals

2. Reflect... with your board. 

Find a time that works for you every day to sit with your board and think about what action item you can do to push that goal forward. Pro tip: If you do it at the same time every day, over time you will form a habit! 

Every morning, I sit and look at my vision board. From far away, it looks like I'm doing yoga, but in reality I'm attempting to meditate but I don't know how to sit still. In the middle of every child's pose, I look at each of my goals and ask myself "Am I living the life I want to live?" This year, I am laser focused on budgeting and paying down my student loans. During these moments of reflection, I think of additional ways to increase my income or decrease my spending. 

I love using my mornings to reflect on what I want out of my life and decide what I want to do for the day that will help me get closer to achieving my goals. In addition to meditation and reflection, the book The Miracle Morning outlines a life-changing morning routine.

3. Share your board with your family and friends.... and associates... and anyone who will listen. 

The more you talk about something, the more you internalize it. Speak it into existence. On top of that, when you tell your family and friends about it, they will start to ask you about it when they see you. 

When I was younger, I told my uncle I was going to be a doctor.... Every time I see him, he still asks me how's medical school - even though I graduated with a master's in something totally different (cue side eye + eye roll), but I digress. The point is, other people will start to hold you accountable. The more people you talk to about it... the more advocates and cheerleaders you will have in your corner. (And every MVP performs better with cheerleaders :)

Creating your vision board is only the first stepping stone is accomplishing your goals. It's up to you to make those dreams come true. Happy Goal Crushing! 

Want To Start Planning Your Vision Board Party? 

1. Download the FREE vision board party planning checklist.

2. Craft your inspiring vision board workshop talk with our FREE High Impact Storytelling Journal Prompts. 

3. Plan, promote & host your first (or next) professional & profitable vision board workshop with our signature course, Sold Out Vision Board Parties.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cyrene is a fun and accomplished workshop facilitator, learning and development guru and Human Resources professional. Being at the helm of Thrive Lounge has been a long-time dream. Through vision board workshops she plans to accomplish two-way learning. Sharing her vast years of knowledge to motivate and encourage others; while simultaneously getting the reward of great energy, ideas and questions to ponder back from each group. A super win-win. Please join our Thrive Lounge community so you too can benefit!

How To Secure Excellent Speakers For Your Vision Board Party: Part II

In How To Secure Excellent Speakers For Your Vision Board Party: Part 1, we spoke about the importance of mapping out your ideal event before you even approach an event speaker.

Once you’ve gathered all your research, it’s time to make the leap and email one of the prospective speakers you listed.

Part two walks you through exactly how to write an email that will get noticed and responded to.

What Information To Include In Your Email

Who You are

Unless you’re a household brand like freakin’ Oprah, you’re going to have to let the potential speaker in on who you are. People want to work with people and brands that they like. Give them the opportunity to decide whether or not they like your brand.

Note: It’s not about convincing them that you’re awesome. It’s about being authentic about who you are and seeing if they genuinely like you and your brand. That way, the working relationship starts off in an authentic way.

What Do You Want

Don’t mince words here. You’re definitely making a request so do it, and do it well. Influencers are used to receiving requests to speak or participate in activities so being direct with your request makes it easier for them to make a decision.

The Event Details

You want to give them as much information as possible so they can check their schedule, the location and map out logistics in their head. This will give them a better idea of whether they can say “YES” or “NO” to the request.

Your Specific Ask

Do you want them to speak for 15 minutes or 1 hour? Will it be a deep dive or high level talk? Will it be workshop style or keynote talk? Do you want time for Q&A?

Giving your potential speaker one sentence about your expectations of them reduces the number of conversations you need to have in the future. They won’t have as many questions for you because you were very clear in your original email.

What’s In It For Them?

OK, I’m not saying you have to say exactly how much money you have to offer in the first email, but you do have to let them know that you want to talk about terms. If you can provide them with a table to sell items, a promotional email to your list of contacts, then say so.

Influencers get a lot of emails with people making requests with no intention on giving anything in return. Don’t be one of those people. Show them that you value their time and effort.

Common Mistakes You Don’t Want To Make

Sending A Mass Email To Several Speakers.

You took time to plan out your event and audience in advance. You can choose the right speakers with the perfect message that will help change your attendees lives. This speaker is in perfect alignment with your audience (because you were careful and strategic in choosing them).

A mass email negates all of that work. An email going to several influencers can never communicate what’s special about that specific person and why they want to speak to your audience like a personal email does.

Not Showing that You’ve Done Your Homework.

This email is the first impression a speaker will have with your brand. You want to show them from your very first sentence that you mean business.

Make sure each email is personalized with the person’s name and company. Let them know why the impact they’ve made through their work is exactly the message your audience needs to receive and why speaking to your audience will benefit them in the long run.

Get straight to the point.

Mention the Who, What, When, Where, and How - and do it fast.

Influencers don’t have a ton of time to figure out what you have going on. They want to get the information, make a decision and go on with their life. Your only job with this email is to make that decision an easy one to make. You do that by giving them all the information they need quickly and concisely.

Getting speakers for a vision board party can seem like a lot of work. If done right, you can create an experience that your audience will remember for the rest of their life. I think that’s well worth the effort.

xoxo

Want To Start Planning Your Vision Board Party? 

1. Download the FREE vision board party planning checklist.

2. Craft your inspiring vision board workshop talk with our FREE High Impact Storytelling Journal Prompts. 

3. Plan, promote & host your first (or next) professional & profitable vision board workshop with our signature course, Sold Out Vision Board Parties.

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cyrene is a fun and accomplished workshop facilitator, learning and development guru and Human Resources professional. Being at the helm of Thrive Lounge has been a long-time dream. Through vision board workshops she plans to accomplish two-way learning. Sharing her vast years of knowledge to motivate and encourage others; while simultaneously getting the reward of great energy, ideas and questions to ponder back from each group. A super win-win. Please join our Thrive Lounge community so you too can benefit!