When you write your goals the whole world opens up in front of you. I like to examine mine closely twice a year. Once in January, when the calendar year begins. Once in the Fall, when the school year begins.

I am a fan of the physical act of writing before committing goals to the digital medium. These are a few tools I use (or have tried) over the years. We'll start with the vision map - that was the first tool I used to create a manifesto. We'll start there and work through to the digital medium. Then we'll look at moving from creativity to productivity. And because I have read more self-help books than anyone I know, I'll point you to a few resources in the end of the post.  

[This post is exploratory in nature. I hope you can try some of the tools out if you haven't already done so. Take your time reading - savor it. Get a cup of tea (I'm currently drinking Rishi's Earl Grey Rooibos). Minimize distractions. Now, let's get down to it.]

Vision Map

I created my first vision map in sixth grade. The court required I go see a therapist after my mom died.

Faced with this fact, I guess the therapist, sweet, well-meaning Melissa, knew it would be a good idea for me to do something with my hands. She assigned me the task of going through magazines and finding images of "strong women" - women I could see as role models. My grandmother bought me a massive piece of cardboard from the supermarket on which to paste the images. It was a vision map of the woman I was to become.

A dozen years later, in Japan, one of my students approached me about leading a class on vision mapping. Her name is Kim. Kim led a group of us, over the course of two hours, through the process of vision mapping. Here's how you do it (alone or with a group - I prefer doing it with a group).

1. Gather the necessary supplies. Magazines of all genres, glue, markers, pens, cardboard in all sizes, scissors, water, music, snacks 

(Yes, you're going back to Kindergarten for a few hours) (Note: I have made massive vision maps and travel-sized vision maps that I carry around in my bag. Also, if you want both you can always scan a massive one in and carry the printed version.)

2. Put the magazines in the middle of the room. You get an hour to cut out any image that speaks to you. Inevitably an article will catch your eye that you want to keep. That's good. Cut it out and put it to the side. Don't engage it right now. Focus on cutting out images that resonate.

3. Once the hour is up, take a break. Get some air. Drink water and then get the cardboard and paste and markers.

4. Assemble your vision map. Don't be afraid to glue things that make no sense. Pretty images, frightening images. Doesn't matter. If it speaks to you, put it on there. I've seen all sorts of maps - those with a lot of white space, those (usually my own) with so many images I run out of space and have to start pasting on the back.

5. Share with the group what you've created. Why a particular image speaks to you. What you see yourself doing over the next year, five years, ten years.

6. Have your map laminated. Refer to them during days when you don't know what you're doing with your life (we all have them).

7. Note: a good moderator will keep judgements to a minimum. Even when you share an "example map" it's good to let people know theirs will look nothing like yours. They are intensely personal.

8. Note: add a photo of yourself to the map - will help you really visual yourself living this life

Life List

Inspired by Maggie Mason, I created my life list yesterday. I fully intend for this to grow over the years (which is why I'm at 60/100). In Danielle LaPorte's delightful "Wonder What Their Dream Is" she asserts, "Small, mighty, seemingly impossible, or simply pure – when you know what someone’s dream is, your perspective leans toward openness." Ask someone about their dream today, she suggests. I'm with her.

Life List 60/100 - Do it Now, Do it Now

(view text version)

Digitized Goals

Yesterday as part of a four hour goal-setting session, I completed the Lululemon Goaltender process. If you are a completely digital type, this might be the best route for you. It took me about thirty minutes to complete. It's free and you can log in to track your progress. They also encourage you to print your goals and have short motivational videos to help you with the process. One of my goals is to work on brevity.

While we're talking about this company (for which I recently applied to be an Ambassador), let's take a look at their manifesto. They print it on their bags and have them available in poster size at their stores free of charge. 

Microactions

Once you're clear on vision, microactions (as defined by Sark - she calls them micromovements, I prefer microactions) become much easier to complete.

Each day I write my goals for the day on a 3x5 index card. If you like a bit more structure there are countless posts on how to "hack" your 3x5 card for maximum productivity. I'm a big fan of the non-hack hack. Pen, index card. Keep it simple. This is my list for today (keep it to five or fewer action items):

(view all the photos & bonus pics from this post)

OPD

Beware, OPDs. Other People's Dreams.

This post definitely aims to highlight what you can focus on to create your personal manifesto. I do want to throw one warning in here. It's tempting to lose sight of your vision for life as you find yourself consumed in Other People's Dreams and Other People's Projects. (I'm not down with OPP.) I am all for helping others. I am all for engaging in other people's projects - with awareness. But I think there's a danger in (myself and many of my helper-type peers) becoming so consumed with someone else's dream that we forget to pursue our own. That's one reason you may benefit from doing this sort of work twice a year at least.

Make time to pursue your dreams and you'll have more creative energy to offer someone when they need you.

Minimize Distractions

Let's circle back to productivity to close. I think creativity in motion can result in productivity. An artistic genius who also has a lot to say on the topic of creativity, Merlin Mann, reveals to NY Mag the Catch-22 of seeking that perfect oasis in which there are no distractions: "One of the weaknesses of lifehacking as a weapon in the war against distraction, Mann admits, is that it tends to become extremely distracting." Something to keep in mind. There is no perfect day on which to set your goals and reconnect with your purpose. You just have to commit to minimizing distractions - eliminating them altogether would be a Herculean feat and isn't necessary, anyway.

Do the best with what you can, now.

Creativity v Productivity

In closing, let's think for a moment about separating productivity from creativity. When it comes to doing life vision work, I find it helpful to separate the two. I am not trying to "be productive" when goal-setting. I'm working in a creative space and I'm not filtering. For instance, you may have observed that one item on my life list is to have a building named after me - at a higher education institution. Two things I don't do - I don't filter myself "oh, that will never happen, you crazy loon." And two - I don't go into productivity mode "oh, what's the first step I need to take to have a building named after me?" Both lines of thought distract you from the task at hand - really questioning what you want to do with this one precious life you have.

May this post, and the following resources, help you on your way.

Resources aka The Well of Well-being

[Follow the folks mentioned in this post on Twitter: Sark | Maggie Mason | Danielle LaPorte | Chris Guillebeau | Leo Babauta | Merlin Mann | Jen Lemen | Andrea Scher | Lululemon | Rishi Tea | Gwen Bell ]

Sabrina Ward Harrison: Spilling Open

Sark: Micromovements

Barbara Sher: Refuse to Choose (one suggestion she makes, if you think you want to do everything is to make a list of things you definitely do not want to do)

Merlin Mann: 43 Folders specifically, his post on the problem with productivity pr0n

David Allen: Getting Things Done

Chris Guillebeau: You know you want to see the world, Chris shows you how

Leo Babauta: Zen Habits

Danielle LaPorte: White Hot Truth

Jen Lemen: Get your heart all warmed up

Julie & Julia: Watch it if you're needing a creative boost

Andrea Scher: For days when nothing else works, wear a Superhero Necklace. Elevate yourself.

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It's my intention to turn this post into part of a course that I'll be teaching in Boulder and abroad. If you have thoughts on how to strengthen any portion of it or have a goal-setting tool you adore, please contact me or leave a comment. I'll be incorporating your feedback. EDITED Nov 17, 2009: I'll be teaching Vision Mapping as part of an upcoming three-hour Mind Body Tech Workshop in Vancouver, Canada on November 29, 2009. Register now!

This post featured at Experience Life Magazine, Blogher: Turning Your Artistic Hobby into a Business, White Hot Truth: Because Self-Realization Rocks, Crafty Crafty TV

Also featured at Slate.com