The answer is YES!
I've been creating vision boards every December for the last 4 or so years now. At first, it was an excuse for my friends and I to get together one last time before we all headed back to our own realities, but soon after the second year these vision boards began to morph into tangible goals.
With my first vision board, I did what a lot of people probably do with new electronics/gadgets: I got really excited to put it together and once the initial thrill was over I didn't look at it again for a year. FAIL. The good thing is that I had another December coming up soon. That year, I was determined to not only create my vision board, but actually look at it periodically throughout the year. I decided to put it on my bedroom door to make sure I didn't forget about it. I did look at it more often, but that was it...a glance here and there. FAIL.
Last December I decided to change it up. I knew that I wanted to see my goals and actually believe that I was working toward them every day. I simply wrote out my goals (with markers and a few magazine clippings) and set them right by my bed. I had no choice but to see them as soon as I entered my room everyday. I read over them as I got ready for class or bed...and before I knew it, I was achieving them.
A vision board is what you want it to be. It can be the size of a 5th grade science fair poster board or as small as a sticky note. It's more conceptual than anything. Everything, for the most part, that I've ever set out to get I had written down somewhere. So I guess I've been making vision boards a lot longer than 4 years. In all honesty, having goals and a vision for your life and career are truly essential to your success and I couldn't imagine these last few years of pharmacy school without always having (and seeing) my end game in sight.
Have I convinced you to create your own vision board for 2017? If your answer is yes, go ahead and start on your vision board now. If your answer is no, I want you to ask yourself what do you have to lose? Yes, you have been doing a great job thus far...you got through your exams, your boards, or your yearly review. But what have you been always wanting to do? What is the one thing that will give you that job satisfaction you've been searching for? And how are you going to achieve it?
So now that we are all on the same page...here are a few tips on how to create your first (or tenth) vision board:
Step 1: Start BIG.
Figure out what your ultimate goal(s) is/are. Here is where you have to let go of all your inhibitions. If it sounds too easy, your ultimate goal probably isn't big enough. Understand that you won't get there tomorrow, but realize you will be working towards it (or them) every single day.
Step 2: Iron out the details.
These will be the short term goals, or checkpoints, that will eventually lead you to your ultimate goal. These can be 3 month goals, 6 month goals, 1 year goals, or 2 year goals. You want to give yourself smaller goals to remind yourself that you are on the right track and that you are making the right decisions for you.
Step 3: Come up with your game plan.
*Cue music for the party*
You are now ready to create your vision board. You know what you want to do (or at least have somewhat of an idea) so now it is time to create that blueprint and go after it! And if you look up in 364 days and realize you don't even remember where your vision board is, remember you always have next year.
Please feel free to share some of your visions for 2017!