This document provides a guide for writing a personal vision statement. It recommends scheduling time over several days to brainstorm and write the statement. The guide explains that a vision statement describes an ideal future across categories like career, family, health and relationships. It outlines steps to brainstorm within chosen categories and craft the statement in present tense. The process involves leaving the statement for a period before finalizing and displaying it daily to work towards the envisioned ideal state.

1. How To Write a Personal
Vision Statement for 2014
A How To Guide for Productive People

2. Let’s start with a goal.

3. A goal tells you what
your doing.

4. A Finance Goal:
Save 60% of all new money coming in

5. A vision statement tells
you where you’re going.

6. Personal Vision Statement
Example: Finance
I am actively saving and investing for early retirement. I
increase my savings by living on a smaller monthly
budget and pruning unnecessary costs. I am earning
money, say 100 dollars a month, in ways beyond a
company’s employment.

7. A Vision Statement…
1. Paints a picture.
2. Describes an ideal future.
3. Lights the path forward.

8. Let’s do it.

9. Step 1: Schedule Time

10. Here’s your schedule:
Day 1
One
dedicated
hour
Day 2
Day 3
Passively
Passively
throughout throughout
day
day
Brainstorm Brainstorm Brainstorm
and record and record and record
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
One
dedicated
hour
Passively
Passively
throughout throughout
day
day
One
dedicated
hour
Begin
writing
Brainstorm Brainstorm
and record and record
Write

11. Here’s why we schedule:
1. It gives you time to know what is really important
2. It prevents you from cramming it all at once.
3. It allows your mind to drift away from, and back to,
this process.

12. Step 2: Choose
Categories

13. What categories will
envision?
Some common categories for Personal Vision Statements:!
(yellow categories considered most fundamental)
Art
Career
Community
Family
Finances
Fitness
Health
Hobbies
Personal
Relationships
Recreation
Self
Spiritual
Travel
Work
etc..

14. Different people; different
categories
One category may cover a range of topics. My ‘self’ may
be your ‘health’ and ‘spiritual’
Choose categories to cover your entire life or just a
couple key areas.

15. Step 3: Brainstorm &
Record

16. Start off by asking yourself:
How would you like people to describe you?
What does your ideal day look like?
What do you do on your favorite days?
What do you wish you do more/less of?
What is important to you?

17. Remember:
1. No judgement—everything is valid in brainstorming.
2. Be honest—no one has to see this but yourself.
3. Write everything down—you won’t remember it all.

18. Step 4: Write Your
Vision Statement

19. Time to craft your statement
1. Identify activities and themes that are important to
you.
2. Rewrite these into a brief narrative.
3. Use present tense to keep it active.
4. Specific is fine as long as it is describing an ideal
state and not steps to get there.

20. Personal Vision Statement
Example: Health
I am a yoga teacher, certified and in practice. I continue
my education in yoga by attending workshops and
advanced classes. I challenge myself with yoga
because it’s good for my spirit. I practice yoga daily. Not
going to class is not a way out of yoga. I rock climb
twice weekly for strength training.

21. Step 5: Leave it then
Live it

22. Leave it:
1. Take a break from it to allow your mind to wander.
2. Ask yourself: “Is this truly what an ideal state for me
would look like?”
3. Edit.
4. Repeat, possibly for a couple weeks.

23. Live it:
1. When satisfied, store in a place you’ll see it daily.
2. Set your goals to work towards this ideal state.

24. By Josh Ehrenreich
Visit www.25HrsADay.com to read more
‘How To Guides’ for productive people