Have you ever experienced that magical feeling when something you’ve been dreaming about suddenly manifests into reality?
It’s like the universe conspires to bring your desires to life, often in ways you couldn’t have predicted.
I recently had a conversation with a creative entrepreneur client who shared how her vision board had played a pivotal role in attracting her dream clients.
She described the feeling of excitement and alignment as she watched her vision unfold before her eyes.
That’s the incredible power of vision boards!
They’re not just pretty collages or wishful thinking – they’re powerful tools that can help you clarify your goals, focus your energy, and manifest your dreams, especially when it comes to growing a creative business.
Why Vision Boards Help Grow a Creative Business
Getting started with new goals as a creative business owner can be tough. There are so many possibilities, and when you’re the CEO (Chief Everything Officer) of your business, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
It’s also easy to lose passion and focus during the journey. Things are exciting at the start; full of possibility. But as the daily grind of business ownership sets in, coupled with the ups and downs, it can be easy to lose momentum.
A vision board helps you cut through the noise and zero in on what truly matters.
Think of it like a roadmap for growing your creative business (and life). Without one, it’s easy to feel directionless, like a ship without a rudder.
The physical nature of a vision board in your space helps keep your eyes on the horizon, reminding you of your destination even when the seas get rough.
Success Tip: Use your vision board to hone in on what truly inspires you. Let it be a source of motivation and excitement, not just a collection of pretty pictures.
Let’s explore how vision boards can be your secret weapon for attracting clients and growing a creative business that lights you up.
The Three Types of Vision Boards
There are a few different ways to approach creating a vision board, each with its own benefits. Choose the one that resonates most with you and your creative business goals or blend all three together.
- Bucket List-based: If you’re new to this or feeling a bit lost, start with a simple list. Write down everything you want to be, do, have, and experience in your business and life.
Don’t worry about how you’ll make it happen or if it seems possible right now. Just let your imagination run wild! Want to launch a new online course? Land a high-profile client? Take a dream vacation? Write it down! - Life Areas-based: If you thrive on structure, organize your board by different areas of your life. This could include career, relationships, health, personal growth, finances, and more. This approach helps you create a balanced vision for your life and business. For example, under “career,” you might include images of a beautiful workspace, testimonials from happy clients, or a financial goal you want to achieve.
- Feelings-based: This is a powerful approach if you’re in tune with your emotions an how you want to feel. We’re not really after the goal itself, as much as the feeling we think we’ll feel on the other side of achieving it. So focus on how you want to feel in your business and life.
Do you want to feel abundant, joyful, empowered, or something else? Choose images and words that evoke those feelings. This could include pictures of people laughing, serene landscapes, or quotes that inspire you.
Before you start, consider your heart.
No matter which type of vision board you choose, it’s important to connect with your deepest desires. Before you start gathering images and words, take some time to journal. Reflect on what truly matters to you and what you want to create in your life and business.
What kind of impact do you want to make with your work? What kind of clients do you want to attract? How do you want to feel on a daily basis?
How I Used My Vision Board to Attract My Dream Clients
My vision board plays a crucial role in how I grow my creative business and attract ideal clients who are looking for business coaching.
First, I chose to create a blended vision board, incorporating feelings, desires, and life areas. My business and life are inextricably linked, and so it make the most sense for me to pull everything together that truly inspired me every time I glanced at it on my office wall.
What I know is that when I approach things holistically, I get better results.
Here are the steps I took to create it:
- I got crystal clear on my ideal client and how it would feel to support them. I didn’t just want any client; I wanted to work with businesses that inspired me and allowed me to use my skills to make a positive impact. This was a critical first step, because I knew I would channel those feelings throughout my process.
I also thought about the kind of lifestyle I wanted and how I wanted to feel on a daily basis. I really let myself get into that feeling - I ripped through magazines and catalogs. I found images and words that represented these desired feelings and the lifestyle I wanted. I didn’t judge myself, just ripped out anything that captured my curiosity. (I even ripped out the recipe and book recommendations that caught my eye for a separate inspiration pile!)
- I grabbed my canvas and started to create a layout. This may seem crazy, but I put my new vision board directly on top of my old one of my canvas.
I believe that the positive energy and intensions that are infused in the underlayers are always conspiring for my good. So I just build on the vision so it gets richer, more detailed, and more honed in based on my personal and professional evolution.
My personal style is to use big magazine pages as my backdrops on several sections, and then to build collages on top of them. I like a fully covered canvas. - I glued it all together. Section by section, I used matte modge podge to glue it all down. The activity had me feeling amazing. I was so excited and inspired looking at my vision board.
- I create my action list. Growing a creative business isn’t something passive. Taking action is key. I also don’t believe vision boards are magical tools that simply bring me everything I want like a genie granting a wish.
We have to do something!
So I started my list of actions I can take in my business to attract that vision of my life. How could I connect with ideal clients? How can I craft offers that will be in alignment for me and the people I wanted to serve?
This is the part people skip sometimes, but I let the emotional and energetic excitement of seeing the vision on the page inspire me. - I started taking action. The KEY to growing a creative business is letting your vision board inspire you to take action.
So I dove in and started moving forward. I don’t get discouraged when a dream client doesn’t say yes right away. I continue to focus on my vision and take action steps towards my goals.
I stay in connection with my vision! Everyday I see bits and pieces of my larger vision coming true. But I stay in connection and alignment with my vision through daily practice and action. It’s an inspirational tool.
When I have a bit win, I celebrate it. And I also reconnect to my vision and recommit to taking action.
There’s no right or wrong way to make a vision board. What matters is that you get specific about what you want and commit to doing your part to make it happen. A vision board is a powerful tool to help you grow a creative business that’s aligned with your dreams and values.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab some magazines, scissors, and glue, or create a digital vision board using your favorite design tools. Start visualizing your success and take those first steps towards making it a reality!
