How creating a vision board will boost your sales
I’m a numbers kinda gal. I find safety and security in them. I’m that girl that actually studies her spending and her budgeting. I maximize the rewards I can get on each credit card (6% back on groceries?? Hell, yes!) and I always pay off the balance in full. You’re rolling your eyes, but this stuff legit excites me.
But it also isn’t about the money...
And before you go, “That must be nice for you lady. But over here I’m running a business and it is ALLLLL about the money,” allow me to explain.
It’s about what the money CREATES for you in your life and business.
→ It creates comfort and stability just KNOWING that number in your bank account.
→ It creates more time and more success by outsourcing tasks outside your zone of genius.
→ It creates convenience by having your groceries delivered.
→ It creates experiences and memories through epic vacations.
→ It creates health and wellness through that yoga membership.
The list goes on. Because money isn’t THE THING. It’s what you can create with money that matters.
This is exactly why vision boards are so important—because they help you to boost your sales, make more money, and create more of what you actually WANT in your life and business. And I don’t know about you, but I LOVE seeing a beautiful reminder of what I’m working toward each day.
But you don’t have to take my word for it. Here’s a study that shows how having a vision board is ESSENTIAL to your success as an entrepreneur. I’m dedicating this post to all my skeptics out there!
First, look at the numbers
A study by TD Bank, published in Forbes states, “Results show that business owners who take the time to visualize their company are more successful and more likely to reach their goals than those who don’t.” It goes on to state:
→ Almost two-thirds of small business owners believe that visualizing goals helps them map and develop their business plans.
→ One in five small business owners used a vision board or other visual representation when starting their business; 76% of those business owners said that today their business is where they envisioned it would be when they started it.
→ Eighty-two percent of small business owners that used a vision board from the get-go reported that they have accomplished more than half the goals they included on that board.
You guys, I DO this kind of work and even I was struck by how incredible those numbers are. I’m mean, let it sink in—76% of business owners who had a vision board said that they’re where they thought they’d be when they started. And while I know there’s hard work and strategy behind that number, those odds are pretty darn magical. I know it’s natural to be skeptical because it almost feels TOO EASY, but it all comes back to this—knowing what you want is the MOST important step to getting you what you want. Visualization is a powerful tool in making that a reality.
You’ll consider what you’re looking to create in both work and life
Like I mentioned earlier, success isn’t only about money. It’s about what you can CREATE with money. Having that visual reminder can be really powerful because it will shift your mindset from simply thinking about the numbers to what those dollar signs would actually do for you in both life and business.
And remember more life goals on your vision board doesn’t mean that your business will suffer as a result. I’ve actually found the opposite to be true. My last vision board focused on more time outdoors—hiking, backpacking, and huddling around a campfire. And you know what? My business actually did BETTER during this time because I was in alignment with what I actually wanted and that was showing up in every aspect of my life—even the client calls and weekly newsletters.
It makes the impossible, well, possible
You know when you have a million things swimming around in your head and you finally take the time to write them down on your to-do list? You feel so much lighter and it all feels so much more doable. That I-can-conquer-the-world feeling happens when you create a vision board too.
Why? Because you take those vague ideas and you pull actual images to represent them. That alone can make those dreams feel so much more concrete. If it exists SOMEWHERE than why WOULDN’T you be able to create it in your own life? Why not you??
I remember when I was leaving my full-time job in NYC to move out to Colorado, I really wanted to stay on remotely as a freelance designer so I could have SOME income coming in while I got settled in and established a new business. A friend of mine had worked out a similar situation at a different company while she lived abroad for a few months. And I remember thinking, "if she can do it, I can do it."
Notice how I didn’t think, “That’s impossible. She got lucky. I’ll never be able to create that.” I took small actions that were in line with what I wanted and, of course, I was able to CREATE what I wanted because I KNEW what I wanted.
You’ll take action in alignment with what you want
Creating a vision board brings what you WANT to the forefront. Instead of being a dream you only consider every once in a while, thinking “maybe someday,” it becomes a visual you look at daily as a reminder of what you want to create in your life and business.
And when you know what you want you’re more likely to take action that’s aligned with what you want. I mean, seriously think about that. Haven’t you found that to be true in the past? Let’s bring that same principle into your goals for the future.
Desiring more passive income to create more time to spend with your kids? Maybe it’s time to take your expertise from your one-on-one work and create a course to sell. Looking to create more connection with other female entrepreneurs? Maybe it’s time to market that mastermind you’ve been thinking about.
And here’s the real game-changer—taking those aligned actions in business almost always results in more sales.
When we started the Airbnb, I knew that good design was a huge value of mine so we took extra care to create a space that I not only LOVED but would actually want to stay in myself. As a result, almost everyone that stays with us mentions that they love the decor and we’ve been able to raise rates and stay consistently booked because of it.
You’ll know success when you reach it
As entrepreneurs there’s the tendency to keep REACHING, never stopping long enough to recognize your accomplishments and celebrate the wins. Vision boards are so powerful because you’ll know what success looks like when you hit it.
I’ve seen it time and time again in my own life and business. The cutest little pup on my vision board represented being financially stable enough to get and raise a puppy of my own. Now, I’m greeted each morning by Samson pawing at the blankets, telling me it’s time to start a new day. The image of pancakes and coffee on the patio represent lazy weekend mornings and quality time with my man—yet another thing that has shown up for me in my own life. The image of a microphone on my vision board represents a wildly successful podcast—the very one I’m working toward now.
The point is that you’ll know when you start reaching your goals because the things on your vision board will actually start showing up in your life. And that right there is the very definition of success.
The bottom line:
→ A vision board is a tool that helps you visualize what you want
→ Knowing what you want leads to aligned action
→ Aligned action leads to more sales
→ More sales leads to more money
→ More money creates more of what you actually want in life and business
MORE OF WHAT YOU ACTUALLY WANT = THE VERY DEFINITION OF SUCCESS
Tell me in the comments below:
What’s one goal you’ve taken aligned action toward and seen big results because of it?
Photography by Jennifer Morgan Photography
