A compelling, powerful vision can help you succeed, become more satisfied with your life, and get the most out of your personal & working relationships. Many experts on leadership emphasize how vital it is for you to craft your own personal vision. Warren Bennis, Stephen Covey, Peter Senge, and others point out that a powerful vision can help you succeed. It can also propel and inspire those around you to reach their own dreams. And remember, if you don't create your own vision, others will plan and direct your life for you.

Peter Senge defines vision as what you want to create of yourself and the world around you. What does your vision include? Making a vital change in some area? Raising happy, well-adjusted children? Writing a book? Owning your own business? Living at the coast? Being fit, healthy and strong? Traveling the world? Facilitating others? What are you good at? What do you love doing? What aren't you good at now, but you'd like to be? All of these important questions are part of identifying your personal vision.

Use the following questions to think about and start to develop your personal vision. It's adapted from many sources and should prompt you to THINK. Find a place without distractions. Answer as many of the questions as possible. It might be useful to discuss your responses with someone you trust.

• Things I really enjoy doing

• What are my most important values?
• Issues and causes that I care deeply about?
• Things I do very well indeed?
• What I'd like to stop doing or do as little as possible?
• What brings me happiness /joy?
• The two best experiences of the Past Week?
• What would I do if I won the Lottery?

It's now time to pull together your research and write a Personal Vision Statement. Your vision must be unique and appropriate for you. For example:

I am becoming more physically fit every day. I am almost finished studying a BComm part-time through UNISA. I am actively involved in my close personal relationships. I have fun every day at work and play and am doing the work that I love and loving the work I do...

steve@storytelling.co.za