Vision Boarding: Creating a Plan for Your Future
With just over a month into the New Year, some persons have already abandoned the resolutions that they had made. In fact, it is not uncommon for persons to fall back into old habits, in favour of ‘turning over a new leaf’, as the New Year progresses.
Vision boarding has been touted by both JMMB clients and team members as an alternative to resolutions, and one way of overcoming the common relapse associated with New Year’s resolutions. This approach helps individuals to have long-term view, versus the short-term view, of resolutions. Bridgett Pouyat, sales person and JMMB client, shares, “For me, my vision board is about the long-run…it is not just a work of art, it’s a plan of where I want to go and how I am going to get there.” She further explains that, with the long-term approach that the vision board exercise provides, you are better able to periodically track your progress and remind yourself of your ultimate goal/s. Pouyat, who participated in the JMMB Vision Board exercise, held in 2015, at the company’s Ocho Rios branch, points to several accomplishments she has attained. Her list includes: home improvement, although she admits there is some work to be done before it becomes her dream home, a new car and further built out her investment portfolio. There are all goals that are in line with her commitment to living a happy and comfortable life and retiring in 9 years.
She credits much of her success thus far to the assistance of JMMB and the vision board exercise, noting, “The JMMB team has been with me throughout my journey; the vision board exercise served as a an eye-opener and the JMMB team provided valuable financial advice to assist me in further building out my portfolio. In addition, JMMB provided the best solutions for me, including a home equity loan to assist me in building my dream home (which remains a work in progress) and also a new car, with its JMMB Drive Easy loan and insurance package. “What I liked most about JMMB is that they allowed ordinary people (like me) to try (to achieve their dreams)…and were flexible, even when I faced challenges.”
Pouyat admits that even though she still has several dreams/ goals on her vision board to accomplish, including travelling to world famous sites, like the Grand Canyon, Greece and Australia, her vision board has helped to make her more prepared for the future; and has challenged her to keep moving one step closer to her destination.
She confesses that transforming your vision to reality is not a magic bullet, but requires the discipline and the willingness to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve your “vision of your future.” In addition, she has placed her vision board in a prominent place in her house as a constant reminder of her destination and commitment to herself.
The validity of the vision board exercise has been tried, tested and proven by Desreen Daley, the 29 year old, talent management associate at JMMB, who has participated in several vision board exercises since 2014. Her checklist of accomplishments include: her career growth, acquisition of a car, building out her investment portfolio, informally starting a girls club and speaking opportunities, travelling, taking steps to further her education and deepen her spiritual relationship.
In sharing details, Desreen explained that with a strong desire to ‘give back and inspire others,’ she placed this on here vision, and since then she, along with a small group of girlfriends, has begun a reading club, where they meet and encourage each other and visit a girls’ home monthly. She adds, “A big moment came for me, when I was given the opportunity to share my successes from my vision board exercise with clients, at a similar session hosted for clients, inspiring them to also dream big; this for me is a great stepping stone, as I have a desire to be a motivational speaker.”
This year, as she participated in the annual JMMB Group vision board exercise, for its team members, Desreen noted, “I have decided to be even more deliberate and include specific areas of growth that I want in my life.” With this sharp focus, Daley expects to continue to experience long-term success in her personal life, with an equally impressive report card of goals achieved, as 2019 rolls around.
Vivienne Duncan, manager, client partnership at JMMB Investments – Ocho Rios shared that the vision board exercises organized by the branch have reaped stellar success stories for her clients, Bridgett Pouyatt, is a testament of that success. She also pointed to another of her clients, who has since attending the vision board workshop been actively working along with the JMMB team to build her real estate holdings, consolidate debt and can now afford to live the life of a globe-trotter. She further notes, “JMMB recognizes that everyone has dreams, and as such we believe in helping individuals realize their dreams, by being their financial partner along that journey. Adding, “The vision board exercises have been very engaging and brought life to our clients’ dreams.”
Creating Your Own Vision Board
For persons who may have made resolutions earlier in the year, it is a great idea to go a step further and create a road map of that resolution, or your dream, by creating your own vision board. The steps for creating your own vision board can be found online. If you prefer the option of a digital vision board that you can easily take with you wherever you go, you can create your vision board on Pinterest, or simply use a free online app for creating vision boards that can be downloaded from the app store.