Vision‑Based Goal Setting
Finding the Approach That Fits How You Think
Today I want to look at goals from a different angle — not the structured, SMART‑goal approach that many people talk about, but the broader, more intuitive ways of setting direction. Some people thrive with specific, measurable goals. Others, like me, think in bigger pictures, long‑term ideas, and the natural flow of thoughts that come and go.
Neither way is wrong. What matters is understanding how you think and choosing a goal‑setting style that actually works for you.
Vision Boards: Letting Your Mind See the Future You Want
Vision boards are one of the most common tools in coaching. You gather images from magazines, online, or printed and place them somewhere you’ll see them often.
A vision board works because your mind is powerful. When you repeatedly see images of what you want, a holiday, a home, a lifestyle, a feeling, your brain begins to organise itself around those ideas.
Some people need specifics like dates and dollar amounts. Others naturally start piecing things together just by seeing the imagery. They look at a picture of a beach and think, How much would it cost to get there? What would it take? The pieces slowly come together, and the goal becomes real.
The Abstract Thinker’s Approach
Some people set goals by feeling rather than structure. They ask questions like:
What would a fulfilling day look like for me?
What energises me right now?
What direction feels life‑giving?
What am I being called into?
This approach isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about joy, fulfilment, and alignment. For an abstract thinker, achievement isn’t measured by a checklist, it’s measured by the sense of satisfaction and purpose they feel as they move through their days.
The North Star or Guiding Statement
This approach is about defining who you want to be in the future. You might ask:
Who do I want to be in five years?
What legacy do I want to leave behind?
What will my future self thank me for?
Your North Star becomes a guiding direction rather than a strict plan. It helps you make decisions, choose opportunities, and stay aligned with the person you’re becoming.
Values‑Based Goal Setting
This is where you look at what you truly value, family, faith, health, business, contribution and build your goals around those values.
You might ask:
What are my top three to five values?
How do I live these out daily?
Am I aligned with what matters most?
Values‑based goals help you live authentically, not according to someone else’s expectations.
Why Vision‑Based Goal Setting Works
Vision‑based approaches are more open, more flexible, and more forgiving. They allow you to explore, adjust, and grow without feeling like you’ve failed because you didn’t hit a specific target by a specific date.
I’ve had goals that took 25 years to achieve, and others that took five. If I had forced myself into strict SMART goals for those, I would have been disappointed. But because I held the vision, kept moving, and let things unfold, I eventually got there.
Some people are finishers. Some are starters. Some move in circles and loops, coming back to things when the time is right. Understanding your own wiring helps you stop comparing yourself to others and start living in a way that fits who you are.
If You Want Help Figuring Out Your Style
If you want to understand whether you’re a SMART‑goal setter, a vision‑based thinker, or something in between, I’m here. I’d love to help you explore your personality, your processing style, and the way you naturally move through life.
Together we can work out the approach that fits you best and help you live with clarity, purpose, and direction.
