In this article we share how to make a career vision board so you can have the career and life of your dreams.
We spend most of our waking hours Monday through Friday at a little place called work. Whether it be sitting at your desk in your bedroom, or sitting at your desk in the office, working is part of life. If you ever find yourself sitting at your desk and praying for something better, this article is for you. In this article we are sharing all of our secrets on how to make a career vision board. Our tips and tricks will allow you to think bigger and manifest the career of your dreams. Here at ReysUp, we want everyone to live their best, most fulfilling life, and a big part of that has to do with finding fulfillment in your job.
Why You Should Make a Career Vision Board
Lets face it, it is super easy to get caught up in the day to day craziness that is life. From cleaning your apt or home, to walking your dog, to calling your parents, to grabbing drinks with friends, life can be overwhelming. With all that being said, if you want to make a difference in your life, you need to get super intentional. A great way to do that is by taking a step back and actually understanding what you really want in the first place. On the journey to finding satisfaction in your career, staying focused and motivated makes a huge difference.
This is where career vision boards come into play. Visually plotting out and having a vision board to look at can inspire day to day focus on what you really want. A vision board not only allows you to get focused on what you really want and your goals, but it is a daily reminder of what you are working for. Having this reminder at the forefront of your mind, encourages you to take actions every single day in support of what you truly want. Whether is be looking for a promotion, making a significant career change, starting your own business, or anything else, a career vision board can be your guide to what your want. Keep reading to see all our essential steps to on how to make a career vision board and manifest the life of your dreams.
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1. How to Make a Career Vision Board – Understanding Your Career Goals
Before you start pasting images on a piece of paper, you need to get focused and more clearly define what your career goals even are. Think about how you see yourself in the future. Think about all the things you want to accomplish. Now is the time to outline your short and long term aspirations. This will provide you with a roadmap for your career vision board that actually aligns with what you want.
To help you more clearly understand what your career goals are, here are some questions we put together that you can ask yourself. These question are designed to help you better understand your career goals.
Where do I see myself in the next 5 – 10 years ?
- With this question the goal is to understand where you want to be in the future. Think about the type of role you would thrive in, the type of company your would like to work for, and key things you hope to accomplish.
What aspects of my current job do I currently enjoy doing?
- Think about the day to day task, job responsibilities, and/or projects that you enjoy doing. Think about these items and reflect on what you want to start doing more of.
What skills or strengths do I want to build on?
- Understand where you are gifted and assess your personal strengths. Determine how you can capitalize on these skills to set yourself up for long term career success.
What do I care about and what is important to me in my career?
- Use this time to reflect on what matters to YOU. This is not the time to listen to what your parents or friends have to say. This is a time to figure out what will make you happy and fulfilled. Some factors you can consider are work-life balance, company culture, growth opportunities or having a societal impact. Clarify what values align with your career aspirations.
Am I truly passionate about what I’m doing or is there a specific industry or field that I am more interested in?
- Understand if you want to grow in your current role and industry or if there is something you are more interested in. Think about what interested you as a child. What is something you always thought about doing, but never took a chance on?
What hurdles do I want to cross in my career, and what challenges will I face?
- You don’t get to the top without feeling like you are at the bottom. Think through the potential challenges you may go through to get to where you want to be.
What will allow me to tell myself I am successful in my career?
- Define what your definition of success is. Do you want to become a partner? Do you want to make a million dollars a year? Do you want to make a difference in the world?
When thinking about my career, what excites me the most?
- Think through the items that get you passionate and motivated to crush life.
What have mentors and colleagues told me are my strengths, and how can I leverage them?
- If you are struggling to figure out what you want, consider what those who know you have said about you. They should share insights that you never considered as far as what your strengths are and what skills you need to develop. Use this as a consideration and avoid falling into the trap of doing what others tell you to do.
How will I ensure that I have the work-life balance that I want?
- In order to have a successful career, you also need to consider what a successful life looks like for you. Think about what kind of lifestyle you want to live including your relationships, hobbies, and personal growth.
2. How to Make a Career Vision Board -Gathering Inspiration
Once you have done a bit of self reflection, start looking for inspiration from others. Think about those that you admire and who inspire you to be someone better than you are today. Inspiration is all around. With the internet we have tons of knowledge that is ours for the taking. Read autobiographies, what podcasts and interviews, and understand how individuals became who they are today. Researching will not only motivate you to be better, but provide insights into how you will get the career and life of your dreams.
Here are some ways you can gather inspiration:
Explore LinkedIn Profiles: LinkedIn is a goldmine of professional insights. Look up and find people who are successful in their field, role, or business. You should read their profiles. This is where the knowledge is- you can literally see every job they’ve ever had which helps you understand how you can get their too. If you choose to follow people, many share articles, updates, and personal insights that can provide valuable knowledge to you.
Explore Other Social Media Sites and Online Communities: While LinkedIn is great for all things career, there are some many other social media sites with a wealth of information. X (Twitter), Instagram, and industry-specific forums or groups can offer a wealth of inspiration. Follow thought leaders, influencers, and organizations that share content relevant to your professional interests and goals.
Read Biographies and Autobiographies: Dive into books or articles about successful individuals in your industry. Biographies and autobiographies offer in-depth accounts of their career journeys, highlighting challenges they faced, decisions they made, and lessons learned along the way. These stories can provide both inspiration and practical guidance for shaping your own career path.
Watch Interviews and TED Talks: Seek out interviews, TED Talks, and panel discussions featuring leaders and experts in your field. These platforms often delve into personal stories, career advice, and innovative approaches to success. Hearing directly from accomplished professionals can ignite new ideas and perspectives for your career vision board.
Follow Industry Publications and Blogs: Subscribe to industry-specific publications, blogs, and newsletters that cover trends, news, and insights relevant to your career goals. Stay informed about advancements in technology, changes in regulations, and emerging job roles that could shape your future career path.
3. How to Make a Career Vision Board -Selecting Materials
Choose whether you want to create a physical or digital vision board. For a physical board, get items like poster board, pull out magazines or go buy them for cutting out images, you can even go online and print out photos, quotes, text and and any other visual elements that inspire you. For digital board you can use Canva, Pinterest, or PowerPoint. All of these platforms offer flexibility and you can easily add or remove things from your design. Use items that inspire your commitment to pursuing the career of your dreams.
4. How to Make a Career Vision Board -Visualizing Your Ideal Career
With your materials gathered, take the time to visualize your ideal career scenario. Envision yourself thriving in your profession—achieving milestones, enjoying job satisfaction, and experiencing personal growth. Visualization is a powerful technique that aligns your thoughts and actions with your desired outcomes, fostering a proactive mindset towards achieving your goals.
5. How to Make a Career Vision Board -Organizing Your Vision Board
There is no science to vision boards. When it comes to putting your vision board together, it is all about what makes sense to you personally. You can organize it by short and long term career goals. You can put it together in order of the milestones your would like to hit. You can organize it by key themes such as skill development, career aspirations, and companies you would like to work for.
Nothing is off limits with your career vision board, but try to set realistic goals. When putting your vision board together, the last thing you want to do is create a world that is so far from where you are not that it feels unattainable. It is important to have the long term in mind, but keep the vision board aligned to the next 5 years or so, so the goals you set don’t seem too daunting. Your vision board should inspire you, not scare you!
6. How to Make a Career Vision Board -Assembling Your Career Vision Board
Once you have everything in place, its time to put your vision board together. If you are creating a vision board that requires materials such as a pen, paper, glue and cut outs, place your material out where you want to see it on your poster board or even a corkboard. Move around images and materials until you have the right board that inspires you. For a digital career vision board, we recommend something like canva, organize your board in a way that isn’t overly crowded and can fit on a single screen. If you want, you can even save your board as your phone lockscreen!
7. How to Make a Career Vision Board – Daily Engagement and Review
Career vision boards reinforce in your brain what truly matters to you. By doing this, you stay motivated to work hard and not give up. In order to make your career vision board a part of your everyday routine, place it somewhere you can see it. This can be at your desk, next to your bed, or even in your bathroom. When you see it, take the time to reflect on where you’ve been and where you are going. This has tremendous impacts on reinforcing your desire to achieve your dreams
8. How to Make a Career Vision Board -Reflecting and Revising
Once your vision board is complete, you shouldn’t stop there. The key to having a vision board is using to force periods of reflection, especially has your career transforms and evolves overtime. Just because you put something on your career vision board, it doesn’t mean it has to stay that way forever. We area always changing as are out careers. Update your board as you hit new milestones or have new aspirations.
Revising and critically thinking through your vision board are essential. Take advantage of opportunities to adjust your career goals, set new challenges, and recommit to your pursuit of having the career and life of your dreams.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this article on how to create your career vision board. Creating a career vision board is not just about setting goals—it’s about actively pursuing your ambitions with clarity and purpose. Whether you’re starting a new career path, aiming for advancement, or exploring entrepreneurial endeavors, a vision board serves as a tangible reminder of what you’re working towards. Embrace the process, stay persistent, and watch as your career aspirations begin to materialize.
We also recommend watching this episode on the Mel Robbins podcast.
Looking for more career advice? Look no further.
