Building your NCC Practice
By Michael Jospe
EBI Founder and Instructor
Part 1: Crafting Your Vision for Life and Business
“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there” – Lewis Carroll
That feels a bit messy, doesn’t it? That is not the way to build your coaching business!
To figure out what your next steps are, we need to know what direction you are pointed in. And, if you know where you are going, it is a lot harder to get lost.
After years of working in the remote, trail-less wilderness, I learned that a map and compass were more than just tools to find your way. They help you figure out where you are, what direction you are pointed in, where you are going, what lies ahead on your journey, and what your next step will be. Using them is a process of jumping between big picture planning and in-the-moment adjustments as you never really know what your actual experience will be like until you start moving.
This metaphor holds true for building your Nature Connected Coaching business. Even if you are a seasoned business owner and looking for inspiration or you are just starting out, think of yourself at the start of a long trail through the wilderness. No matter how much planning you do, you can’t really foresee what your experience will be like in a month or even a few days from now. All you have really to go off is the Vision you have for yourself in that future, that’s what drives you forward, that’s what helps you plan your days. It is your actions and the steps you take today, the daily and weekly goals you achieve, that help you clarify more about what that future will truly be like.
Will there be tough days ahead? You betcha.
But like any journey such as this, you navigate through those step by step when they happen. Dwelling on them now does you no good and will keep you from getting started. So let’s start by focusing on the big picture first, and we’ll get to the details next. For now, let’s set coordinates on the map then chart the pathway.
Today’s post is all about creating a Vision for yourself. It is a powerful tool that can guide you towards your desired future.
The Power of Visioning
Having a clear vision is like having a compass and destination or a goal on your wilderness map. It guides you, keeps you on track, and helps you make next-step decisions that align with your deepest desires and values. It’s not just about setting goals; it’s about painting a vivid picture of the life and business you are called to. I suggest you pull out a journal or open a new doc on your computer and start mapping right now!
Crafting Your Personal Vision
Let’s start with your personal vision. Imagine it’s three years from now and you’re living in alignment as your Truest Self. Write down your answers to these questions:
- What does life look like?
- What are you doing?
- Who are you with?
- How do you feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually?
Take your time here and generate as much detail as possible. Write it down. This is connected to your personal Vision. This is the potential you see in yourself, and if you can see it and feel it and it feels right, you can achieve it! The only thing that is standing in between you and transforming yourself into the person you know you can be, is you! But we’ll get to that later. I’ll help you through those tough times, one step at a time.
Note: be thoughtful in who you share your Vision with. The last thing you need right now is someone asking you detailed questions or casting doubt on what’s possible. More often than not, people called to big Visions like you and I are faced with enough of our own internal doubt that the last thing we need is more! Am I right? I mean, how many times has doubt already stopped you from making this vision happen? Remember, Vision is inherently vague and hard to describe. It is more of a feeling than anything else.
Crafting Your Business Vision
Let’s move on to your business vision. Again, imagine it’s three years from now. Your nature-connected coaching business is thriving.
- What kind of clients are you working with?
- What kind of impact are you making?
- How does your business align with your personal vision?
Visualize this and write it what you see and feel. This is tapping into your business vision.
Bonus step: Creating TRUE Vision Boards
A vision board is a powerful tool that can help you visualize your goals and aspirations. But let me be clear, this is not about naming all the things you want and hope for. Hope is not a plan! This is about putting imagery and words to what you feel most called to in your life. It’s a way of giving context to a feeling that’s hard to see and name and marking rough coordinates on the map.
Consider creating a vision board that represents through images and words what you are truly called to. Making one for your life and one for your business can generate a ton of energy.
Refer to the section “Vision Board” in the playbook for more guidance on creating a Vision Board that represents your personal and business visions.
Setting Your Financial Vision
As part of your business vision, it’s important to have a clear financial vision.
- What are your financial goals for your coaching business?
- How many clients do you need to work with each week to meet these goals?
- What other services could you offer to meet your financial goals?
Reflect on these questions and write down your answers.
For more detailed guidance on setting your financial vision, refer to the section “Financial Vision” in the playbook. This section provides a step-by-step process for setting clear, meaningful financial goals for your coaching business.
Generating Need and Commitment
It is also extremely important to generate a strong need and commitment to achieve your Vision. This is what will drive you forward, even when challenges arise. Ask yourself:
- How will achieving these goals benefit you?
- How will it benefit your family?
- How will it benefit your clients?
- How will it benefit the world?
- What will life be like if you keep putting this off, and who will be affected by that future!?
Reflect on these questions and write down your answers. The more benefits you can identify, the stronger your need and commitment will be.
Note: It might be helpful to think about need as a hunger. In other words, how bad do you want this? If you or one of your loved ones needed food, what would you do to get it? Whatever it takes! Can you generate that level of need and commitment to your Vision?
Creating a Backwards Timeline
A backwards timeline can be a powerful tool for creating a roadmap to your goals. Start by imagining your coaching practice thriving in two years.
- What milestones do you hope to achieve by the end of one year?
- What about in the next six months?
- Three months from now?
- Finally, identify three tasks you can realistically accomplish in the next 24 hours to move towards your goals. (if you can’t think of anything, at the very least commit to the bonus step below)
For a more detailed guide on creating a backwards timeline, refer to the section “Backwards Timeline” in the playbook. This section provides a step-by-step process for creating a roadmap to your goals, starting from your long-term vision and working backwards to the present.
Bonus Step: 7/15 Visioning Ritual
Now that you have your personal and business visions, a clear understanding of the benefits, and a roadmap to your goals, it’s time to make them tangible. Write them down in as much detail as possible. Don’t worry about how you’ll achieve them right now. Just focus on what truly calls you.
7 times (minimum) over the next two days take 15 minutes to:
- Review your notes from these exercises. (3 min)
- With your eyes closed drop deep into the imagery and sensations that are associated with your vision. Let those sensations and images build up and inspire some movement, sounds and words that represent you living your vision. (7 min)
- Reflect/journal on your experience. (5 min)
Remember, your Vision is not set in stone. It will evolve and change as you grow. But having a clear Vision to start with will give you a direction to move towards.
In our next lesson, we’ll dive deeper into how to align your personal and business goals. For now, take some time to sit with your visions. Reflect on them. Feel them. Believe in them.
And, please share your thoughts and questions in the comments section below.
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