Since we’re approaching a new year, a time when people set goals and make plans, I thought I’d share with you one of the most powerful goal setting techniques I’ve used.

I first heard about this strategy from my former mentor, Christie Wheeler. Christie was one of the most brilliant women and I was captivated by her drive to learn and grow. I credit her as being one of the main people who turned me on to the personal growth arena. Christie shared this video with me before her passing, and I’m going to share it with you guys today. If any of you knew Christie, especially in the real estate world, this video is what prompted her to draw the poster of her vision for our local KW office. It hung in her office and she would tell you that this drawing escalated the growth of our local market center. 

Before I continue, I’ll say this right now — me sharing this with you today is one of THE MOST VULNERABLE posts I’ve ever shared here. Even more than when I first talked about my divorce or my unraveling last year or that random painting. I had knots in my stomach just showing these drawings to Zach the first time, and I almost didn’t do it! Posting my own drawings here on the World Wide Web for everyone to see is a whole ‘nother level. 

I do this for one reason only — because this seemingly silly little practice has leveled me up in so many ways and I want you to have that opportunity too. My One Little Word for 2020 is elevate and this post is a good start on that. I’m elevating my authenticity/vulnerability with you guys and my intent is that it’ll elevate your vision for your life. (Pardon me while I go throw up from nervousness.) 

First, you’re going to want to watch this 10 minute Ted Talk. If you think it’s silly and frivolous, that’s fine. I did too at first. Then I asked myself, what can it hurt? Christie, one of the smartest and most impactful women I know, believed in its power. If I drew a dumb picture and it did nothing for me, what was actually lost? Nothing. 

Since I had nothing to lose from trying this, I drew a picture sometime in 2017. I drew a one-color picture of my current reality, and boy was it grim. I was in the throes of divorce and unraveling the life I’d built. In some ways, this was the perfect time to dream about a perfect life, and in some ways, it was brutally difficult. Then, I went ALL OUT on a vision for the next year. If I ended 2017 and all of these things on my paper had come to be, I would be ecstatic! I held nothing back. I drew a vision of new love, a house with a view, rent houses — you name it. None of this was reasonable or realistic at the time. I just allowed myself to dream. 

Then, I put it in a drawer and went on about my life. I didn’t hang it on the wall or frame it like Christie did. I didn’t stare at it every morning or pray over it. I just drew it and then went on about my business. 

Fast forward to the end of 2018. I remember this drawing and pull it from its safe place in my drawer. I was BLOWN AWAY by how many things had come to be in some way. I was in the beginning stages of a wonderful new relationship. I had purchased four investment properties in that last year when there were EXACTLY four houses drawn on my paper. I had a home with a waterfront view, though it looked a little differently than I’d first imagined. Nonetheless, WATERFRONT VIEW. I stared at this little drawing in awe. I had zero intentions of actually accomplishing these things when I drew them out. I was just dreaming and doing what the video told me to do. 

Flabbergasted by how much had been realized from this 2017 drawing, I got out my bag of sharpies and did a 2018 version. This time, I really went all out! If a piece of cardstock and some sharpies made so much happen in 2017, I had better dream even bigger. I filled my 2018 sheet with my #wfwhitehouse, all fixed up with a happy family standing outside. I added a pool and built my dream barn next door. I acquired more properties and wrote a book. I bought a few AirBnb rentals in picturesque areas, on water and in the mountains. I was traveling as a Keller Williams Certified Instructor and I had people helped me with things. I just sat there and imagined — if 2018 looked like a total dream, what would I have and have done by the end of the year?

After 2018 was such a tough year, I didn’t draw a vision for 2019. I didn’t do goal setting for this year at all really. As I look at this picture for 2018 and think back over this last year, I realized that not as many things came true from this one. As a matter of fact, some things unravelled. (Goodbye, pretty white house and dreams of a barn.) As I dig a little deeper though, I can see some of these things in the works. I bought another house. I’ve built great relationships with Zach’s kids. I’m inviting people into this new house, even if it’s not quite big enough. I’ve joined a writing group and I’m taking this writing/sharing a lot more seriously. I’m back to working on my KW instructor certification. 

In the coming weeks, I’m going to draw a new plan for 2019. I’ll go all out, just like I did on the other two. I won’t hold anything back and I’ll draw out all the things that I’d be so thrilled to see happened in 2020. In doing this, I’ll remember one of the most important things — the vision and the dream might not play out exactly as I see it today. Even so, I’ll most likely get way more done and see way more dreams come true by showing up for this little exercise than I will if I don’t do it. 

If you’re looking at this skeptically and considering its possibilities in your own life, I’ll ask you one question. What will it hurt to grab some markers and draw out a little picture? What could be lost by trying it? You can, like me, do it and stuff it in a drawer for no one to ever see. You don’t have to share it on the internet like I am (still sweating). I challenge you — if you want more out of life and would be THRILLED to see some of those dreams of yours finally come true, give it a shot. Watch the video and get out some markers. You lose absolutely nothing by trying it. 

And if you’re feeling brave and want to share your picture or your thoughts, I’d love to hear about it! I probably wouldn’t be so passionate about this technique if my sweet friend hadn’t shared it with me. If I’m able to encourage just one person in the way that she encouraged me, this vulnerability hangover is totally worth it. 

Happy goal-setting, my friends. My intention is to MAKE SOME THINGS HAPPEN in 2020 and I’d love you to join me along the way!