Your Vision : What's Next?

Before you begin to position yourself for the recovery from this current recession that the world is experiencing, think about the vision that you will need to have for you and your organization.

A vision of what your organization will stand for in the new economy that will emerge after the recession. What will be the impact on you and your customers, the quality of products and services and where your organization will be in the future is essential as you move forward.

This vision will be your ideal future state and should include your values and what you desire your organization to be like.

An essential aspect of your vision is the understanding of what makes you, your company and your team unique in the marketplace. What makes your product or service different from your competitors?

Most visions or strategies are about having a plan and taking all the necessary action steps.

Your thoughts and beliefs; the internal dialogues and thought processes you have regarding your business, your industry and your customers will support or hinder your success.

Take notice of what you express about your company, your products, your services and the value you bring to your customers. Do all your internal thoughts completely match your words? Do you feel the prices you charge are fair and reasonable? Do you believe you are worth what you ask? Do you feel you are the best choice for your customers?

Your true success will be determined when your thoughts and beliefs match your actions.

Whether you are in financial planning, training, banking, or technology, take the time to know what sets you apart. In the customer’s mind, your company can look the same as any other company, in so many ways.

To stand apart you must help the customer understand your differences.

Clarify what your differences are and for what reason someone should consider doing business with you.

What is unique about your business compared to your competitors? What is most important to your customers about doing business with you? What can only you do that your competitors can’t do?

Once you have defined your differences, create a set of words that can be used to describe to your customers, how you differentiate from your competition.

Periodically revisit your overall vision. Your core values should be the main driver of your vision, yet some of the details are bound to change. As you and your customer’s needs and wants change, you may find it necessary to update your vision.

Where do you want your company to be? Where do you want to be? Match your actions with your thoughts and beliefs. Create a vision for a new tomorrow and your success.