Achieving Your Vision, One Day at a Time

One of the most common objections I hear to strategic planning is this: “We don’t know the future.” It’s true—we can’t predict what the world will look like in three, four, or five years, much less next month. But while the future is uncertain, there is still so much we can control. We have the ability to influence the direction of our organizations and to build the future we want, step by step.

One of the most effective ways to reach a long-term vision—whether five or ten years out—is to break it into manageable goals and strategies. Think about weight loss: if your goal is to lose fifty pounds, you don’t focus on losing all fifty today. Instead, you might set a target of losing two pounds per week, which puts your long-term goal within reach in about six months. Organizational goals are far more complex, of course, but the principle is the same. Big visions become achievable when broken into actionable steps.

I recommend identifying a one-year focus that aligns with your larger five- or ten-year vision and then creating specific strategies you can review and refine every quarter. For example, if your long-term goal is to see 100% literacy among kids in your community within five years, your one-year focus might be to launch literacy programs in every local library. From there, you can identify three or four concrete actions to accomplish in the next three months—steps that move you closer to reaching each library and getting programs underway. After a quarter, you review what's working, adjust what isn’t, and add new strategies as needed. At the end of the year, if you’ve met your goal, you set a new one that moves you another step toward your ultimate vision of community-wide literacy.

Most community leaders understand the value of breaking down goals into manageable pieces—but day-to-day urgencies often pull their attention away. While those urgent matters do need to be addressed, it’s crucial for leaders to remain aware of how their time is being spent. If all your energy is consumed by immediate demands, you’ll struggle to stay focused on the long-term priorities that bring your vision to life.

So let’s shoot for the stars together. Yes, the future is uncertain—but that’s part of what makes planning for it so meaningful. If we knew exactly what would happen, life would be boring! Set those big, hairy, audacious goals, and then pursue them one day at a time. You’ve got this.

And if you need help developing your goals or breaking them down into those bite-sized steps, we’re here to help. Contact us at Mustful Strategic Consulting, and let’s pursue that vision together.