Have you ever wondered what your business will look like in the future? Why wonder if you can vision it? Setting goals is a standard practice for most of us, but we also have to strategically plan in order to hit those goals. We should then predict what our future will look like if we do hit the goals we set. Close your eyes and imagine you step into a time machine and fast forward five, 10 or even more years into the future. What would your business look like? What would the people look like in your business? Write down what you see in your vision of the future business.
Five years
What has changed in your business? What people have you added and how have you evolved or expanded? Were you disciplined to overcome challenges, but also take advantage and expose opportunities? What makes you stand out from competitors and have you increased market share? Are you happy with what you see? Look inside and ask yourself these questions and more. What do you need to do today in order to hit your goals and be in the best position in the future?
10 years or longer
Even more has changed with technology and your industry. How has your company adapted and grown as a result? Have you cruised along conservatively or have you taken calculated risks for new opportunities? How has your team developed and grown and how has this impacted your work and life balance? What role do you see yourself in and what have you learned to delegate? What is your exit strategy with retirement and when will you retire?
Obviously you can do this vision planning at any stage of your life or career. It’s a good practice to write down what you see and be honest with yourself. Predicting the future means you have an understanding of what must happen today in order to get there. Have a positive outlook and strategic goals, but look up at the finish line for your motivation rather than down at your feet during your journey.
Andy W. Harris, CRMS is president and owner of Lake Oswego, Ore.-based Vantage Mortgage Group Inc. and past president of the Oregon Association of Mortgage Professionals. He may be reached by phone at (877) 496-0431, e-mail [email protected] or visit VantageMortgageGroup.com.
This article originally appeared in the July 2016 print edition of National Mortgage Professional Magazine.
