For the past few weeks, I have been reading "The Success Principles" by Jack Canfield. This is a wonderful book of 64 short chapters--each devoted to a specific principle for success. I try to read one each morning and one before I go to bed.

Canfield's Success Principle #11 is "See What You Want, Get What You See." He writes:

"Visualization--or the act of creating compelling and vivid pictures in your mind--may be the most underutilized success tool you possess . . . "

He continues:
"Harvard University researchers found that students who visualized in advance performed tasks with nearly 100% accuracy, whereas students who didn't visualize achieved only 55% accuracy."

Wow! That's a big difference! Forty-five percent of students could have been helped out by taking the time to visualize the task.

When I begin work with a coaching client, we start off with goal setting for a very good reason. If you don't know where you're headed, how am I supposed to help you get there? Setting goals is a difficult assignment for some. No one ever asked you to set goals and you're too busy just trying to make ends meet, but allow me to put it in a different context:

What is your dream?

If your life were exactly as you wanted it, what would it be like? Everyone has dreams, but most of us suppress them in the hurry-scurry of daily activities and to-do lists. What does your dream life look like. Spare no details. Think about your artwork, your home, your family and friends. Where do you live? Where do you vacation? Again, how can you expect to get THERE if you don't know where "there" is?

Specificity is key for fruitful visualization.

Saying, "I want to make a lot of money" is not visualizing. Much better: "By 2008, I am making $100,000 per year by selling my art over the Internet."

Saying, "I'd like a bigger studio" is not visualizing. Much better: "By 2007, I am working out of a 1000-square-foot studio within a larger artists' community. It is equipped with [specific needs to your medium] and fits within my budget."

Canfield also notes, "Some psychologists are now claiming that one hour of visualization is worth 7 hours of physical effort." Wow! Sounds like a great way to spend your time.

I highly recommend Canfield's "The Success Principles." If you're interested in learning more about it, you can find it on Amazon.

(You'll want your own copy to underline and make notations in! Additionally, he has some great online resources to support you.)

KNOW THIS----------~> Visualization is a powerful tool.

THINK ABOUT THIS---~> If you can't see the results you want to achieve, how are you going to get there?

DO THIS------------~> Figure out the best way to use visualization to help with your career. Perhaps the following suggested order might help:

1) Meditate. Put on some peaceful music and think about what your perfect life looks like.

2) Write it down. Describe your perfect life in great detail. Use journaling to revisit and nourish your dream.

3) Make a collage. Start by cutting out representations from magazines of all the things you desire from life. Make it into a collage that motivates and inspires you each day.

4) Say it. Don't be afraid to tell people your vision, but, at the very least, say it out loud to yourself each day.

Portfolio reviews and website critiques are also available.

EBSQ is pleased to publish Alyson's work as a regular feature to the EBSQ Zine.