At the end of one year, I like to set goals for the next year; family goals, personal and professional goals. Like so many folks, halfway through the year I get off track or lose sight of my original intent. But this year, 2022, I decided to create a vision board. A vision board is a montage of ideas, images, goals, and words that serve as a daily reminder of why you do what you do. It helps keep you focused on the big picture. This past weekend I decided to tackle this task. I collected magazines from the local library, glue sticks, a poster board and I was ready to go.  

 As I progressed with my vision board, I began to realize the connection between vision boards and the process we take our strategic planning clients through here at the Spark Mill. From the very beginning, we are thinking about the end goal, the place we desire our clients to land at the end of their project. There are multiple tools we use to help make the vision more vivid and feel tangible. One of the tools that comes to mind is The Hedgehog Concept, taking your organization from good to great. This visionary process, created by Jim Collins, walks you through three buckets:

1. What are you deeply passionate about?

2. What are you best in the world at?

3. What drives your economic engine best?

The intention behind our clients working through this process is not to be the best, but just like planning and implementing a vision board, the goal behind the hedgehog concept, according to Jim Collins, is to create a strategy to be the best and to understand what you CAN be the best at.   

With each client, we strive to help them see the gaps. We hold their hands through the tough parts. We stretch our clients into spaces they may not have thought they could reach and we guide them to a place where they can grow. All while helping make their vision for their organization clearer. The hedgehog sees the big picture. 

When building a vision board, you add realistic images, words, and BIG aspirational goals. The ones you know will stretch you and make you work hard to achieve them. That’s the same idea we set for our clients. We want everyone to do the very best work they can, and sometimes it might hurt a little, but our goal is that it sets you on the right path to grow. 

Want to get a clear vision for the direction your organization is moving?