Destination Unknown

Vision is the cornerstone of the Passive Wealth Operating System. In my book, Catching Knives, I devoted a whole chapter to it titled “Start with the end in mind.” Vision is the foundation of any successful journey. Let me share what I've learned through my own trial and error.

Picture setting sail on a voyage. As the Captain of the ship, you need to guide your first mate in preparing for the journey. When the first mate asks, Where are we going? How long will we be at sea? Is it a peaceful trip or should we anticipate potential dangers? Imagine if you answered, “I don’t know. I just hope for a good trip.”

Absurd, right?

Shockingly, most people I come across, from seasoned investors to rookies, set sail in life and investments without a destination. Guilty as charged, I used to do the same.

A typical chat with new investors goes like this:

This, my friends, is like sailing without a destination.

How it looked in my life I labeled myself an “opportunistic investor,” aimlessly looking for deals. I'd spend hours scouring the listing sites (Crexi, Loopnet, MLS, Costar, etc) looking at random deals in bum freak nowhere.

My personal life mirrored this approach. I jotted down goals sporadically, only to forget them in a drawer for years at a time.

Everything changed when I started earnestly reading books and discovered the concept of a mastermind. I remember it well I was driving properties to buy at foreclosure auction. I was listening to Lewis Howes podcast and he said the greatest level up was being in a “Mastermind”. I remember this cause I had no idea what a mastermind was. I even goggled it and was blown away that it’s not just something local and that it cost money.

Fast forward to today I’m a part of several masterminds and Lewis Howes is correct they are the greatest accelerators of success I’ve ever found.

Back to my initial problem, It struck me: I was a Captain lacking Vision. Wondering around hoping for a good trip.

So part of a mastermind and lots of books later I’ve found what I’m going to share with you about putting vision in my life.

If you can relate, you might find this helpful.

I created a system that has worked wonders for me and I use with others. I called it the D2S2 framework:

• Dream It

• Document It

• Strategy

• Share It

Dream It: 

Let your imagination loose and visualize your ideal future. Picture your life three years ahead; 3 years in the future is the Goldilocks of timeframes. 5 years is too long as human nature is to procrastinate and, 1 year is too short to make effective change. Don’t worry about where you are now or how you are going to get to your dreams. Just focus on dreaming.

Aspects to consider:

• Career

• Personal Growth

• Health & Wellness

• Relationships

• Finances

• Leisure & Hobbies

• Giving Back

Find an inspiring place, I like to do this in nature. Go for a hike get the blood flowing and then sit on top of a peak and look out and picture your future. Use a journal, recording device, or vision board to capture your thoughts.

Document It: 

Turn your dreams into a vivid narrative, written as if it’s your present reality. For instance, if you dream of owning an Italian villa, write a detailed account that engages all the senses. Make it alive and stirring. I know people that have written it up as a headline and had it framed on their wall. An even more advanced version is to hire someone to create vision videos and you can post it on YouTube to watch frequently.

Be specific in your description and put it into the present tense as if it has already happened, use descriptive and, to make it more inspiring and clear for a reader.

I like to think of it as Forbes is doing an article on me and profiling my success:

On a warm June evening, we sit in the heart of Tuscany, nestled on top of one of the many vine-draped hills of Chianti, the sun-kissed terracotta roof and stucco walls of Villa Di Vision stand proudly against the backdrop of lush gardens and rolling hills. The owner of this rustic villa, outfitted with stunning modern amenities, relaxes by the outdoor pool, savoring the panoramic sunset view over the Tuscan landscape. The aroma of fresh basil and lavender hangs in the air, kids laughing and splashing in the pool. As we sip wine, grown on the surrounding hills, we discuss the journey of this business mogul who left their day job to embrace a life of abundance and freedom... 

Strategy: 

Break down your vision into bite-sized, SMART goals. This is where you start reverse engineering your goals. The how you are going to get there. Also, know that portions of your vision won't be able to be broken down into a how. The reason is you have no idea how to get it done. We will get to why that is important in the next step.

I like to break down the 3 years Vision into a 1 year and then into a 90-day goal. This again seems to give action items to the Vision. You do this by identifying Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), creating strategies and tactics, assigning responsibilities, and establishing timelines. SMART Goals as a refresher SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Share It: 

Now it's time to broadcast your vision to the universe! I also encourage people to have some big goals. You know the type of goals that scare small-minded people. I like to say that "if your goals don't need God, you aren't thinking big enough" But remember some people get nervous at this stage and think just having a vision is enough why do others need to know about it? Well, sharing is crucial, and here are two principles explaining why:

• Law of Attraction: Specific goals and thoughts attract those experiences. When you share your vision, the universe, God or a higher power conspire with you and align you with the energies of others who can support you.

• Pygmalion Effect: High expectations boost performance. Sharing your vision can create a supportive environment where others expect greatness from you, enhancing your performance. This becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Elon Musk’s Colonizing Mars vision is a prime example. Its sheer magnitude attracts world-class talent and funding like a magnet. Other people see a big vision and it attracts the right people that can see their own dreams being accomplished inside of his big vision.

People are seeking to be a part of a big vision.

There you have it – the D2S2 framework! This system has been a game-changer for me. If you want a copy of the Vision Board I use just reply to this email.

Happy sailing investing and dreaming,

Jake