Steps to Build a Purposeful Vision for Your Future

Abraham Lincoln once said, “The best way to predict your future is to create it,” and I couldn’t agree more. But what happens when you’re not even sure what you want to create?

Growing up, I was a walking career crisis. One day, I was destined to defend the defenseless as a lawyer; the next, I was sketching gowns, dreaming of becoming Liberia’s next big fashion designer. I even applied to two renowned fashion schools, convinced I’d found my calling. Unfortunately, both rejected me. Goodbye, fashion dreams. Hello, confusion.

That rejection sent me down a very different path, one I wasn’t prepared for. My mom, in all her wisdom, suggested I study sociology (because apparently, understanding people is a fallback career?). So, off I went to college, earning a sociology degree that seemed both practical and purposeless. Little did I know, it was the beginning of a winding journey that would take me through jobs I didn’t love, lessons I didn’t expect, and eventually, the clarity I needed to define my vision.

It wasn’t until after I earned my master’s in business development that things finally clicked. I realized I didn’t just want a career, I wanted to teach, write, and empower people. I wanted to build businesses that inspire and created jobs for people. I wanted a life of purpose and impact. And that’s when I finally grasped the power of vision: it helps you see beyond where you are and start creating the future you want.

In this article, I’ll share how you can do the same. We will explore how to create a vision for your life, take control of your future, and build a life you love in 2025. So grab a notebook and pen and let’s dive into it.

The Power of Vision

Let’s begin with this question: if you keep doing what you’re doing now, where will your life be in five years? Ten years? Twenty-Five years?

Scary question, right? But it’s an important one.

In a world full of distractions, having a strong vision is what separates those who thrive from those who simply survive. A vision gives you a roadmap for each day, month, and year. It’s your compass, helping you navigate through life’s uncertainties.

I’ve learned this lesson the hard way. For years, I floated from one thing to the next, jobs I didn’t like, goals I wasn’t excited about, all because I didn’t have a clear vision of where I wanted to go. But once I defined what I truly wanted out of life, everything changed. Vision gave me clarity, focus, and a sense of direction I’d never had before.

The Common Misunderstanding of Vision

Let’s be honest: “vision” sometimes sounds like one of those buzzwords motivational speakers throw around while pointing at their vision boards. It can feel abstract, even overrated – like something that sounds good in theory but doesn’t really help with the day-to-day grind.

But here’s the truth: not having a vision is like trying to drive to a new destination without a map (or GPS, for the tech-savvy). You might get there eventually, but it’ll take twice as long, and you’ll probably waste a lot of time going in circles.

A lack of vision leads to disappointment, confusion, and, worst of all, a lack of fulfillment. When you don’t know where you’re going, you end up settling for whatever comes your way, and that’s not the life you deserve.

How to Create a Vision for Your Life

A vision is your long-term aspiration, the ultimate goal that defines where you want to be in the future. Think of it as the big picture that shapes the decisions you make today.

But here’s where it gets confusing: words like vision, mission, passion, and purpose are often thrown around as if they mean the same thing. They don’t. Here’s how I like to break it down:

• Vision = What you want to become.
• Mission = How you’ll get there.
• Passion = The fuel that keeps you going.
• Purpose = The deeper “why” behind it all.

To put it simply, your vision is the destination, and your mission, passion, and purpose are the tools that drive you forward. Without a vision, you’re just driving aimlessly and trust me, that’s a frustrating way to live.

The good news? You can create your own vision, and it doesn’t have to be perfect or overwhelming. You just need a clear sense of direction to start moving forward.

Here’s how:

Step 1: Reflect on Your Past

Before you can move forward, you need to take a moment to look back. Your past is full of clues: experiences that shaped your worldview, victories that inspired you, and failures that taught you what you needed to learn. Reflecting on these key moments will help you see the bigger picture of where you’ve been and where you want to go.

After high school, my mom, in all her wisdom, said, “Since you can’t figure out what to do in college, study sociology.” This was 2008, and sociology seemed like a safe enough choice for someone who had no idea what they were doing. And honestly? She wasn’t wrong. Sociology teaches you all about people and society, which sounds great in theory. But in Liberia, where social work and counseling jobs are rarer than a cool breeze in July, all it really gave me was a deeper understanding of my indecision. (Turns out, knowing human behavior doesn’t make your own choices any easier. Who knew?)

But here’s what I realized: even the wrong paths teach you something. Rejections from fashion school and years of wondering “what’s next?” helped me figure out (eventually) what I truly cared about. Every experience – good or bad – brought me closer to understanding who I wanted to be.

So ask yourself:

1. What moments shaped you the most?
2. What challenges taught you lessons you’ll never forget?
3. What victories made you feel most alive?

Step 2: Look Within

Once you’ve reflected on the moments that shaped your journey, it’s time to dig deeper. Understanding yourself is the foundation of a strong vision. Ask yourself: What makes me unique? What are my strengths and weaknesses? What fears or limiting beliefs are holding me back?

After college, I started as a teacher for third graders, definitely not what I thought I’d be doing with my sociology degree. Then I worked as a personal assistant, and later as an enterprise development officer. None of these jobs had anything to do with sociology (or each other), but every single one taught me something valuable. Teaching helped me see my passion for sharing knowledge. Being a personal assistant taught me to value organization and efficiency. Working in enterprise development showed me how much I love business and entrepreneurship.

At the time, I felt like I was bouncing around aimlessly, but looking back, I can see how all those experiences were preparing me for the bigger picture of who I could be. I realized my strengths lay in teaching, writing, and inspiring others, skills that had been with me all along, waiting for me to notice them. I’m sure you have many skills waiting to be discovered and put to use.

So ask yourself:

1. What are your greatest strengths? How have you seen them show up in your life?
2. What fears or limiting beliefs have held you back?
3. What lessons have your past jobs or roles taught you about yourself.

Step 3: Envision Your Ideal Life

Now that you’ve reflected on your past and looked within, it’s time to dream big. What does your ideal life look like? Close your eyes and imagine your future self: What kind of career are you thriving in? How are your relationships? Where are you living? What kind of impact are you making on the world?

For me, this step came after years of exploring who I was and what I loved. I started imagining myself teaching, speaking, writing, and running businesses that inspire others. Reading books and listening to teachers like Myles Munroe helped me see what was possible for someone with my skills and values. His calling, work, and lifestyle showed me what I could aspire to, and I began to picture myself doing the same.

Your vision doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. It’s deeply personal, about who you are and what lights you up. But the clearer you make it, the easier it becomes to take steps toward it.

So ask yourself:

1. If time and money weren’t obstacles, what would your ideal life look like?
2. What kind of work energizes you the most?
3. Who inspires you, and why? What lessons can you take from their life or career?

Step 4: Set Your Long-Term Goals

A vision is nothing without action. Once you’ve defined your ideal life, the next step is to set long-term goals that will bring your vision to life. These goals are the milestones that guide your journey.

For me, becoming a teacher, writer, and serial entrepreneur meant setting specific goals: improving my writing and speaking skills, starting businesses, and building a platform to inspire others. I broke this down into manageable steps, 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year goals, that aligned with my vision.

Use the SMART goal system to ensure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. For example, instead of saying, “I want to be a professional speaker,” you might set a goal like, “Speak at three local events within the next six months.” In my next article I’ll go deeper into this.

But for now, ask yourself:

1. What are three long-term goals that align with your vision?
2. How can you break those goals into 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year milestones?
3. Are your goals specific and measurable? If not, how can you refine them?

Step 5: Break Goals into Manageable Steps

Big goals can feel intimidating, which is why breaking them into smaller, actionable steps is so important. Think of it like climbing a staircase – one step at a time gets you closer to the top.

For example, when I decided to improve my writing skills, I didn’t try to write a book right away. I started small journaling, then creating blogs, and then social media content and finally editing other people’s work. Those smaller opportunities helped me build confidence and improve my skills over time.

Whatever your goals are, ask yourself: What’s the first step I can take today? Progress doesn’t come from giant leaps, it’s the result of consistent, daily actions that build momentum.

So Ask yourself:

1. What’s one big goal you can break into smaller steps?
2. What’s one small action you can take this week to move closer to your goal?
3. How can you create a daily or weekly habit that supports your vision?

Step 6: Develop an Action Plan

Goals without a plan are just wishes. To turn your vision into reality, you need an action plan. This is where you map out the daily, weekly, and monthly tasks that will move you closer to your goals.

For me, creating an action plan meant committing to daily writing and consistently networking with people who shared my values and goals. I treated my vision like a project, and I stayed focused by tracking my progress.

Your action plan doesn’t need to be overwhelming, it just needs to be clear. Focus on small, manageable tasks you can stick to consistently.

So, ask yourself:

1. What are three daily or weekly actions you can take to move closer to your vision?
2. How will you track your progress?
3. How can you create accountability to stick to your plan?

Step 7: Stay Flexible

Life doesn’t always go as planned and that’s okay. The journey toward your vision will come with setbacks, detours, and unexpected challenges. But once you have a vision, failures will be more manageable because you will always have something that you are working towards. Flexibility helps find new ways to pursue your vision when the old ways don’t work.

So, ask yourself:

1. How will you reframe failure as a stepping stone toward your vision?
2. What’s one area of your life where you need to be more flexible?
3. How will you adjust your plan to create room for failures and setbacks?

Conclusion: The Power of a Strong Vision

Not everyone has it all figured out from the start and that’s okay. The beauty of life is that you can create a vision for yourself at any point. When you have a vision, you stop settling for anything that doesn’t align with the future you want. Your vision becomes your roadmap, guiding you through uncertainty and helping you focus on what truly matters.

I’ve faced plenty of rejections and failures on my path, but each one taught me something valuable. Success isn’t about avoiding failure; it’s about staying adaptable and resilient when things don’t go your way.

I am confident that you can use my story and lessons to create a strong vision for 2025 and beyond. Start dreaming, start planning, and start creating the life you love.