SwAY HEYven Vision Board glitter, sparkle, and blog-worthy blog time:
Chasing 2026… It’s Blue Diamond Time!
Each year, I create a vision board to adorn my wall. 2023 was my last physical one—a craft-worthy spatial artwork encompassing all my goals for that year. In 2024 and 2025, my vision boards lived online. The 2023 board remained because it carried memories and goals already lived. Wanting to preserve it, I saved it digitally.
There’s a previous blog, “Still Loading” (link), if you’d like to explore a deeper mid-year reflection from 2025. This, however, is my year-end 2025 reflection and 2026 propulsion.
Each year—and again at mid-year—I reflect on my boards. It’s the Hold Mode of my Go-Grow-Hold™ methodology. In short, after my mid-year reflection (Hold-2025), I merged my color-coded, hour-by-hour spreadsheet with a traditional vision board.
Combining the two, I planned weekend excursions once a month, but only succeeded twice. I planned to open a new business and make $50,000 per month. I opened the new business; the $50,000 still evades me. I moved my Pulitzer Prize goal to December—that goal evades me too. So I added blank spaces. And those blank spaces led me to many rewarding surprises.
Alas, alas—I set my tech venture to the side. It was killing me. All my Go Mode ran my happiness tank into the red, and my creativity light blinked endlessly—empty. My AgTech company was suffering. In my presentations, I’m sure people were thinking, “Does she even know what she’s doing?”
Of course, they knew I did.
I received several kind emails—many encouraging ones. People shared their own experiences, often with humor. I found a few other entrepreneurs in similar situations, and I listened. I felt. Something innate I’ve always had a gift for is feeling people’s spirit. I’m an old soul like that. That’s the artist in me. I listened.
I realigned. I focused on my new business and connected with an organization called SCORE. If you haven’t used this resource, I highly recommend it. SCORE is a free, nonprofit service offered to budding entrepreneurs, primarily powered by retired, successful business professionals. SCORE identifies volunteers in your region and aligns them with your company’s business plan and outlook.
Thank God, I was paired with two mentors: one arts-based, the other an accountant. SCORE also connects new companies like mine to free courses at local community colleges. Two especially useful ones were the IRS course and learning how to use social media to your advantage. Obviously, I’m a much better accounting student than a social media student.
I’m side-tracking… or maybe not.
With Vision Board 2025 v2.0, I intentionally left empty space. Those breathers rewarded me with unexpected positives. I was blessed with a myriad of opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise. God’s blessings—magnificent ones.
Out of the blue, I met Kim Walsh Phillips and Justin Guarini of Elite Speakers. A text appeared on my phone. Of course, I deleted it—then looked them up, double-checked other sources, realized it was valid, signed up, and went for it. I attended two of their sessions, and I must say: their cohorts are the most knowledgeable, clear, concise, accurate, and precise I’ve ever attended. Email me or DM for details.
I walked away with a clear mission statement and an MVP package complete with pricing. Those two experiences essentially set me up for my current workshop plan and publishing division.
Reflecting back, Vision Board 2025 v2.0 didn’t just save me—it propelled me into 2026.
Long story short: there is research supporting vision boards and planning as effective methods for achieving goals. What I stumbled upon—without realizing it at first—was a blend of my spreadsheet vision board and my traditional one, forming Vision Board 2025 v2.0. It’s called MCII: Mental Contrasting + Implementation Intentions.
Vision boards alone are wonderful, and they’ve served me well because I’m a visual person. But adding the “padding” of a weekly, project-based spreadsheet check-in—to ensure I’m implementing intentions in a timely manner—added the final puzzle piece.
Who knows? I might have reached my vacation goal, my income goal, or even my Pulitzer Prize goal in 2025 if I had that last puzzle piece at the beginning of the year—ha! Whatever it is, my new vision board layout resembles a hot-air balloon… or a bouquet of flowers.
2026 is the best time to redefine your goals, set your intentions, and define yourself.
I read somewhere, the best rebranding is no branding—be you. And that is my wish for you. Rebrand yourself this new year. Be you. It may be eight days into January, but it takes a bit of time to feel it.
Businesses run on the fly—especially for us solo entrepreneurs. Those are other blogs. But this is 2026 Vision Board v1. Life also lives in the empty spaces.
Go make yours—and keep your happiness tank full.
I’ll check back in on you.