Personal Empowerment: Clarify Your Purpose, Vision & Goals

 Purpose, Vision, and Goals for 2025

As the new year unfolds, it’s natural to pause and reflect on where we’ve been and where we want to go. The start of a year feels like a blank canvas, full of potential for growth and transformation. But here’s a reality check: conversations about purpose, vision, and goals shouldn’t be reserved for January. These foundational aspects of our lives deserve regular revisiting, whether it’s March, June, or September. As we dive into this discussion, let’s not just skim the surface but dig deeper into what drives us.

One of my favorite insights on change comes from James Allen in his timeless book, As a Man Thinketh: “People are anxious to improve their circumstances but unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound.” Everyone desires change, but many resist the personal transformation required to achieve it. Let’s break that cycle. By exploring your purpose, clarifying your vision, and setting intentional goals, you can unlock a life of greater fulfillment and impact.

Four Transformational Questions

Purpose often begins with introspection. Consider these three powerful questions from one of my mentors, Mike Kim:

1. What frustrates you? Or, as my mentor puts it, what pisses you off? Reflecting on what truly irks you can reveal areas where you’re called to make a difference. For me, it’s poor leadership and subpar customer service. Leaders who fail to recognize and cultivate talent or fear others’ success frustrate me deeply. Similarly, poor customer service signifies a lack of care and connection, which is essential for building trust.

2. What breaks your heart? This question gets to the emotional core of your purpose. For me, it’s seeing people unaware of their own potential—their unique talents and abilities. Many struggle to see their own gifts because, as I like to say, “you can’t see the picture when you’re in the frame.”

3. What problem are you trying to solve? For me, the problems align with my frustrations and heartbreaks: cultivating high-performance leadership, empowering individuals, and fostering ethical influence.

   Bonus Question:

4. What would you do if you knew you would fail, but it could lead to success? The common adage asks, “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?” But failure is often a stepping stone to growth. Reflect on where you’d invest your energy if failure wasn’t a deterrent but a teacher.

These questions aren’t designed for quick answers. Take your time to sit with them, journal your thoughts, and revisit them often.

Understanding Your Purpose

Purpose is the filter through which most of life’s decisions are made. For years, I wrestled with finding mine. Growing up, I didn’t have a clear answer to the classic “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Instead, I’d vaguely respond, “I want to help people.” What I didn’t realize then is that purpose isn’t always tied to a job title. Instead, it’s a guiding principle that shapes how we live, work, and relate to others.

I’ve developed a framework I call RICH, which outlines the four primary dimensions of purpose:

• Relationships: Who are the quality people in your life, and how do you nurture those connections? How does your purpose influence your relationships with family, friends, and colleagues?

• Income, Impact, and Influence: What’s your purpose regarding your financial goals, the impact you want to have, and the influence you wish to wield?

• Career or Calling: Your career can align with your purpose, but it’s not the whole story. Your calling—that deeper “why”—transcends roles and job titles.

• Health: This encompasses spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Your purpose should guide how you care for your whole self.

Your purpose might evolve over time or vary across life’s seasons. For instance, during my corporate career, my purpose was tied to leadership development and customer service excellence. Today, it’s about empowering others through coaching and consulting. Recognizing the seasonal nature of purpose allows you to adapt and stay aligned with your core values.

The Vision to See It Through

If purpose is the filter, vision is the destination. Your vision statement is a detailed description of living in alignment with your purpose. But unlike purpose, which is broad, vision is specific and vivid. It’s written in the present tense as if you’re already living it.

For example, if your purpose includes cultivating strong relationships, your vision might describe meaningful conversations with loved ones, regular gatherings with friends, and a sense of deep connection in your community.

In my coaching programs, we use an exercise called “Any Given Tuesday.” The idea is to envision an ordinary day in the life you aspire to. This exercise helps clients move beyond vague aspirations and create a clear, motivating picture of their future.

Setting Aligned Goals

Goals are the stepping stones between where you are and where your vision leads. Effective goals are:

1. Specific and measurable: Instead of saying, “I want to improve my health,” set a goal to exercise three times a week or drink eight glasses of water daily.

2. Aligned with your purpose and vision: Ensure your goals reflect what truly matters to you.

3. Time-bound: Deadlines create accountability and momentum.

4. Adaptable: Life happens, and goals may need adjusting. That’s okay as long as they stay aligned with your purpose.

Reflection Questions

1. What areas of your life feel most aligned with your purpose? Which areas feel misaligned?

2. If you could design your perfect day, what would it look like? How does it reflect your purpose and vision?

3. What’s one small change you can make today to move closer to your goals?

Key Quotes to Inspire You

• “People are anxious to improve their circumstances but unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound.” – James Allen

• “You can’t see the picture when you’re in the frame.”

• “Purpose is the filter through which most of life’s decisions are made.”

• “Success is really just a number of failures over time.”

As you step into 2025, take time to clarify your purpose, craft a compelling vision, and set actionable goals. If you’re ready to dive deeper, consider joining one of my group coaching programs, apply for business leadership coaching or scheduling a discovery call for business growth consulting. Together, we can turn your aspirations into achievements and ensure you’re living a truly RICH and rewarding life.

Are you ready to transform your year? Let’s start the journey together.