Paradigm U. Podcast
Paradigm U. Podcast
Episode 154: Casting Vision and Building Strategic Plans: A Guide for Entrepreneurs
Have you ever wondered how successful entrepreneurs cast their vision and build strategic plans to achieve them? Well, in our wrap-up episode of the entrepreneurial series, we've got the brilliant Lisa Sarnowski shedding light on this very topic. Together, we explore the significance of shifting from a constant 'doing' mode to a 'planning' mode. Lisa gives us a sneak peek into how she and her husband set time aside for an annual planning retreat. It's about gaining clarity, setting goals, and creating a roadmap for the year ahead.
In the latter part of our conversation, we dive deeper into the entrepreneurial journey. We discuss the power of dreaming big, tapping into your intuition, and staying true to your vision. But that's not all - Lisa emphasizes the importance of self-love and protecting your energy. These are key ingredients in accelerating your vision. As we close off, we express our appreciation to you, our listeners, and remind you to stay authentic and celebrate your successes along the way. So, get ready for an episode packed with inspiration and powerful tools to navigate your entrepreneurial path and transform your business!
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Welcome to the Paradigm you podcast.
Speaker 2:You're listening to the Paradigm you podcast. On today's episode, we are going to wrap up the entrepreneurial series and talk about the most important piece casting vision for what you want. Because when you have clarity of vision, the path and everything else becomes clear. Listen in.
Speaker 3:You're listening to the Paradigm you podcast. We're about to start transforming your life by growing your mind and expanding your paradigms. Here we'll cover real life topics, just like the stuff you'd share with a good friend. This podcast will serve up topics that weigh on our hearts and keep us up at night, whether it's navigating parenthood and becoming an adult, or wayfinding, personal development, marriage and money. You, my friend, are in the right place. I'm glad you're here.
Speaker 2:Welcome back to the Paradigm you podcast. This is the third and final episode in the entrepreneurial series. My name is April Marluski-Hidzinski and we have the incredibly brilliant Lisa Sarnowski with us today. How's it going, lisa?
Speaker 4:Hey, I'm doing great April, Great to be here with you.
Speaker 2:Woohoo, you ready to talk about today's topic. I love, love this topic.
Speaker 4:It is so powerful. So yeah, I'm ready to dive in.
Speaker 2:It is. So this topic is for all entrepreneurs and everyone else. We are specifically talking about it from the lens of entrepreneurialism. However, we truly believe that the topic of vision and casting your vision can be for anyone. So on today's episode, we are going to talk a little bit about our experience with casting vision of where our businesses are going and how you can use those tools to get there as well. I love it. Let's go. You want me to go first? Yeah, absolutely, are you kidding me? Well, all right, I will start and Lisa, hop in at any point.
Speaker 2:You know we decided that we wanted to do this entrepreneurial series because we felt like we were hearing from entrepreneurs that they were struggling to know what they were doing and where they were going often, and when we gave that some thought, we really thought, hey, let's do a really small mini-series about some of the things that need to happen to be a strong entrepreneur. So over the last two weeks we've talked about other topics, last week being the topic of clarity. When you understand the metrics and what's been working, what isn't working and how you've been showing up and who you've been, then you can start to cast that vision for where you're going armed with that information. So today we're going to talk about how and what you can be doing to cast that vision and to be truly intentional with where you're going with your business, with your life and with, probably, quite frankly, your energy as well, wouldn't you think, lisa? Absolutely yeah.
Speaker 4:This is a great energy management tool if you're a business owner. Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 2:I like that so well here. Let me tell you a little story here. I have been on a mission to grow my businesses over the last few years and when I got really honest with myself and quiet, I started asking myself what was my intention with this big dream that I had put in front of myself. And when I started to ask some of those questions of clarity, like we asked you last week, it became very oh, I became very aware and it became quote unquote clear to me that I needed to shift some things so that I had enough energy to show up the way I wanted to show up and I was going in the right direction. I wasn't trying to spin a lot of plates and dropping all of them. I was really clear on where I was focusing my energy and my time and I really do think that that's truly accelerated my business. And here's an example when I and Tony, my husband, who is my business partner on all of our businesses except for paired on you with this one, I was just going to say, hey, talk about our partnership is well on this episode.
Speaker 2:We sit down on a regular basis. You've heard me talk about this if you've been listening to this podcast for some time. Every January, we go on a planning retreat. We go and we set our goals for a couple of days. We just get away from the hustle and bustle and we get clear on what we would like to create in the year ahead of us. We also do quarterly check-ins and I think that that's an important piece.
Speaker 2:So what was most profound was getting clear on where we wanted to go with our business and writing all of that down. Here's the secret. My friend, you might be nodding and being like yes, I love this stuff and, as a true planner nerd at heart, if you're like me, you are like yes, let's get all of these things on the calendar. Here's the secret. It's got to be on the calendar. You have to plan out. You're yeah, you have to plan out when you're going to cast vision for yourself, because if you're just saying I'm going to do this but you never actually carve out the time, it's rare that it's going to actually happen.
Speaker 2:So I want to advocate for you to take some time. If you haven't heard us from last week's episode advocating for this, go ahead and pull out your calendar and pick out some time that you can identify. These are the visions that I am moving forward in and this is the time that I'm going to spend dedicating to just that. I'm not going to be on my phone, I'm not going to be on social media, I'm not going to be responding to emails. This is a time where I'm going to show up, I'm going to get quiet, I'm going to get honest with myself and I'm going to do the work to cast vision and then build out the plan for how I'm going to get to that vision.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so often I think, as entrepreneurs, we tend to be in a doing modality and stay so busy that we can continue to put tasks on our list, we can continue to book meetings, we can continue to prospect or do our marketing or whatever it is, and um, and we can get stuck in that trap that this is the way it's going to grow. This is my vision, is it's going to grow and it's going to get busy, but to April's point, you have to do that pause, you have to carve out time and you have to get honest with yourself on what exactly you're building.
Speaker 2:You know, Lisa and I did this when we decided to partner for Paradigm U and the Elevate Group Coaching Program that we've uh, we're actually in the thick of currently and we're really excited to be serving those clients. But, Lisa, do you want to talk about what that looked like? Because we really did. We carved out time for that.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that was such a powerful day. You know, we had a, we had a great space that was very inspirational and we just, you know, had our laptops, had all of our planning. We both are planning nerds Is that a good word to use. So, like I had, I had all my fun colored pens, you had your post-its and calendars and we sat down and one of the first questions I believe we asked is what do you want? What do you want? What do you imagine this becoming?
Speaker 4:Not from a lens of constraints and, oh my goodness, how can we even make that happen? Purely from almost an inner childlike vision of what's possible, what would be super cool to build. If anything could happen and we can literally be guaranteed that nothing would fail what would that look like? What would that look like? And, man, we weren't giddy that day. I feel like the creativity was just flowing. We didn't want to end. Yeah, that was a really powerful day and, honestly, our group program absolutely was born out of that experience. And again, we're a couple of weeks in and the women are doing phenomenally in there. So it's just been so fun to see things start to evolve and come to fruition faster. Had we not done that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, let's highlight that point the faster, because when you are intentional with planning and identifying what it is that you want, the path becomes really clear and you can accelerate your process. So it's just wild.
Speaker 4:It is. It really is Cause it's so easy to say no to things. Then, again, opportunities are constantly coming to us. I feel like as entrepreneurs, and especially when you become phenomenal manifestors especially like April over here, who just manifests so brilliantly and powerfully and yet it's easier to say no, it's easier to focus in and you're able to reap the reward because you're seeing the impact that's being had around you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, lisa, I also want to take us on a journey with regards to how we vision and the idea of envisioning what it is that we actually want, because I think when you are clear on what you want, the path does unfold for you. And when you ask yourself what is the vision for my life, for my business, for my week, how I spend my time, I think that's a powerful piece. But then when you can actually close your eyes and start to imagine because you said I'm a powerful manifestor, I have to go there. Of course, if you can close your eyes and take some time to actually envision, what does that look like, what does that feel like and how are you showing up in that vision I think that that's an equally powerful experience and exercise to apply when you've casted that vision. So, for all of our entrepreneurs listening, here are some tools that we would like to advocate for you to apply as you're starting to carve out your vision.
Speaker 2:You wanna go first, lise? You got it, you start, I put you on the spot. So, yeah, this is, oh gosh, this is my jam. I love talking about this topic because it is so powerful and I've seen the rewards by taking the time to actually apply it. Yeah, so if you're driving, obviously, do this later and re-listen to this, but if you're not, pull out a pen and paper. And I want you to consider these tasks, the first one being identify some time, because we are in quarter four. And if you're an entrepreneur, gosh, I really hope that you have a good grasp of what quarter four means for your business. And I want you to identify some time before the end of quarter four, before the end of this year, where you can cast vision of what, for what, the next year looks for you.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and I would encourage you in that space to get up and move away from your computer or allow that answer to come to you in a different format. This isn't about pushing through. This is about making time and allowing yourself to have the answer that you really want. I think so often what we've found coaching entrepreneurs is that you secretly know exactly what that vision is. It's claiming it that you're challenged with because you have some old story that that vision does not align with a successful life or a happy life or a financially responsible life or whatever it is. So just allow, I love, love, love, the carving out intentional time. But equally, it's okay to walk away from the computer.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and to your point, leigh, I think that it's important to change your environment. When you're actually doing this vision casting, when you're identifying what does the next year look like for my life or for my life, for my business, taking the time is important, but also changing your environment will allow for a different level of creativity, I believe, because you're not being pulled in all of the other directions. If you're at home, if you work from home, for example, you are pulled in the hey, I could just go through a load of laundry in, or I have all of these emails that are pinging my phone or computer, but it truly is changing your environment. And if you're working with a team, I think it's important, before you even show up with a team, that you take some time by yourself to identify what is my vision for my business, because then you show up as a different level of a leader.
Speaker 4:Absolutely, and you want to solicit buy-in from those that you're working with right and yes, they're going to contribute and perhaps expand the vision as well with you, but definitely you want to come in with some solid direction, for sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's so important, the other pieces that I think are truly important. As I mentioned, envisioning and doing that vision work is a really key piece to doing this. But before that, it is what you said, Lisa, to your point dreaming big, identifying what are those really big, exciting goals that are going to get you out of bed every morning. Yes, it's not the drudgery of like ooh, I just want to make sure my inbox is down to zero every day, Right?
Speaker 4:I mean that's exciting.
Speaker 2:That's a great goal, but this is the big time where you're actually envisioning those big, exciting goals yeah.
Speaker 4:And to ensure that your vision is yours. So we have business owners that follow us that definitely have employees that have worked with solo pernures or freelancers or consultants, that just you know what you want. To keep it a one person show, and that's equally okay. But really zooming in there and figuring out what is your vision, beyond how much you make, what is so fulfilling about this vision that really, to April's point, is going to make you jump out of bed.
Speaker 2:Because it has to To last week's episode, when we were talking about rinse and repeat, chop wood, carry water. There's going to be days where you're going to have that constant of the rinse and repeat. That has to happen, but having a bigger vision allows you to move through that, because you understand the importance of why you're showing up even on those days, absolutely.
Speaker 4:The other thing.
Speaker 2:I think is really important Lisa, I'd love for your thoughts on this one is the getting quiet and listening to your intuition. I think oftentimes there are so many things externally that are calling for our attention and our time that it's easy to not listen to our own intuition or our gut feeling. But when we can get quiet and we can move that energy in that environment, we can allow for those actual feelings to come through.
Speaker 4:You know, for the, for the overdoers, the other April's out there, if I may co-host, getting quiet is a really important skill to the visioning work and I'm so glad you brought it up. April and honestly, listeners, april's amazing at doing this and really tapping into her intuition and allowing that to come through in your vision is such a powerful skill and it's a skill that isn't going to be in any sort of MBA program, it's not going to be in the business books and to some degree it gets touted as some sort of weakness. And yet we have seen time and time again with our own businesses, with our client businesses, with our colleagues, that if you are attuned enough to pay attention to your intuition and allow yourself the space and grace to follow it, you know accelerated growth and powerful things are around the corner.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it really is. It's just such a fascinating experience to witness how this all plays out. Yeah, one of the other things I think is important, and to your point, lisa, is it's important to have those big visions and to dream really big. But also, when you're doing that, to look from the lens of how am I showing myself in my business love. So, when you were saying that, you know it's not in the business books, I have yet to see this in any business book but, quite frankly, when you can love up on yourself and your business and your team, holy cow. Okay, lisa's laughing right now. Lisa's laughing because they can't see you.
Speaker 4:So you're talking about love and I'm actually wearing a it's a forever love stamp that we got when we went to Washington DC and we went to the of all places, y'all. We went to the National Postal Museum and I'm here to tell you that is an amazing place and people are very nice and healthy there. So, whatever you think, but my father was a mail carrier, so I got this t shirt and so I'm literally wearing a shirt that says love and, as she's talking about self love, it just made me giggle.
Speaker 2:What are the odds?
Speaker 4:Oh, we know. We know for sure by now that there was nothing lucky about that. We're just so aligned, yeah.
Speaker 2:Right. But you know, quite frankly, it's so important to love up on yourself, on your business, on your team, because you're an entrepreneur for a reason even if you're an accidental entrepreneur, there's a reason that you are doing what you are doing and you are who you are and how you're showing up, and it's probably because you're driven by making some sort of impact on the world, on the people that you are serving on. You know your bottom line, whatever it is, you're making an impact and you're driven by that. And if you aren't loving up on yourself, you're not protecting your own energy, You're not able to show up in the ways that you could truly show up to accelerate that vision. So I want to also, when we're going through all of these different steps, remind you that it's important to love up on yourself and to show yourself love, because also when you're having those big visions, it's easy to embrace those stories of like oh, that's on, that's unrealistic, I can't get there.
Speaker 4:Who am I to make that happen?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that doesn't happen in my family. That's other people that can do that.
Speaker 2:Yeah stories and if we're listening to those, it's going to slow down that acceleration. Yeah, because then we're listening to the outside and that external voice that's telling us that we can't do it Correct. But if we're moving up on ourselves and we're leaning into our passion and the reason we signed up to be an entrepreneur, because it's truly a roller coaster. You hopped on that ride at some point. It is fun. It's fun. I like roller coasters. It is fun. It's exhilarating and terrifying at times. I'm sure. 100%. Yeah, but when you signed up to hop on that ride, you were probably driven by something that felt bigger than you. Yeah, and to show up fully, it's important that you're taking care of yourself and you're loving up on yourself. So, as you're building out that vision, making sure that you're advocating for time to take care of yourself, yeah.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that's such a critical piece. Is there anything more you want to add? Because I have one, but I think it might wrap up the conversation.
Speaker 2:Let me give it some thought here. I, you know, like I said, I just love this topic so much and I want to advocate for people to consider it. You know, I do have one last just piece of advice. This one isn't necessarily a task that you can check off for my overdoers, but this is something to keep in the back of your mind Lisa had mentioned earlier, to make sure that your vision is yours. I also want to advocate that, as you're starting to envision what your next year is looking like, to not look outward. Yes, it's important to know your market. It's important to know your metrics, it's important to know you know where your place is within your industry and where you're going. But it's not helpful to do that comparison and that judgment piece, not when you're trying to dream big and you're trying to channel this incredible energy that's going to allow you to be creative and envisioning what you're doing next year. So I want to advocate Don't be looking at you know who's doing what and start comparing, compare, comparing. Excuse me, it really is.
Speaker 2:Hashtag, new Word. What's that New Word? New Word yeah, it's a New April word. Gosh, an Aprilism. Yes, it really is. As Lisa said over the last few episodes. It's an inside game and I want to advocate for you to lean into that intuition, into where you see the world and your business going, because it truly is all within side you. Lisa, you said one last thing. What do you got I?
Speaker 4:do. But, to add on to what you just said there, business is an inside job, 100% as an entrepreneur, as a business owner. So if, during your visioning, you're recognizing areas of growth for your business, we'd like you to also consider what will that entail for you personally to also be able to grow and elevate? Is it your mindset? Is it you know, parking these old stories? What is it?
Speaker 4:But as you continue to cast that vision for your business, you must also unearth what that means for yourself personally. So, yes, the last task we want to advocate for is to sign up for our newsletter, because this topic, as you can tell, this entrepreneurial series that we've done has been so impactful and we're getting so many great comments and DMs from people that we are going to be doing some entrepreneurial workshops coming up. We do not have the dates or titles yet, so stay tuned, but you're definitely going to want to be a part of them, because there's nothing more powerful than being in a room with other entrepreneurs who can equally validate what you're doing and support you and also have coaches that are willing to stretch you and provide you a framework for what you need moving forward.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that information will come out to our newsletter followers first. So we want to make sure that you've signed up and if you haven't, the link will be in the show notes. Go ahead and hop on there. We do not send a whole lot of spam or anything like that. That is bad karma, my friend. So we send a once a week newsletter, and that is it. Now I'm just mumbling over my words. I just want to keep talking about it.
Speaker 4:I can tell you're having a problem wrapping up.
Speaker 2:I am because it's such a great topic. All right, my friends, you can tell we are excited about this, we're very passionate about it and we want to advocate for you. It's you're wrapping up the end of 2023. You've taken the time to consider who are you and how you're showing up. You've taken some time now, over the last couple episodes and weeks, to reflect on where you've gone this year and how things have panned out for you. And now you're wrapping up quarter four. I don't want to rush the end of this year. We still have some time left to really show up exactly how you want to show up. But when you're showing up the way you want to show up, I invite you to consider how important it can be and how impactful it can be to also start to cast vision for where you're going next year. And on that note, it is closing time.
Speaker 1:Cheers to good karma. Thank you for listening to this entire podcast. I hope this episode has left you feeling curious and inspired. This podcast is intended to create expansion in your life through unique stories and shared experiences, and if you enjoy today's episode, I have a request. I'd like to ask you to share this podcast with your friends and family. I bet they'd enjoy it just as much as you have. And, if you found value, please share this on your social media outlets. That is good karma in action. My friends, all right, it is now closing time. Cheers to good karma and the power to choose joy. If you like this, tell your friends. Stay tuned for the end, because we have outtakes.
Speaker 3:And now for the outtakes. And now for the outtakes.
Speaker 2:Hold on, I'm totally using this as outtake. Go for it.
Speaker 1:Oh that was fun, I got tongue tied. Hey, you've been listening. Test Test One, two, three, four.
Speaker 2:Okay, Now say hey, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 1:Hey, welcome to the podcast. You're really great. Everyone, everyone that's listening to this podcast, even if they don't even hear the rest, even if they only can listen to a part of it because of a screaming baby You're all really awesome.
Speaker 2:Yeah, thanks for listening, bye.
Speaker 1:Bye, over and out. Thanks for listening.