In this post, I want to share one of the most important things you can leave your heirs. Can you see how your life would have been different if someone had set you down early and provided you with a family vision?
Even if you sat down with your children today and explained what to do after you’re gone, how long would it be before they forget it (your guess is better than mine)? A verbal vision is not enough. It takes a written plan so everyone can see and follow.
There's an ancient writing that says, "Write the vision and make it plain." Today, we called this resource a playbook, roadmap, blueprint, and more. The bottom line, every family needs a written document to live by today and pass on to the next generation.
I recall my golfing instructor asking puzzling questions one day. He asked, "What is America's most expensive real estate?" I said, "Beverly Hills, Martha's Vineyard, and I rambled a few more locations." He replied, "No, that's not it!" I was still determining where he was going, so I asked him to explain.
He said, "The graveyard is America's most expensive real estate." I asked, "Why the graveyard?" He replied, "The graveyard is full of unfilled dreams, visions, songs, and inventions, to name a few. After several minutes, I realized he was instructing me to get busy living and stop talking about my vision."
It was several years before I started writing our family playbook (I needed a sample to follow). It took me nine months of research, writing, and proofing to complete it.
I'm confident you have heard the phrase, "Leave nothing on the field." This simple phrase is a reminder to finish whatever we start without excuses.
That said, it's time you get busy writing your vision and drawing the blueprint for your family. One last thought, if you are not sure where to start, click here to learn about the legacy academy.
Let me ask a question, what's your vision, and where do you see your family in three generations? When I ask this question to those that attend our seminars/webinars, I never fail to hear someone say, "I'd never thought about writing a family vision statement." My response is always, "Do you truly want to learn?"
It was Arthur Ashe, who won three Grand Slam singles titles, that said, "Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome." This statement applies to any aspect of life. Whether business, relationship, or health, we must put skin in the game (get busy).
Writing your vision statement and family playbook is worth the time. When completed, your vision will come alive. You only have to choose to be different, work hard, and finish what you start.
Where do you start? You could begin by taking out a sheet of paper and writing down a flow of thoughts. You don't have to place them in any specific order; write. To stimulate thinking, create random open-ended questions such as, "Where would I like my family to be when I leave?"
"What values and principles would I like to share with future generations?" "What training or education such as financial education, health, and relationship should I pass on?" I used this method, and it helped create my list. Using open-ended questions is a great strategy to help stimulate thought.
In closing, your vision is essential to the success of the family. Without it, everyone is during their own thing. But when a family has a target, everyone gets on the same page, and the chances of success increase.
Are you ready to take it to the next level and work on your vision and plan? Click here to learn how.
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