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Achieve Big Goals Now—Try This Vision Board Method!

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Achieve Big Goals Now—Try This Vision Board Method! – I walked into the busy hustle of travelers in the international departure terminal at Los Angeles Airport. The clatter of rolling suitcases and the announcements of departing flights met my ears. And there it is—the yellow neon glow of BOOK SOUP, casting a warm light that instantly catches my eyes.

My first book is now written and in production. I am so excited and, of course, drawn to the store. I stand under the sign, looking up. “One day, my book will be on these shelves.” The words “one day” repeat over and over in my head. It had become my mantra whenever I came through this terminal on my way to a distant land. It all started while I was writing, with a publisher already onboard and the dream taking shape.

For years, Book Soup: Bookseller to the Great and Infamous has been my favorite independent bookstore. If those aisles and shelves could speak, you would hear the voices of Norman Mailer, Hunter S. Thompson, and Annie Leibovitz. If only I could join that list. “Hmmm…fat chance,” I would think. Yet, I continued to hold that vision. Not only did I hold the vision, I photographed it and published it on social media. I could dream, right? After all, Walt Disney did say, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” Look what he created. And so, I kept dreaming about being on the shelves at Book Soup.

That social media post became more than just a photo—it was a vision board in disguise. I used it to manifest my dream of seeing my book on those shelves by setting a bold intention and declaring it publicly. Vision boards are more than pictures; they help align your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Visualizing your goals activates the emotions tied to achieving them—excitement, determination, and gratitude—which fuel your actions and keep you moving forward. They give clarity and a tangible focus, turning dreams into something achievable.

Creating visual micro-steps you see daily strengthens your commitment and links emotions to your intentions—excitement, conviction, determination, and even gratitude. These emotions motivate and help you push through challenges with resilience and optimism.

Here is how you can build your own vision board, just as I did:

  • Start with a bold intention to give yourself a focused direction.
  • Break your dream into small, achievable goals. I started with six: writing a proposal, finding an agent, getting a publisher, completing the manuscript, producing it, and promoting it.
  • Place your board somewhere visible to keep from getting distracted. Mine was on my phone.
  • Choose images and affirmations that resonate with your aspirations. My affirmation was, “One day.”
  • Be flexible and adaptable as things evolve, which could take a while. Make a plan, then be open to new or better opportunities that arise. And, oh boy, has this been true for me.
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Once you have your vision board ready, the next step is to act. This is where I took my own leap of faith.

Cut to: My book, “Take a Shot at Happiness: How to Write, Direct & Produce the Life You Want,” is now out in the world. I continued to hold onto the dream of seeing my book at Book Soup. Finally, in the Fall after publication, I found the nerve to send them a query letter about doing a store event at their original location on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. When their reply email dropped into my inbox, I kept rereading it. “This book looks like a great fit for us.” I was so beside myself with excitement that I contacted practically everyone I knew to save the date.

All this to say that creating a visual representation of your intentions connects you to your purpose—whatever that means to you. Your vision board gives your aspirations the clarity they need to turn them into something real. Organizing your dreams with images, affirmations, and symbols keeps you on the course you set for yourself, ready to overcome challenges and realize the life you envision.

And here is the big takeaway I want to leave you with: This moment at Book Soup almost did not happen because I lacked the nerve to contact them and kept putting it off. So, as you dream big, do not be afraid to act on it. Make that phone call. Send that email. Instead of thinking, “What if it does not happen,” think, “What if it does?” You could very well end up doing your version of a book event at one of the most iconic bookstores in Los Angeles.

What dream ignites your imagination like a neon sign? Start visualizing it today—and let your vision board be the compass that guides you toward making it real.

Part of this article is an excerpt from my next book, “Take a Shot at Abundance.”

My debut book, “Take a Shot at Happiness: How to Write, Direct & Produce the Life You Want,” was voted “Best Personal Development Book of the Year 2024” and received the 2025 Leader of the Year award from this magazine. It has won eleven prestigious awards, including the Silver Nautilus Book Award and several category-winning honors from the NYC Big Book and National Indie Excellence Awards. It was also featured in New York’s Times Square.

You can find more intentional practices in my book or by downloading my Take a Shot at Happiness app.

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