This document provides guidance on creating a compelling future by going through a process of discovery, envisioning, design, and taking steps towards realizing a goal. It prompts the reader to identify something positive they want to achieve in 3-6 months, then guides them to discover their internal strengths and values, envision what achieving that goal may look like, design a vision and plan, and identify initial steps to start moving in that direction. Winston Churchill quotes are included on persistence and treating others as equals. The document emphasizes setting goals, gratitude, shaping one's thoughts and language, and taking action to shape one's own reality and future.

1. Warning – This is a
working session!
Actual work and
thinking will be
necessary!

2. Creating a Compelling Future

4. Before we start
• Think of something compelling you would like
to achieve (x 2)
– It must make a positive change in your life
– 3-6 months into the future
– Must be in your control
– Make it big enough……

5. Leonardo Da Vinci accomplished amazing things.
Of course, back then, there were 24 hours in a
day.
- Anonymous

6. What would happen?
• What would happen if this financial crisis
become a reality?

7. Success
• What does it mean to be successful?
– What are you really meant to do?
– Are you currently doing it?

8. “There are hundreds of paths up the
mountain, all leading to the same place, so it
doesn’t matter which path you take. The only
person wasting time is the one who runs around
the mountain, telling everyone that his or her
path is wrong.”
- Hindu proverb

9. Shaping our reality
• Whatever you do, do not think of a blue
elephant........

10. Shaping our reality
• Values and beliefs
• Thoughts
• Language

11. Thoughts
• Chain of despair
– Fear -> Distorted thoughts -> Depression ->
Negative Talk -> Negative state
F.E.A.R
False Evidence Appearing Real

12. The words we use

13. The words we use
Stress
Pressure

14. The words we use
Peace

15. The words we use
Tranquillity

16. The words we use
• Negative words = negative chemicals
• Words affect
– Our life
– Our health
– Our reality

17. What motivates us?
• Pain?
• Pleasure?
• Avoidance or Acceleration
– Away
– Towards

18. Setting goals/themes
• Gives direction
• Improves the quality of the present moment
reality
• A window to opportunity

19. Gratitude and Appreciation
• The practice of gratitude and appreciation:
– Getting in touch with your heart
– What is good in your life
– What is good about you

20. Getting from here to there!

21. Discovering
What gives life
(The best of what is)
Appreciating
Design
What should be the
ideal
Co-Constructing
Destiny
How to empower
and learn, adjust
and improvise
Sustaining
Dream
What might be
(What is the world
calling for)
Envisioning Results
Topic
________________________

22. Topic
• What area in your life do you want to create a
new future for
Make a positive statement in terms of what
you really want to achieve

23. Discovering
• The best of what has been and what is:
– Internal resources
• What are the things you value most about yourself?
• What are the things that give you meaning?
• What valuable resources do you have?
• What is exiting about you?
• When do you feel most alive, most engaged and most
interested?

24. Discovering
• The best of what has been and what is:
– Remember a wonderful experience in your life –
something that stands out as a high point
• How did you feel?
• What are the good things you remember?
• How did you get there?
• If others saw you at this moment what would be their
observation about your three most valuable qualities?

25. Discovering
• The best of what has been and what is:
– Pick a time in the future
• What is it that you would dearly like to become?
• What are the three wishes you have to change?
• What are the best characteristics you have now, would
you would still like to have?

26. Dream
• What might be?
– Imagine you could close your eyes, open them and see in
front of you, the you in five years time, just like you
hoped, dreamed and wished you would be:
• What is happening?
• How is your world different?
• How do you look?
• How do you think you feel?
• How are you contributing to this new world?
• What is it that you are doing that is making this difference?
• What is most exciting of what you are doing?
• What are the good things people are saying about you?

27. Design
• How can it be?
– What is it that you must do to become ...?
– Who can help you become ...?
• Define your Vision
– Positive and affirmative
– Is it what you want?
– Is it provocative?

28. Destiny
• What will be?
– What are the changes you have to make
– What skills do you have to acquire now
– What are the smallest thing you can do, right
now, to start moving to this new future?

29. The time travel experiment
• A metaphor….
29

30. Persistence
“Never give in, never give in, never; never;
never; never - in nothing, great or small, large
or petty - never give in except to convictions
of honour and good sense”
- Winston Churchill
I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats
look down on us.
Pigs treat us as equals.
- Winston Churchill

31. In summary…

32. Almost at the end ....
• What would happen if this financial crisis
become a reality?
• The sun will shine tomorrow and the bridges
will carry the traffic...

34. Thank you!
f@takeaction.co.za