Steven Covey’s second habit of “beginning with the end in mind” is critical to effectiveness and success. As he explains…

“It’s incredibly easy to get caught up in an activity trap, in the rush of life, working harder and harder to climb the ladder of success only to find you’re leaning against the wrong wall. It’s possible to be busy – very busy – without be very effective.”

The challenge has been further complicated by the fact that most of us in the United States have lived most of our lives in times of bountiful economic expansion. So we could ride the general wave of the economy without a clear vision and still have a decent amount of success.

Now that we are at the end of a two-year recession, our inept ability to develop and pursue a clear and compelling vision is a major problem. Steven Covey’s proposed funeral visualization tends to compound the grumpiness many already feel about the new reality. My experience over the past few years is that it leads people to avoid major exercise.

Therefore, I have proposed a modified exercise to develop a compelling vision that has worked well for many people. Instead of imagining your funeral, imagine an awards ceremony honoring your lifelong contribution to your passion. Imagine being honored during your lifetime (with loved ones around you) for your contributions to his passion. It happened to Lee Corso the other night at the 2010 ESPN College Football Awards.

Lee Corso has contributed a lot to college football over the years. College Gameday has benefited from his commitment to college football. In recent years he had to overcome a stroke to continue his work and his colleagues supported him. They helped him overcome memory and speech problems that he has had. We College Gameday fans were the beneficiaries of that team effort!

Congratulations Lee! He has given so much to college football and now he has set a great example for us to develop our “end in mind.”

Take 13 minutes to watch Lee Corso accept his award (2010 ESPN College Football Awards Show). Pay attention to Lee, his colleagues and his family. Imagine yourself and your loved ones in your place at an award ceremony to honor them around their passion. This will lead you to your compelling vision!

© Copyright 2010 Jon L. Iveson, Ph.D.