To get where you want to go, what’s the first step? Figure out WHERE you want to go. Not generally or vaguely, but specifically. Clip pictures form magazines and put them in a binder that you review every day. And several times through the day, visualize your goals as reality.

Is it a bigger house? A nicer car? A wife or husband? Having an impact on others’ lives? Whatever it is, be clear about what you want before anything else.

A famous study of goals says that after 20 years, those 3% who had written goals had exceeded the earnings of the other 97% combined. Having your goals out in front of you is important.

But it’s not enough.

To achieve the goals, you have to have them in front of you constantly – at least daily. Review them before you go to bed and first thing when you get up. Go to sleep with the images of your goal and your subconscious will work on your attainment while you sleep. Starting the day looking at your goals will help you stay more focused during the day and will remind you of what you’re working for – and keep you on track.

One interesting revelation that hit me this week was that of WHY visualization is important. NLP (Neuro-linguistic programming) teaches that the way you hold things in your mind will determine the way that you act in the world. So if you have vivid pictures of your successes and your goals, and fuzzy pictures of setbacks and things you want to avoid, you will move toward your goals far faster and with more determination.

The mental images you project on your brain’s movie screen will determine where you go and how fast you’ll get there. Learn to hold images of your goals in your mind, make them clear, vivid, close, and moving, or put together a scrapbook and call it a Dream Journal or Someday Book. Then put a date on your dream and go get it.

I have run into many people who aren’t afraid to try things, and others who are. If you want to be more interesting and have better stories to tell your friends and loved ones (or to drop into a conversation to raise some eyebrows), get off your couch and try something new.

My idea notebook is over 100 pages. There are too many to pursue, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking. I find that as I think of new ideas, it sparks ways of improving the businesses I work with already, as well as my ability to help others with their businesses.

I like to have a big impact wherever I go. Not for the acclaim, but to use my creativity in interconnected ways. For example: When working at McKim & Creed, I was in charge of technology. But technology now touches all aspects of a business – so I got involved in service development, marketing, sales, delivery, and support. I also streamlined management and the back-end processes that lead to outstanding client care. I often lead cross-functional teams to improve company-wide processes. That may be one reason that the Board of Directors asked me to start Blue Sahara and build upon some technology and know-how developed at McKim & Creed.

I have worked in numerous positions, but the latest ones have been the most exciting and fulfilling. I worked for McKim & Creed, a top engineering consultancy, started Blue Sahara Technologies to develop industry-changing water utility design and management software, led marketing for GolfSoftware.com, and now consult and train business owners for startup and mid-size businesses both locally and internationally. All of these positions have challenged me in new ways and have helped me learn and grow in different areas.

As a strategic advisor and consultant to small and mid-size businesses, I help entrepreneurs and technologists in build thriving companies. I start by establishing a firm foundation with vision and goals, then create the proper infrastructure for the company, build out the teams and strategic planning, writing business, marketing, and operations plans, connect entrepreneurs with a support network, and help them market and sell their products. Since I have been involved in all of these areas for my own companies, I bring experience from both successful and unsuccessful projects.

Business is about profit, but when you look deeper, it’s about connection. Connecting your capacity to invent and produce and deliver to someone else’s need. When you get that right, magic happens.

Go make some magic!

Jesus was the epitome of a servant leader and is my my highest role model. He worked for the good of those around him, and developed his followers into world changers. They had clear direction, and knew that their boss was a man of honor, strength, character, and yes – fun.

Ultimately, leadership is about organizing and motivating people to achieve a mission. Clarity of vision, clear communication, a passion for developing people, and an ardent desire to create an organization of excellence are critical. Seth Godin wrote a great book called Tribes. In it, he talks about the need for leadership that encourages tribal development. Selfless leadership.

Tribes are more than groups, according to Seth. They have leadership. For an example of a tribe friends and I are creating, check out Tribe of Wow!.

When I was at McKim & Creed, I couldn’t stand the gray walls we had, so I painted them using a light yellow and orange colorwash (it was tasteful and not intense) and people around the office started stopping by to just sit and feel good. Then other offices started getting some color as their occupants saw the difference a color could make to their work environment.

I’ve seen some really neat office spaces, and some rather drab ones. I love color and twists and creative approaches to connecting people within a space. Ultimately, the design of a work space can determine how successfully people can interact and move the company forward. If the space is uninspiring, the people will be uninspired as well. I now have a whiteboard wall in my home office, which I fill with all sorts of big ideas.Just having it there beckoning me makes me fill up the white space – encouraging creativity.

Product design is often done by the technical wonks or a committee of people who don’t understand design. Look at Google and Apple. Both have found ways to keep simplicity at the heart of their products. Lots of power behind the screen, but both epitomize the term “simple elegance.” Of course, they both rake in lots of dough to boot…

One of the great icons (staples) of my way of thinking is the Staples EASY button. It embodies the concepts of simplicity for customers. When you make it easy for customers, you make it profitable for your company. I often bring my Easy button with me to meetings to keep people focused on what matters. It’s also a great marketing tool when talking about our solutions.

The design of a business is also a representation of creative thought. Has the business been designed with an eye to client care, coordinated systems and processes, effective production, employee retention and development, and consistent quality output? A business is the ultimate design project because it requires knowledge and skills in many areas to create a cohesive design product. And then the design has to change to meet new needs without dissolving into a disjointed mess. The collaborative, messy nature of business is what makes it such a fun expression of creativity. It’s never perfect, but can be optimized. Business is a living organism with heart, soul, and personality. You get to choose what those will be and then convince others to help you build it. How cool.

If you look hard enough, you may also see some of my art, photography, pottery, logos, and websites floating around the world. I’ve done a lot of work for various companies in developing corporate identities, helping them with graphic design, websites, and even multimedia kiosks. This is fun stuff. When I reinvent myself again, it will definitely be in the creative design area – designing spaces, products, ideas.

Have fun with your ideas!

I have spoken internationally on technology topics such as IT/business alignment and running an IT department. Although I enjoy using technology, and it helped me to get where I am as part of my career objectives, I have moved beyond technology as a primary focus to using technology strategically as an enabler for business and personal growth. Few companies can survive today without significant technology interactions such as email, contact management, and word processing.

Many companies consider IT as the red-headed stepchild of the business world. But more and more, traditional companies are realizing that it can help them achieve new levels of customer interaction, business control, and profitable growth. IT/Business alignment is one of my hot buttons.

If you want to benefit from what technology can do for your business, then make sure a technologist is at your strategy meetings. They will have a different viewpoint and need to understand where the company is going in order to properly invest in technology to support your direction.

When we decided to get married (only a month after we started dating), we agreed never to use the “D” word – divorce. We agreed to always work toward an excellent relationship and be willing to listen, learn, grow, and serve. We’ve not been perfect – especially me – but that pact has helped us move through small and large disagreements and realize that few things are as important as a deepening relationship.

Communication is the other key – always make time for it. Julie and I take walks whenever we can. My parents told me that walks were the secret to their 50 year marriage. I now understand – they give you time to catch up on things without kids around, and while doing something positive together. Being outside is a great help as well.

If you want a relationship that is not just good – but great – keep the long-term goal in mind constantly. Be willing to look out for your partner and encourage them to grow, spend time with those they care about, and do things together. As you work to meet his/her needs first, your needs will be met as well.