In businesses that run on EOS, the Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO) helps the leadership team get on the same page about where the company is going and how it’s going to get there. That kind of clarity is a game-changer. It drives alignment, focus, and results.
But why should that level of clarity only exist in our businesses?
In The EOS Life, Gino Wickman introduces a Personal V/TO, a tool that brings the same focus and intentionality to your life. This article walks through the first six tools from the Vision portion of that framework:
- Core Values
- Core Focus
- Core Target
- Lifetime Wishlist
- Core Habits
- 3-Year Picture
These tools help you define who you are, what you want, and where you’re going. For more information on how to create traction toward your personal vision, check out my previous article: What if you ran your life like a great business?
You can work through this on your own, with a friend, or with an AI assistant to guide you step by step. Before you begin, though, a few ground rules.
Ground Rules Before You Begin
Use 20/80 Thinking Don’t try to write the perfect life plan. Clarity comes from movement, not perfection. Think of this as one of many times you’ll revisit and refine your vision. The goal right now is progress.
Include Your Whole Life A great life includes more than work. Consider your family, faith, finances, health, fun, and relationships.
Discover, Don’t Invent You don’t have to make anything up. The answers are already inside you. Your job is simply to uncover them.
The Six Tools of a Personal Vision
1. Core Values
These are the 3–5 values that define you at your best. They act as your personal compass, guiding how you live, lead, and make decisions. They also influence the kinds of people you surround yourself with.
Ask yourself:
- When have I felt most proud of who I was being?
- What qualities do I admire most in others?
- What strengths have others consistently recognized in me?
- What have I learned about myself from tools like StrengthsFinder, Kolbe A, PRINT, or DISC?
- If I run my business on EOS, what has my team shared are my most admirable traits during our annual sessions?
Try to narrow your list down to 3–7 values and move forward. You can refine them over time.
2. Core Focus
Your Core Focus has two essential parts.
A. Purpose / Cause / Passion
This is your personal “why.” It’s what lights you up, gives you energy, and drives you.
Ask yourself:
- What activities give me energy, even when they’re challenging?
- When do I feel most fulfilled or like I’m doing meaningful work?
- What change or impact do I feel called to make in the world?
- At the end of a weekend or vacation, what am I excited to return to in my regular life?
B. Niche (Superior Skills)
This is your unique ability, the things you do best and enjoy doing.
Ask yourself:
- What kinds of problems do I love solving?
- What do people naturally come to me for?
- When do I feel completely in the zone, doing something that feels both effortless and excellent?
- What do other people consistently say I do well?
The overlap between your Purpose / Cause / Passion and your Niche is your Core Focus. Over time, the goal is to say yes to more things that fit within your Core Focus and no to more things that don’t. This leads to greater happiness, fulfillment, excellence, and joy.
3. Core Target
This is your long-term personal goal, your 10-year-plus destination. It should be big, exciting, and believable.
Ask yourself:
- What does success look like for me 10+ years from now?
- What kind of life would make me feel proud, fulfilled, and free?
- If I could only accomplish one big thing with my life, what would it be?
Aim for the 1–3 most important things that must be true 10+ years in the future. Once this is clear, it becomes a north star you can follow as you pursue your own definition of life success.
4. Lifetime Wishlist
This is your personal bucket list. The fun stuff. The adventurous stuff. The “someday” list that deserves to be written down.
Ask yourself:
- What experiences have I always dreamed of?
- What places do I want to visit?
- What do I want to build, create, learn, or do before I die?
We all have these ideas floating around. Once you put them on paper and review them regularly, you are far more likely to make them happen.
5. Core Habits
These are the daily or weekly rhythms that help you live aligned, energized, and at your best.
Ask yourself:
- What daily and weekly routines help me feel grounded and clear?
- When life is going well, what habits are usually in place?
- What’s one small habit that always makes me feel like I’m winning?
- When things aren’t going well, what habits help get me back on track?
Don’t limit your list to only the habits you’re currently doing. You’ll have time to install them over time. The key right now is simply to identify them and get them on paper.
6. 3-Year Picture
This is a detailed snapshot of your life three years from today. Be specific. Move beyond vague goals and paint a clear picture.
Ask yourself:
- Where am I living? What does my space feel like?
- What does a typical day look like?
- What am I doing for work? For fun? For my health?
- What relationships have I deepened or restored?
- What have I accomplished, and how do I feel about it?
- What is my financial situation?
- How do I feel physically and emotionally?
- What does my relationship with God look like?
It’s called a 3-Year Picture because you’re trying to describe what your life looks and feels like just three short years from now. Aim for 5–15 bullet points, along with any metrics or measurements that matter to you.
OK, What’s Next?
The real power of a Personal Vision comes when you keep it alive.
Once a year, decide on your 3–7 most important goals for the year. Once a quarter, decide on the 3–7 priorities you want to tackle in the next 90 days and write them down. In EOS, we call these Rocks.
Those Rocks might involve changes to your work, relationships, health, or hobbies to bring you more in line with your Core Values, Core Focus, or Core Target. Maybe it’s time to tackle a Lifetime Wishlist item. Maybe it’s time to reinstall a Core Habit that’s slipped. This article includes helpful resources for taking yourself through a personal quarterly strategy session.
Set aside 10–15 minutes each week to review your vision and your Rocks. Reread what you’ve written. Remind yourself where you’re going and why it matters. Notice when things drift off track and decide how to course-correct.
And if you ever feel stuck, don’t go it alone. Ask a friend, a mentor, or even an AI assistant to help you reflect, reset, and move forward.
Want a Guided Experience?
If you’d like AI to walk you through the full process of creating your personal vision, use the prompt below.
📌 Comprehensive AI Prompt: Personal Vision
You are a thoughtful coach trained in EOS, personal development, and helping people live their EOS Life.
Please guide me through building my Personal Vision using the six Vision tools from The EOS Life:
- Core Values
- Core Focus (Purpose/Cause/Passion and Niche)
- Core Target
- Lifetime Wishlist
- Core Habits
- 3-Year Picture
Ask me one question at a time and wait for my response. Help me reflect and discover my own answers. Don’t give suggestions unless I ask. After each section, summarize what I’ve shared. At the end, synthesize all my responses into a written draft of my Personal Vision. If I get stuck, encourage me or ask a simpler question.
Let’s begin.
Want a Human Guide?
If you’d rather work through this with someone who’s walked the path and helped others do the same, I’d love to help. Just reach out and let’s connect.
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