Are you ready to put you first? It’s a question Francezia Campbell and Wayne Swan are asking people to consider in advance of an event next month.

With Shervonne Hollis of Unique Global Events & Services, the couple is to hold a vision board party for anyone who wants guidance in “enhancing [their] career, setting intentions for the future, or simply finding more joy in life”.

It’s a tool Dr Swan and Ms Campbell have used to benefit clients of their company, ImpactOne International, for more than a decade.

“Depending who you talk to, you may get a different meaning in terms of vision board so we really try to be intentional in explaining the difference between a vision board and a dream board,” Dr Swan said.

“A vision board is really a pictorial road map, if you will, of your common goals and plans.”

It’s their belief that the boards should initially have a short-term focus, of between three and six months, to ensure people properly concentrate on their desires and that goals are being met.

“Putting the pictures on the board is one thing but we also help people to understand or realise what their plans are: are they necessary? Are they realistic? Are these things going to get them where they want to be?” Dr Swan added.

In order for the ideas to “manifest” the board must be put somewhere where it can be seen each day, Dr Swan said.

“The vision board is a reminder, a pictorial reminder of goals that people write down in their journal that they want to accomplish.

“A vision board helps you visualise. You should put it in a place where you can always see it and it will then remind you of what you said you were going to do.”

The couple, who are both trained coaches, provide people with “action steps” to help them move their dreams forward.

“We often say that there's no magic in a vision board. None whatsoever. What it does, it keeps people on track.

“It is a visualisation of what they're looking to accomplish. People will leaf through magazines and look at pictures and say, ‘Oh that really looks good. That's what I want.’ And they’ll put it on the vision board and a month later complain it’s not working.

“The magic is not putting pictures on a piece of paper. You have to be actively intentional about it.”

Important to success is the thought process behind it all. Ms Campbell and Dr Swan help people organise their thoughts so they have a clear focus on their goals.

“We have a session with them prior to actually creating the vision board so they know what is important. We want them to be intentional and have smart goals for the next three to six months,” Dr Swan said.

Typical goals range from health to the environment, to personal growth, business and wealth building.

“What we focus on is what's important to them and why; that why is important.

“They may have multiple goals but let’s focus on two to three. But I also give them the opportunity to dream big and aim big because there is no limit if someone really believes – it's all about the action,” Dr Swan said.

The pair are proud of the many clients who say they are grateful to have had such an “insightful and engaging experience” with them.

“We do some self-reflection and discover what's really important to you,” Ms Campbell said.

Although the upcoming event is specifically aimed at women, the couple have held vision board parties for corporate events, for couples, for men and even a group of seven to 11-year-olds.

The goal for the latter was to build their self-esteem through positive affirmations.

Dr Swan is particularly happy when he and his wife “see the light bulb go on”.

“By that I mean they come to do a vision board with one thing in their mind but we talk it out and ask them some probing questions and then they walk out of here with not only a vision but they understand their purpose or their why,” Dr Swan said.

“For us that is the key because if we really understand who we are, and why we're here – our why, our purpose – when we do that, the vision becomes much clearer. And then we have a focused vision.

“We know where we’re going, we know what we want to do and we have and do the steps to get there. And anything that comes outside of that we immediately recognise, that's not my vision, that's not what I want to do, and it helps us focus.”

A bonus of the vision board party next month is that it’s a place for people with common goals to connect and engage in “meaningful hot topics”.

“Our other lesson in all of this is we know that when people use their boards, when they see them every day and they’re aiming to achieve their goals, that creates motivation because they’re making a difference not only for themselves but in their families and of course in their work environment and their communities,” Ms Campbell said.

Many people don’t take the time to stop and think about what they want in life, she added.

Done well, a vision board lays it all out for them.

“We're just so grateful for being able to help people to reach their potential. We want everyone to make a difference.”

Although they do check in to see how things are going, the onus is on the person to follow through.

“We tell them that they need to have smart goals and do their action steps,” Ms Campbell said. “It’s for them to ensure that they are looking at what they enjoy doing and what they are going to do differently.

“We make sure that they identify two or three action steps and ask them to find someone that's going to help them be accountable.”

She and her husband will serve in that role if there isn’t anyone else available. The beauty of events like the upcoming one is that friendships are sometimes formed and people end up supporting each other.

“This is a tool. It’s not going to be where, [the day after the event], everything suddenly comes to realisation, but if you see it in front of you over and over, you'd be amazed how your subconscious becomes conscious,” she said.

• Join Unique Global Events & Service and ImpactOne International’s Vision Board Party on March 16 from 1pm to 5pm in the activity centre at WindReach. Tickets are available atwww.bdatix.bm. For more information, visitwww.impactoneinternational.com/