As creative entrepreneurs, we need to see our dreams front and center and vision boards help bridge the gap between what we imagine and what we actually manifest. They’re a playful, powerful tool for goal setting, especially when motivation is running low.

The Honest Truth About Q4 (And Why You Don’t Need to Wait for January to Create Your Vision Board)  

Raise your hand if you’ve ever thought, “I’ll just start fresh in the new year.” My hand is raised too, don’t worry.

Here’s your permission slip to begin again now, even if it’s in mid-November, March, August, or January 2nd. The calendar is a tool, not a rule.

Whether you’re a business owner, a creative, or a dreamer (or all three!), you don’t need to wait for a new year, a new month, or even a new week to revisit your goals. Sometimes, the most inspiring breakthroughs happen when we shake off the pressure of perfect timing and simply start where we are.

How to Create a Vision Board That Actually Inspires You  

Ready to make a vision board that works? Here’s my step-by-step guide:

1. Gather Your Tools

Whether it’s a poster board, corkboard, magazines, or digital tools like Canva or Pinterest – the fun of vision board exercises is that anything goes!  

I personally have a linen pin board that I pin printed-out images to before adding fun things like ribbons, enamel pins, dried florals, and anything else that inspires me or represents something I want to bring with me into my vision planning.

2. Get Clear on Your Goals

What do you want to achieve? Be specific! Think about how you want to feel. Not just what you want to do, and definitely not what you think you should do because others said so or are doing them too. The comparison game is rough friends!

3. Find Your Images

Pinterest is a treasure trove. Search for images that look like your goals. A dreamy workspace, a packed client calendar, a beach picnic, a stack of money, a cart full of healthy groceries, a glowing testimonial from your own screenshots… and include words or quotes that spark inspiration. The key here is to not limit it to just your business goals.

As entrepreneurs, it’s easy for our personal and business goals to overlap and boundaries to blend thin. I like to mix my goals into one board to be able to visualize the work-life balance I’m working to achieve.

4. Arrange With Intention

Place your biggest, dreamiest, most important goals front and center.  Let your board feel balanced and beautiful, but don’t feel pressured. This is your dream, after all!

5. Display It Proudly!

-Hang your vision board where you’ll see it daily, not behind your office door. If you’re on my email list you know what I mean.

Let it be a living, breathing reminder of what you’re working toward.

Vision Board Tips for Creative Entrepreneurs  

As a brand and web designer, I know firsthand how visuals impact our mindset and motivation. Here are a few extra tips for my fellow creative business owners:

• Mix Business and Personal: Blend your business goals (like launching a new website or booking dream clients) with personal dreams (travel, wellness, family).  
• Use Brand Colors: Incorporate your brand palette to make your vision board feel cohesive and on-brand. Bonus points for manifesting in style!  
• Think Feelings, Not Just Things: Maybe you want to feel confident, calm, or wildly creative. Find images that evoke those emotions, not just material outcomes.

For When Your Goals Shift:

This year has been a wild ride for many of us, and it’s okay if your goals look different than they did in January.

Give yourself permission to pivot, refine, or completely rewrite your vision. The beauty of a vision board is that it’s yours—no rules, just dreams. If 2025 felt daunting, focus on what you can control right now.

Sometimes, the simple act of revisiting your goals (and forgiving yourself for what didn’t happen) is the most empowering thing you can do.

Vision Boards, Goal Setting, and the Power of Starting Again  

Revisiting your vision board and goals in Q4 isn’t about catching up or hustling harder. It’s about reconnecting with your “why,” reigniting your excitement, and remembering that your dreams are always worth pursuing, no matter the month.

Your business, your creativity, and your life are all works in progress. Whether you’re updating your brand visuals or your vision board, you get to choose what the next chapter looks like.

If your vision board has been hiding (or gathering dust, and not the fun magical kind of pixie dust), let this be your invitation to bring it back into the light. You don’t have to wait for a new year to start again. Your goals, your dreams, and your vision are worthy of your attention right now. Let’s finish this year with intention, inspiration, and maybe a little bit of glitter. After all, the best time to realign with your dreams is always now.