How clearly do you see your future?
A consultancy I used to work for did something really powerful.
We didn’t tell our clients what would be possible if they worked with us.
We showed them.
Any potential client could come in and get a tour of our office and see where they and their team would be working during our engagement, and see first hand the impact of our way of working.
They would see how the desks were set up to maximize collaboration. They would see teams working on delivering software, not constantly in meetings. They would see the monitors on the wall showing code quality and continuous deployment. They would see teams starting and ending the day together with aligned focus, and leaving at the end of the day with time to recharge.
They would see.
And when they saw, they would get excited. They would see what it would mean for their organization and the impact that working with us would have.
Do you ever wish you could see your own future this clearly?
Often, I talk with people who share some version of the story “I don’t know what I want, but I know this isn’t it.”
Knowing what we want, being clear about the future we want to create for ourselves, unlocks action.
If we know we want the promotion, we take on stretch assignments and we push ourselves to be visible to key decision makers.
If we know we want to pivot into a specific new career, we pursue training and volunteer for opportunities to build experience we can leverage.
If we know we want to take a sabbatical or create a specific lifestyle, we deprioritize pursuit of the things that don’t align with that way of life, and create for ourselves the situations that do.
If we know, it’s much easier to take action.
When we don’t have that clarity, we often feel stuck. Uncertain of what action we could take, much less what action we should take.
So what do we do when we don’t see it?
If you’re seeking more clarity around the future you want to create for yourself, try exploring these prompts:
Tap into your future self
Consider yourself at some point in the future. Perhaps a year from now, perhaps at a milestone birthday or key moment in your life. What wisdom does your future self have to share with you now, about who you’ve become, what you’ve experienced, and what you’ve achieved?
Write your life in three acts
Consider your life as being part of a three-act play or movie. The first is your childhood, the second is your adult life until now. What arcs do you see? Passions and motivations? Hopes and dreams? What do you want to see take place in that third act, to create an incredible story?
Talk with your childhood self
Consider yourself as a child. What were you passionate about? What dreams did you have for your future? What does a conversation with your childhood self unlock in you today?
We all want the crystal ball, the clarity around what our future could look like. If yours is feeling a bit muddy, spend some time thinking about what your future self might say, how you would conclude your story if you were in a three-act play, or what inspired your childhood self. That just might give you the clarity you’re looking for to create your next action.
What do you see for your future?
Will you send me a message and let me know?
January 29, 2026
About the author:
Christina Von Stroh is a leadership coach who helps her clients become wildly successful by applying iterative software development practices to achieve their dreams. Want to work with Christina to help you iterate towards the person you’re becoming?
Book your free strategy session.
