Vision & Anti-Vision: The Push-Pull Framework for Living on Purpose

The Full Episode Guide

🎧 In This Episode

We explore a powerful dual approach to creating life direction by combining what you want (your vision) with what you don't want (your anti-vision).

We break down a four-part framework for building a clear and compelling vision, and dive into the counterintuitive power of using your past negative experiences as fuel for positive change.

Listen Now

• Chase Club

• Spotify

• Apple Podcasts

Sponsored By

• Function Health - Comprehensive health data platform

• LMNT - Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix

• BetterHelp - Online therapy platform

Key Concepts:

• The Four-Part Vision Framework: Values (key pillars), purpose (your North Star), mission (evolving 5-10 year focus), and big, hairy, audacious goals (specific, measurable targets)

• Anti-Vision Power: Using what you don't want from past experience is often clearer than imagining what you do want, and creates an "impossible to distract" focus when combined

• Specificity Creates Excitement: Vague goals like "be the best" don't motivate; concrete targets like "six coaches earning six figures" get people to lean in and take action

• Daily Operationalization: Vision without daily tracking is just wishful thinking — the magic happens when you measure 15-20 daily actions that align with your direction

---

❤️‍🔥 A Deeper Dive

Big Ideas

1. Vision as Self-Leadership

Having a vision means learning to lead yourself.

Borrowing from Jim Collins, the number one responsibility for a leader is to create a clear and compelling vision that is shared and acted upon by all.

When applied to personal life, this becomes about creating alignment between who you want to be and what you actually do daily.

2. The Experience vs. Imagination Gap

Anti-vision leverages a psychological truth: it's easier to know what you don't want from experience than what you do want from imagination.

We've all lived through moments of feeling disconnected from family, being in the wrong job, or drifting without purpose.

These experiences, rather than being sources of shame, become powerful directional tools when properly harnessed.

3. The Tracking Revolution

Both of us track daily actions — Ben tracks 20 items, Patrick tracks 18 across six categories.

This isn't about perfection; it's about awareness and course correction.

Our simple goal: Don't let important things slide for so long that they become awkward or hard to restart.

Key Distinctions

1. Traditional Approach vs. Push-Pull Framework

Traditional Vision Setting:

• Focus only on what you want

• Often vague and aspirational

• Hard to measure progress

• Easy to ignore when life gets busy

Push-Pull Framework:

• Combines attraction (vision) and avoidance (anti-vision)

• Specific and concrete

• Built-in measurement systems

• Creates "impossible to distract" focus

2. Goals vs. Vision Components

Regular Goals:

• "I want to be financially free"

• "I want to be healthy"

• "I want good relationships"

Vision Framework Goals:

• "Cape house and month skiing out west every year"

• "Don't wake up hungover"

• "Call parents twice a week, hug Heather every day"

Reflection Questions

1. Values Audit: What are the 3-5 principles that you absolutely will not compromise on, regardless of external pressure or immediate convenience?

2. Experience Inventory: Think about the worst day/week/month you've had in the last few years. What specific elements made it terrible, and how can those become part of your anti-vision?

3. Specificity Test: If someone asked you right now what success looks like for you in 5 years, could you paint a picture specific enough that they'd know whether you achieved it or not?

4. Daily Alignment Check: What would you need to track daily to ensure you're moving toward your vision and away from your anti-vision?

5. The Drift Question: Where in your life are you currently "on the lazy river" — going with the flow instead of actively steering toward your desired destination?

Practice Opportunities

1. Anti-Vision Exercise

• Spend 30 minutes writing down everything you don't want in four categories: daily life, work life, relationships, and financial life.

• Be specific and draw from actual experiences.

• Then flip each item to identify what they say about what you do want.

2. The Excellent Day Narrative

• Write out what Cal Newport calls the "narrative test" — a detailed story of what an excellent day looks like for you.

• Include environment, activities, and people.

• This becomes your north star for daily decision-making.

3. Daily Tracking Setup

• Choose 15-20 daily actions that align with your vision.

• Don't try to be perfect; aim for "more check boxes than not."

• Include at least one item about reviewing your vision itself.

Application Framework

Step 1: Build Your Four-Part Vision (Week 1)

• Days 1-2: Identify 3-5 core values/key pillars

• Days 3-4: Write your purpose statement (your "why")

• Days 5-6: Define your current mission (next 5-10 years)

• Day 7: Set 1-2 big, hairy, audacious goals (specific and measurable)

Step 2: Create Your Anti-Vision (Week 2)

• Days 1-2: List what you don't want in daily life and work

• Days 3-4: List what you don't want in relationships and finances

• Days 5-6: Write your "avoid at all costs" scenarios

• Day 7: Connect anti-vision items to specific daily actions

Step 3: Design Your Tracking System (Week 3)

• Days 1-2: Choose 15-20 daily tracking items

• Days 3-4: Set up your tracking method (app, spreadsheet, paper)

• Days 5-7: Test and refine your system

Step 4: Operationalize Daily (Ongoing)

• Morning: Review vision/anti-vision (2 minutes)

• Evening: Complete daily tracking (5 minutes)

• Weekly: Assess trends and adjust actions

• Monthly: Refine tracking items as needed

Key Takeaways

1. Specificity Creates Action: Vague goals generate vague results. The more specific your vision and anti-vision, the clearer your daily decisions become.

2. Both Directions Matter: Vision pulls you forward, anti-vision pushes you away from what you don't want. Together, they create unstoppable momentum.

3. Experience Beats Imagination: Your worst days contain the seeds of your best decisions. Mine your negative experiences for clarity about what to avoid.

4. Daily Tracking Beats Perfect Planning: You don't need to have it all figured out. You need to measure what matters and course-correct consistently.

5. Don't Negotiate With Your Mind: When you've decided something aligns with your vision, that's the deal. Don't debate it in the moment when motivation is low.

---

Chasing Excellence is an audience-supported project. To go deeper & to help us do even more, consider:

1. Subscribing to get our free posts or upgrading to receive the Daily Chase posts & bonus content.

2. Grabbing one of our books: Chasing Excellence, Unlocking Potential, or The ABCs of Being Happy & Healthy.

3. Supporting one of our fantastic show sponsors.