Last week, I attended a Dream, Define, Do Workshop led by Heather Jones Coaching. The three-hour session took place on Wednesday, and my goal was to gain clarity on how to move forward with my business and identify the steps–and potential obstacles–that might arise along the way. In this article, I want to share a bit about my experience and the outcomes that followed.

The first hour of the class focused on dreaming, which included guided prompts and a visualization exercise. The portion was unexpectedly powerful–it literally brought me to tears. The reflective space created during this time allowed me to articulate my aspirations, reconnect with what motivates me, and acknowledge both the opportunities and barriers that lie ahead.

That space for reflection reminded me how I value journaling as part of my wind-down routine. But what I appreciated about these prompts was how they encouraged me to dig deeper. My usual journaling centers around daily events, feelings, or service-related reflections. I rarely use writing as a tool for self-discovery or envisioning the future. This was a much-needed shift. 

Following the journal prompts, Heather guided us through a visualization exercise. She led us to imagine a picture-perfect scene, and to engage with our future selves. It was during this part that I became emotional. When I “met” my future self, I received words of encouragement–a surprising experience. For the first time in a long while, I felt hopeful, not just about myself but  my business. I am very critical of myself, as Dean Koontz famously said, “I am my own worst enemy.” Negative talk often runs on a loop in my head. To hear my future self offering positivity was overwhelming.

Unfortunately, I had to step away from the workshop for a client meeting. Before I left, Heather kindly shared an activity with me to help me release any lingering energy from the visualization.

After freshening up and attending my standing Wednesday client meeting, I was able to rejoin the final portion of the workshop. In this last hour, the focus shifted to defining goals. This immediately brought to mind a book I would recommend, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear. In the book, Clear emphasizes practical strategies like:

• “Make time for new habits,”
• “Design your environment to make success easier,” and 
• “Make tiny, easy changes that deliver big results.”

These ideas resonated with the final portion of the workshop: Do. To accomplish the goals I have set, I know I will need to create new habits–and importantly, change my mindset. One new habit I have committed to setting is adjusting my inner dialogue from negativity to positivity. Heather offered an additional writing prompt to support this.

My sailor and I look for one accomplishment to celebrate each week. Inspired by the workshop, I would like to build on that and create daily recognition, no matter how small.

As the workshop wrapped up, I thanked Heather for her guidance, suggestions, and encouragement. I truly appreciated the experience–and did I mention the workshop was free?

I would love to hear from you. Have you worked with a coach or mentor who supports your personal and professional development? Do you work with someone one-on-one or perhaps within a group?

Originally published on LinkedIn on June 30, 2025. [Read it here]