By Industry Partner Remodelers Advantage
Most busy professionals know the feeling; you spend so much time tackling daily tasks that you rarely pause to consider your long-term direction. Yet big-picture thinking influences everything – your career, your relationships, your personal growth, and your overall happiness. One powerful way to stay grounded in what truly matters is to create a personal vision statement.
Dave Bryan, President of Black Dog Builders in New Hampshire and a longtime Remodelers Advantage Roundtables facilitator, is known for his disciplined and strategic approach to business. One of the key drivers behind his success? A clear, intentional personal vision statement.
A personal vision statement is your North Star: a guiding light that helps you navigate uncertainty and keep your daily choices aligned with your long-term goals It clarifies what you want out of life and provides a framework for making decisions that move you in the right direction.
Identify Your Core Life Areas
Start by pinpointing the areas of life that matter most to you: family, relationships, career, health, spirituality, personal development, and more. These become the foundation of your vision.
Reflect Deeply on Each Area
Once your categories are defined, ask yourself what you truly value in each. What do you want to experience? What does success look like? This self-reflection helps you uncover your core desires and motivations.
Choose the Right Tone and Tense
Dave originally wrote his vision using “I will,” but later shifted to “I am.” Writing in the present tense reinforces immediacy, commitment, and personal accountability.
Write Without Restrictions
Let your ideas flow freely. Don’t worry about perfect grammar or structure – this is a creative exercise. You can refine and polish later.
Edit and Refine
After your first draft, revisit your statement. Ensure it reflects your values, feels authentic, and clearly communicates the life you aspire to live.
Put Your Vision into Practice
A vision statement is only powerful if it influences your actions. Use it as a decision-making tool to ensure your choices consistently align with your long-term direction.
Your personal vision shouldn’t be separate from your professional life; it should guide it. Dave views his business as a means to create a fulfilling life, not as the definition of his identity. When you align your personal vision with your business goals, you create a unified plan for long-term satisfaction, clarity, and success.
Excerpted from The Ultimate Guide to Growing Your Remodeling Business By Remodelers Advantage Inc. www.RemodelersAdvantage.com
Professionals know how quoting, scheduling, and jobsite coordination can chew up hours they simply don’t have. That’s why Associated Materials Innovations (AMI) lives by AMplify—a commitment to help you strengthen your business every day, expressed in pro-first tools that put that philosophy to work from first bid to final walkthrough.
In December 2025, the following individuals earned a NARI Certification after passing the exam. Their achievements don’t just strengthen their own careers—they elevate the entire remodeling industry.
In the remodeling industry, the materials you choose can make or break a project. Remodelers prioritize durability, functionality, and design flexibility, all while staying within budget and meeting client expectations.