Suppose you went to a store and bought a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, but it didn't have a picture on the box of what the end result should look like. Wouldn’t you have a much harder time putting the puzzle together than if you had a clear picture of the end result? Absolutely! Through trial, and a lot of error, you may eventually figure it out, but the process will be long and arduous.

Having a clear picture of the end result eases the frustration and increases your chances of success.

The same holds true for your goals, your dreams, and your aspirations. The images you hold in your mind influence your actions. They provide the guiding light by which your conscious and subconscious act. Planting the right image in your mind predicates your success in achieving, and being what and who you want to be.

If you have ever participated in a race, you know the feeling you get when the finish line is in sight. Your pace quickens, you feel the adrenaline flowing through every cell of your body, your mind is focused, and you are drawn to the finish line by a force that is nearly unstoppable. When your goal is in sight, your perspective changes dramatically. You know what you need to do and your body does it.

This purposeful and powerful force arises from clarity. The more precisely you can visualize your goals -- the things you would like to change, the things you would like to attract, the things you truly desire -- the more clearly you will understand how to achieve them. When you can "see" your goal, the path that will take you there becomes illuminated as well. Therein lies the power of clarity, and why it is so important for you to be clear about what you want to accomplish.

When you have clarity the pictures in your mind are vibrant and rich in detail; they are animated and full of hope, wonder, love, and passion. When you see what you want you also see yourself in possession of what you desire. You experience the excitement, satisfaction, and fulfillment. These positive emotions are what draw you to continue on your journey.

Whether your goals are personal or professional, it is the visualization of having achieved them that makes all the difference. If you want to improve your sales by 25 percent this year, organize your office, reduce overhead expenses, improve your hiring process, run a marathon, or create more balance in your life -- see it, feel it, experience it.

To harness the power of clarity in your life you need to become a visionary:

• Picture yourself being the best you can possibly be. What are you doing? What are you feeling? Who are you with?

• Hold that image in your mind day-by-day, moment-by-moment.

• Make your image tangible. Draw it or write about it. Refer to the hard copy at least once a day.

• Regard your visualization as one of your most precious assets. Safeguard it and refuse to let any outside distractions or negativity blur or erase your picture.

• Persist and have faith that your mind and body will work in unison and you will find a way to live the life you desire.

Your life is one big jigsaw puzzle -- slowly, over time, the hope is that the pieces will fall into place. Make the process that much easier and improve your likelihood of success by planting a clear and vibrant image on the box for you to follow.