How SMART goals (not a vision board), peace, and purpose led to staying on course and overcoming challenges to completing the production of my debut book, "Oh Brother, My Brother."

Brandon D. Campbell

Jan 12

Every January, many of us do the same thing.

We gather magazines, scissors, glue, and big dreams, and we build vision boards.Last year, I did it too, but with my family, in pajamas, with food on the table, and phones down. The experience mattered. The connection mattered.What I learned afterward surprised me.I’m done with vision boards, not because dreaming is bad, but because dreaming without goals costs me some of my peace.When I looked back at my vision board from last year, many things did come true.

I bought a home.

I landed a book deal.

Business growth and opportunities.But emotionally, the year felt heavy.I wasn’t attracting. I was chasing.

I wasn’t centered. I was anxious.

I felt like I was constantly running, negotiating, fighting, and convincing.That’s when it hit me: my vision wasn’t specific enough to protect my nervous system.Vision boards can unintentionally blur emotional, spiritual, and mental boundaries when goals aren’t clearly defined. I experienced that firsthand in my business decisions, in family transitions, in grief, and in moments of deep self-doubt.And here’s the truth I had to face:

Peace doesn’t come from vision. It comes from clarity.That’s why I’m choosing goals, specifically SMART goals. Goals forced me to ask better questions:

What exactly am I working toward?

Is this measurable?

Is it attainable?

Is it relevant right now?

And when will I know I’ve achieved it?

When I shifted from abstract vision to concrete goals, something changed.

I stopped chasing.

I started trusting the process.

And most importantly, I found alignment.This lesson resonates deeply with why I wrote ‘Oh Brother, My Brother.’Oftentimes, we focus on accomplishing our dreams but don’t acquire what ensures those dreams don’t get deferred, or we don’t lose what we achieve, and that is true healing from our trauma.This book wasn’t born from a mood board or manifestation exercise.

It was written through intention, discipline, and commitment.It’s about bonding, but in a healthy way.

It’s about helping children feel safe expressing emotions.

And it’s about helping parents heal from their own unfinished stories. Just like goal setting, healing requires structure, patience, and honesty. So, if you love vision boards, keep them.

But don’t let them replace working on yourself. Because dreams without goals can feel exciting, but goals create stability, peace, and progress.

Watch the full episode at www.BrandonDCampbell.com

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