By Jacques de Klerk
As the year draws to a close and the pace of the industry begins to slow, it feels only natural to pause and take stock of the journey we’ve travelled. The end of the year invites reflection: on what worked, what didn’t, and where our efforts took us. Yet, in the midst of this introspection, a crucial question arises: is it more valuable to look back or to look forward? Should our focus be on reflection or on vision?
Throughout the year, I’ve found that the most effective and meaningful work arises from clarity. Knowing the job to be done and keeping sight of the target we’re aiming for. Reflection certainly plays a role, but it is vision that propels us forward. When our energy is directed toward a clearly defined outcome, each task becomes a deliberate step toward something greater.
This idea first took root while reading a book on effective working. The author explored the relationship between passion and mastery, describing them as qualities cultivated slowly, from the ground up. Mastery, much like passion, is not an outcome but a practice. Along the way, reflection helps us identify what to refine or remove, yet it is vision that gives our efforts shape and momentum. Vision compels us to act with intent, while reflection helps us refine and improve upon what our vision has set in motion.
As creatives, it’s easy to lose sight of that vision. We often become so consumed by the act of creation itself, perfecting details, refining form, chasing our own idea of excellence, that we forget it’s not about us. We are not the end result; we are the medium through which ideas take form. Creativity, at its core, is an act of becoming. It’s a process that demands both movement and mindfulness.
To borrow an analogy from downhill mountain biking, riders don’t focus on the trees they want to avoid. They focus on the gap ahead and the path they intend to take. By locking their gaze 15 to 20 metres forward, their head, body, and bike naturally follow. Where the eyes go, the momentum flows.
In much the same way, vision guides creative work. When we look too long at what went wrong (the trees), we risk losing speed and direction. But when we fix our eyes on where we want to go, the work aligns itself accordingly. Reflection has its place as it’s where we prune the dead leaves and make space for new growth. Yet vision is what draws us into that growth, helping us build upon what has come before.
As we close the chapter on this year and look toward the next, perhaps the balance lies in both: reflect just long enough to learn, then lift your gaze to the road ahead. Vision turns reflection into progress, and progress into purpose.