Life in Layers: Creating a Career Vision Board for Whole-Life

Life in Layers: Creating a Career Vision Board for Whole-Life

In a world where careers often dominate our identities, it is easy to fall into the trap of viewing success through a narrow lens, usually defined by job titles, salary bands, or LinkedIn endorsements. But true success goes far beyond professional accolades. It touches every part of our lives, from our physical health and emotional well-being to our relationships, time, and personal growth.

What if you could map your career in a way that not only drives success but also nourishes every part of your life?

Welcome to the concept of the Whole-Life Wealth Career Vision Board, a powerful visual tool that can help you align your career with what truly matters across all dimensions of life.

What Is a Whole-Life Wealth and Career Vision Board?

A career vision board is a visual compass, an intentional representation of the kind of career and life you want to build and should go well beyond a collection of dream jobs, big promotions, and company logos.

The Whole-Life Career/ Wealth Vision Board is built on the idea that wealth is not only financial. In fact, there are seven types of wealth that contribute to a fulfilled, sustainable life:

1. Financial Wealth – Money, assets, financial freedom

2. Physical Wealth – Energy, health, vitality

3. Emotional Wealth – Mental clarity, peace, emotional resilience

4. Social Wealth – Relationships, networks, community

5. Time Wealth – Freedom, flexibility, presence

6. Spiritual Wealth – Purpose, meaning, alignment.

7. Intellectual Wealth – Learning, creativity, curiosity

By keeping these seven forms of wealth in focus, your vision board becomes a much more powerful and holistic planning tool, helping you shape a career that fuels your well-being, not just your bank account.

Why Think Life in Decades (or 3–5 Year Phases)?

Life is not a straight path, and our goals, needs, and values change with time. Traditionally, career plans follow a long-term arc, think them as 10-year goals or “where do you see yourself at 50?” But reality moves differently. Sometimes, we grow faster. Other times, life asks us to slow down.

That is why it is helpful to structure your vision board around life phases, typically by decades, but flexibly in 3-5 year chapters if that fits your personal situation or preferences better.

For instance, someone in their late twenties may prefer 10-year planning cycles due to longevity of evolving life and career ahead, while someone in midlife might naturally reflect in 3-5 year blocks. What matters most is intentional reflection and revisiting your vision regularly.

A Decade-Wise (or Phase-Based) Guide to Your Career Vision Board

Let us break down how your vision board can evolve with your life stage, while staying grounded in the seven types of wealth.

Your 20s – Laying the Foundation

This is your decade of exploration. You are figuring out who you are, what you are good at, and how you want to show up in the world.

Top Wealth Priorities:

• Intellectual Wealth: Build your mind through constant learning, curiosity, and exposure to different ideas. This is your decade to try, test, and evolve your thinking.

• Social Wealth: Surround yourself with peers, mentors, and people who stretch your vision. The quality of your network lays the groundwork for future opportunities.

• Emotional Wealth: Learn emotional self-awareness and resilience early. How you handle rejection and comparison now, will shape your long-term mental strength.

Vision Board Ideas: Books, travel, exploration imagery, mentors, journal prompts, side hustle inspiration.

Your 30s – Building and Focusing

Now’s the time to apply your strengths and narrow your focus. You are likely pursuing stability, building a foundation, and gaining traction in your chosen path.

Top Wealth Priorities:

• Financial Wealth: Focus on earning wisely, saving diligently, and investing early. This is your decade to create financial systems that support future freedom.

• Physical Wealth: Your body is your most loyal career partner. Build habits that protect your energy, sleep, and strength through life’s demanding seasons.

• Social Wealth: Nurture relationships that matter. Whether it is friendships, family, or work allies - deep, honest connections are your emotional anchors in this phase.

Vision Board Ideas: Career goals, investment symbols, health goals, family visuals, leadership quotes.

Your 40s – Mastery and Meaning

This phase is often about mastery, knowing your value and seeking more meaningful, intentional work. You might simplify or even pivot to align with purpose.

Top Wealth Priorities:

• Spiritual Wealth: Ask what your work truly serves. Align your time and skills with causes, people, or goals that carry lasting significance.

• Time Wealth: Protect your time fiercely. Say yes only to what aligns with your bigger picture. Every moment now must feel earned, not obligatory.

• Emotional Wealth: Prioritize emotional maturity and peace. Leading, parenting, or pivoting, all require grace under pressure and the ability to reset without guilt.

Vision Board Ideas: Legacy projects, meaningful work visuals, purpose quotes, flexible work arrangements.

Your 50s – Mentoring and Realigning

By now, you may want to give back, guide others, or rediscover passions. This is a time of reflection, refinement, and deeper fulfillment.

Top Wealth Priorities:

• Social Wealth: Share your wisdom. Become a mentor, a guide, a voice of encouragement for those navigating paths you have already walked.

• Spiritual Wealth: Reflect on your legacy. Focus on the kind of impact and presence you want to leave, both professionally and personally.

• Intellectual Wealth: Stay sharp and curious. Dive into new interests or master long-standing ones and set the tone for your old age. Your mind thrives when it is actively engaged.

Vision Board Ideas: Teaching moments, authoring a book, legacy quotes, passion projects, simplified living.

Your 60s and Beyond – Wisdom and Freedom

This is your era of grace and spaciousness. You have the freedom to choose how you spend your time and what legacy you want to deepen or complete.

Top Wealth Priorities:

• Time Wealth: Time is your richest currency. Choose how you spend it with purpose, whether it is travel, rest, or deep personal projects.

• Physical Wealth: Keep movement joyful and sustainable. Aim for wellness routines that prioritize vitality, not intensity.

• Emotional Wealth: Create emotional spaciousness. Let joy, peace, and gratitude lead the way in how you spend your days.

Vision Board Ideas: Travel dreams, family moments, community service, creativity, wellness visuals.

Flexible Timelines: Planning in 3-5 Year Phases

Not everyone relates to decades and depending on an individual’s age and where they are in their lives, they may want shorter phases. Sometimes, phases of life, may themselves demand quicker reinvention, reflection, or recalibration. That is where the flexible and shorter planning cycle comes in. Use shorter timelines:

• When transitioning careers

• During periods of rapid personal growth

• After life-altering events (e.g., parenthood, loss, relocation)

• In the early or later stages of life

The structure is flexible, but the commitment to whole-life wealth remains constant.

Final Thoughts: A Living Compass, not a Static Poster

Your career should not be a ladder; it should be a living system. It should expand, breathe, and evolve with who you are becoming. By building an evolving vision board that centres on the seven types of wealth, you are no longer just planning a career, you are designing a life of depth, freedom, and intentional success.

So, whether you are in your twenties or well into your wisdom years, this practice invites you to check in:

• What matters most right now?

• What are you willing to let go of?

• What would your future self-thank you for starting today?

So, get started today. Grab a board, a journal, or even a digital folder, whatever feels most natural to you. Now divide it into three clear spaces:

1. Where You Are Now: Pin down what matters most in your current season of life.

2. What’s Calling You: Add images or words that reflect new interests, goals, or changes you are craving.

3. Your Wealth Map: Choose a symbol or picture for each area of whole-life wealth, which is money, health, time, learning, relationships, peace, and purpose.

Give yourself permission to grow. Look at your board once a month. Update it as your priorities shift. Let it remind you not just of what you want to do, but of the kind of life you want to live.

Video available at: https://youtu.be/VUiZMpN8FeA