From manifesting to manifestos: Steven Bartlett is spearheading a new approach to achieving your goals | Stand Out By Design

Steven Bartlett may be a visionary entrepreneur, but he’s all too aware that having a vision alone isn’t enough. As part of a partnership with Adobe Express, the fast and easy content app, he’s now on a mission to show people how to turn their vision into actionable steps using a carefully crafted manifesto that aligns with their goals and values. Calling it the Manifest-o Method, the idea is to provide a framework that can help entrepreneurs navigate their early stages. As he said in an interview with Adobe: “Manifestation without action is like setting your car’s sat nav without turning on the engine.”

In creating the Manifest-o method, Bartlett, who is probably best known for The Diary of a CEO podcast and his appearances on BBC Dragons’ Den, drew on his own experience creating and designing a business manifesto for his podcast company, Flight Studio using Adobe Express.

So how does a manifesto differ from a regular business plan – or indeed a mission or vision statement? Adobe senior vice president Claire Darley describes it as something with a much more personal resonance. “The manifesto goes beyond the structure of a conventional business plan,” she says. “It’s a statement of belief, intention, and purpose—focused on aligning your thoughts and actions to bring your vision to life.” It’s also based heavily on the self-help idea of ​​manifestation.

Darley adds that while the concept of a manifesto isn’t new, Adobe’s research shows that today’s business owners are using the power of manifestos to stay focused on their goals. This is key because big goals, which are often far in the future, can seem daunting and unattainable. Bartlett noted that seeing his goals visually helps make them “more tangible and less scary.” He hopes that by developing a manifesto, people will be able to form daily habits that will bring them closer to their goals and make the journey less daunting.

Indeed, Bartlett admits that he never wrote a business plan in his life, but instead always wrote a mission statement and created a five-page vision. He turns them into a manifesto as the business in question evolves so that everyone is focused together.

So what makes a good manifesto? Ideally, it should encompass both personal and business growth – conveying what you stand for and what you’re trying to achieve. Styled as such, it can also serve as a daily reminder of why you set out on your path in the first place.

But how do you get started creating a manifesto if you’ve never done it before? “Start by reflecting on your core values, beliefs, and what you really want to achieve,” says Darley. “A manifesto is essentially a statement of intent, so start by writing down your main goals and how you envision your life or business once those goals are achieved.” She adds that it doesn’t have to be long or complicated. Rather, you should take 10 minutes and focus on five powerful statements that define who you are and what your goals are.

Bartlett’s advice is to keep manifestos clear. You must distill your beliefs and turn them into productive behavior, and your manifesto must include what makes you different and distinctive. Finally, your manifesto should be visual and well designed. This has a number of advantages. The work you put into designing it can give more weight to the words. People have long understood this – think of the mottoes inscribed on medieval coats of arms. There were also interesting ones research in the lamination effect of certain documents or objects. The study in question found that the lamination process can make things more solid, important and real. Respondents said that laminated documents and items felt more valuable because they were more durable. In the same vein, a carefully crafted manifesto is likely to feel much more durable than a motto or affirmation scribbled on a Post-It note.

Today, it’s easy and fun to design something that stands out thanks to the rise of creative digital tools, such as Adobe Express with its suite of intuitive tools, video and animation features, and AI generation features.

Of course, there will be an element of trial and error. You may find that your manifest is not working as you had hoped, or that factors beyond your control mean that it needs to be changed. So you should review it regularly and ask if it’s driving actions that move you closer to your goals. If that’s not happening, or the manifesto feels tired and no longer inspiring, you need to update it. Refine your goals, clarify your intentions, and break larger goals down into smaller, more actionable steps. “Manifesting requires both patience and adaptability,” says Darley. “Continually reassess and adjust your approach as necessary to ensure your manifesto remains a dynamic tool for growth.”

Of course, the applicability of the Manifest-o method is not limited to business. Once you get the hang of things, you might decide to create a few manifestos. Bartlett highlights how this can be beneficial in your personal life as well, helping you clarify your values ​​and priorities and stay focused on what really matters.

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