Introduction to Visualisation and Creativity
By Helen Mill, TAB Franchisee, North East Scotland
From an early age, I’ve seen the world in images. While most children remembered poems by repetition, my mother taught me to anchor words with pictures. It worked, and more than that, it stuck. To this day, I navigate the world through patterns, shapes, colours and concepts. Ask me to recall a number, and I’ll see the way it travels across a keypad. Speak to me about your business, and I’ll likely see your words as a kind of mind map forming in my head.
That way of thinking – visual, intuitive, and connected – has become my greatest asset, both in life and as a facilitator at The Alternative Board.
Visualisation as a Creative Mindset
My passion for visualisation isn’t just about seeing things differently. It’s about translating complexity into clarity. In my work with TAB members across North East Scotland, this comes to life in strategy sessions where ideas flow quickly and sometimes chaotically. I’ve learned to listen deeply, not just for the words, but for the links between them, sketching structures, themes, and priorities in real time.
A Creative Outlet
Over the years, I’ve leaned into this gift. When I was ready to downsize, I didn’t just find a new house. I visualised a new way of living and set out to build it – literally.
Our self-build project has been years in the making. I told the architect: “Don’t you dare build me a square box.” And he didn’t. The design splits the home into three distinct pods: Living, Sleeping and Create. That last one, the Create pod, will be a dedicated art studio where I can paint, sculpt, and continue to grow as an artist. Building starts in March, and I couldn’t be more excited.
Artistic Expression
Creativity is more than a pastime for me. It’s a lens through which I engage with the world. I recently finished sculpting a lion, a bold, ambitious project that took time, trial, and quite a bit of mess. It’s not perfect, but it represents strength and self-expression, and I’m proud of it.
In a quieter way, an oil painting I did of my father holds a place of deep sentiment. It was my first attempt at portraiture, completed during a course in France. The painting itself may not win any awards, but it means the world to me. It’s a reminder of where I started and who shaped me.
Visualisation in Business and Life
What visualisation gives me, more than anything else, is perspective. Whether I’m looking at a blank canvas or a complex business challenge, I’m always searching for the connections – the story under the surface.
As a TAB business coach, this plays out in every board meeting and one-to-one. When members feel overwhelmed, I help them map a path forward. When their goals feel
