The Value of Vision

A compelling vision pulls you to your future. Focus on your circumstances and lose your way

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." Henry Ford

What is your vision worth to you? If it's not worth very much, you will abandon it. Your vision aims and defines your impact. Like light, your vision will be the mark you make. Focus all of your energy and direction and your life will cut steel like a laser. Little focus makes little impact. Maximum focus, maximized impact.

Vision also pulls you through your circumstances. Your vision can motivate you to do whatever you need to do one more time. Look at all you've invested. Consider all your effort, learning, striving, failing, learning and trying again. Because of everything you've done and because of the value of your vision, can't you go one more time?

And another after that?

A compelling vision encourages others to join. People trust those who are not simply "in it for themselves." If your vision includes others, like the level 5 companies identified in one of my favorite books, Tribal Leadership, your actions prove your credibility and build trust. When interviewing a large pharmaceutical company while researching Tribal Leadership, the question came up "Who's your competition?"

"Arthritis; Cancer," the answer came back.

When you're about something that benefits others, you're more believable and trustworthy. People want to know you're not just in it for yourself.

A compelling vision changes the world. Let's face it. If all you want to do is make money, live comfortably and stay out of trouble, I'm surprised you read this far. In fact, I'm amazed you've read anything on this website. We're not about private comfort here. We want to make a positive, lasting difference. Some of us are motivated to make a difference because we simply think that's the best way to live. Others, like myself do it as part of their faith or worldview. Almost no one makes the world better by accident. Just about everything deteriorates, rusts or rots. Everything spirals down, not up.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead

A compelling vision pulls you forward. It encourages others to join and changes the world. Is your vision one that will pull you through the hard times? Is it one that will energize others to believe, trust and act? Is it one that will truly change the world? Are you actively working on it? Share a bit about it below. Or join Lead Change now. We're committed to helping each other lead change, first in ourselves, then in others and in our communities. Interested?

Photo © maynardcase istockphoto