Defining Your Vision

This is the time of year when people who are living a “life of intent” are redefining where they want to be in 3-5 years (their vision) and then building the one-year goals and first-quarter tactical plans for next year to execute towards that vision.

The first step in knowing where you want to be in the future is always to define your personal, family, and corporate vision of the future. We usually do this with a “vision statement.” To be useful, this vision statement must be inspiring to all the players affected by the vision: the individual, the family, the corporation (and for corporations, their customers).

Regrettably, this is where most vision statements, personal and otherwise fail. Few people have articulated their personal vision statements at all. Almost every business has a Vision and Mission Statement, and most of these are filled with “permission to play” pabulum statements that sound so much alike they could be the white noise between radio stations instead of what they should be: something that is compelling and worth working for.

Without an inspiring vision that will help us make the commitment and sacrifices over the long haul to achieving something worthwhile, that investment of time and continuing effort necessary to achieve our goals, we fall short and achieve less, and in the end are disappointing to ourselves and others by our under-achievement.

This week, my Mom forwarded me a vision statement that really got my attention – because it is a real vision. Here are two videos: The first. A Day Made of Glass 2 defines the vision in a 6 minute video, and the second A Day Made of Glass 2: Unpacked , explains it in a 12 minute video.

How could a company that “just makes glass” have done a better job defining their vision of the future, and of inspiring their employees, their partners, and their customers?

Is your personal or corporate vision this inspiring? I hope so. Corning turned their Vision into a picture of what the world would look like when they achieved their vision, a future of possibilities that Corning, Corning employees, and Corning customers can believe in and are willing to work for.

Can you turn your Vision Statement into a picture of an inspiring, achievable, believable reality? Can you define your future with the picture of what you want it to be?

To live a “life of intent,” make your Vision Statement into a real Vision. Then build the plan to get you there and execute towards your goals.

Happy visioning.