There are few things more motivating and inspiring than a clear and compelling vision, especially if it is being communicated by a person who exhibits the confidence and competence to persuade others to join them in bringing that vision to reality. 

 

Vision truly is the mother of all invention. Vision is about going where we have never been, it is seeing what could be, imagining the impossible, turning the intangible into the tangible.  Think of the vision that preceded the invention of the printing press, the light bulb, the telephone, the automobile, the airplane and the personal computer. It was the vision of our founding fathers that launched this country on a trajectory of unprecedented freedom and success. It was vision for greater health that led to break-throughs in medical science resulting in the cure of numerous diseases like polio and small pox. It is the vision of an entrepreneur that brings a company like a Wal-Mart or Microsoft to life, or revives a company Xerox. It is the vision of individuals that compels them to begin a family, climb a mountain, lose an extraordinary amount of weight or run a marathon. 

 

Vision is the combination of faith and hope. It is the belief that things can be better than they are today, and that inspires people to believe they can become fully engaged and make a difference in creating a better outcome. Just stating the above examples is inspiring to us and validates the wisdom of the familiar proverb that says “People perish for a lack of vision.”  

 

Whether you have a title or position, each of us is a leader within our own sphere of influence. Ask yourself, “What is my vision for my life, my health, my family, my work, or for the part of the organization I lead?” Take some time this week to create a clear and compelling vision for each of these dimensions of your life, a vision that inspires you or those who work with you to give their very best to turn that vision into a reality. Think large, because history reminds us that the impossible is possible for those who are inspired by a compelling vision.